En 
繁 When people thought of children’s literature and classical literature, they might have assumed the two had nothing in common. Yet in the academic and creative career of Assistant Professor Shu Yen from the Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature at Yuan Ze University, these two seemingly distant paths were closely intertwined—revealing the boundless possibilities of Chinese literary studies.
At the core of Shu Yen’s research was the search for new perspectives at the intersection of literature and philosophy. He explored how the Tang dynasty fu (rhapsodies) constructed imperial order and systems of knowledge through their vivid descriptions of natural phenomena. He discovered that Tang writers not only expressed ideas through poetry and Confucian classics but also engaged in political, cosmological, and philosophical discourse through the fu genre. This approach challenged traditional boundaries between literature and intellectual thought, opening new directions for the study of Tang literature.
In contrast to the seemingly austere nature of his academic research, Yen was also an active figure in the field of children’s literature. His children’s stories, such as “All Hands on Deck! Catch the Wind Beast Yinyinhu” and “SOS! The Awakening of the Oil Monster,” were recommended by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture and featured at major international book fairs, showcasing the creativity and appeal of Taiwanese children’s literature to the world. His works skillfully combined myth, history, and environmental themes, inspiring young readers to develop imagination and cultural awareness through storytelling.
As a scholar, he reflected on the connections between literature and thought; as a writer, he used stories to broaden children’s horizons. Bringing this dual vision to Yuan Ze University, he transformed the Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature into a laboratory of literary experimentation, guiding students to explore the diverse possibilities of literature. His courses ranged from children’s literature and video game narrative design to classical subjects such as Wei-Jin literature and selected readings from the Zuo Zhuan. He encouraged students to discover creativity within texts and to reinterpret classical materials in ways that resonated with the modern age.
Standing at the intersection of tradition and innovation, Assistant Professor Shu Yen brought new vitality to Yuan Ze University’s Department of Chinese Linguistics and Literature. For those who were equally fascinated by the intellectual depth of classical literature and the imaginative power of children’s stories, his classroom offered a place to witness how literature could transcend time and generations—connecting readers to a broader and more vibrant world.
