Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's masterpiece The Little Prince contains a pivotal teaching from the fox to the prince: “It is the time you have devoted to your rose that makes it so important.” Inspired by the profound influence of The Little Prince, Tunghai University's distinguished alumnus and renowned artist Huang Teng-Hui has remained steadfast in his pursuit of pure, rose-like love. This passion led him to establish "Rose House." To share this love with his fellow Tunghai students, he announced the generous donation of a rose garden to his alma mater as a gift for the university’s 70th anniversary. This garden, planned to feature 6,000 rose bushes, will be located in front of the "Tunghai Study" and is destined to become a new landmark on campus, symbolizing love, dreams, and the enduring spirit of Tunghai University.
Distinguished Tunghai University alumnus and founder of "Rose House," Huang Teng-Hui, generously donates a rose garden to his alma mater as a gift for its 70th anniversary celebration.
The founder of "Rose House," Mr. Huang Teng-Hui, has long been regarded as a role model among Tunghai University alumni. Not only are his entrepreneurial achievements at a young age widely celebrated, but Tunghai University is also deeply grateful for his generous contributions and support over the years. In celebration of the university's 70th anniversary, he invited renowned designer Chang Ching-Ping to create a vibrant rose garden in front of the classic Tunghai Study. This rose garden is set to become the most colorful and romantic attraction on campus, second only to the iconic Luce Chapel.
Huang Teng-Hui has invited renowned designer Chang Ching-Ping to create a vibrant rose garden in front of the classic Tunghai Study, set to become one of the most colorful and romantic attractions at Tunghai University.
Even after many years since his graduation, Huang Teng-Hui has preserved a pure and untainted heart. As the first Chinese artist to grace the covers of VISA and JCB cards, and as a designer for the British royal porcelain brand, including commemorative pieces for Prince William’s royal wedding, he has established a distinctive style and remarkable achievements in the realm of artistic aesthetics. Artist Huang Kuang-Nan praised him as "a creator who persistently bridges the dimensions of art and beauty through his paintings." Former director of the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Liao Jen-Yi, remarked, "Huang Teng-Hui's artwork embodies a unique aesthetic. His vibrant poetic visions form a boundless rose garden without walls. He is like Saint-Exupéry’s Little Prince, journeying alone on his artistic path, waiting for us to join him in sharing his dreams and pursuing our own." Hailing from Hualien, Huang Teng-Hui began his studies at Tunghai University in 1979. Reflecting on his journey, he shared that arriving in Taichung from the eastern region, he was a young man who grew up under a starlit sky. Standing on this land for the first time, his heart was filled with curiosity and anticipation, brimming with boundless imagination for the future. Every corner of this campus felt like a gateway to a new world for him.
Huang Teng-Hui recalled living in Dormitory No. 16 at Tunghai University, on the fourth floor of the row adjacent to the Tunghai Study. It was during that autumn that he first encountered Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s masterpiece, The Little Prince. The fox's pivotal teaching to the prince—“It is the time you have devoted to your rose that makes it so important”—became a guiding principle in his life. Whether in business, art, or personal endeavors, he has consistently pursued a pure, rose-like love. This inspiration not only led to the creation of "Rose House" but also laid the foundation for his entire philosophy of art and life.
As a tribute to this enlightenment, Huang Teng-Hui envisions building a rose garden at Tunghai University, precisely in front of the Tunghai Study near his former dormitory. He hopes that the donated rose garden will serve as a sanctuary for students—a place of solace and reflection. For him, this garden is more than just a scenic spot; it represents a philosophy, a way of life. It serves as a reminder that, regardless of time or place, what truly matters is the rose in one’s heart—the love that has been nurtured and given.
Huang Teng-Hui revealed that the rose garden will be designed by renowned designer Chang Ching-Ping, incorporating a vision that blends nature and art. The goal is to create a serene and aesthetically pleasing space, offering not just a highlight of the campus landscape but also a sanctuary for the minds of students, faculty, staff, and visitors. He hopes this rose garden will be a place where people can discover their own dreams and life directions.
President Chang Kuo-En remarked, “Huang Teng-Hui’s generous donation of this poetic garden represents more than support for his alma mater; it is the embodiment of his lifelong pursuit of art and life’s ideals. Huang Teng-Hui’s work has always revolved around love, dreams, and sincerity, and this rose garden will stand as a symbol of these values. We hope this garden will also serve as a source of inspiration for future generations of Tunghai students.”
Huang Teng-Hui envisions the rose garden not just as a scenic spot but as a symbol of a philosophy and a way of life.
Tunghai University announced that a six-month soil maintenance project is currently underway in front of the Tunghai Study. Once the design plans for the rose garden are finalized and approved, construction is expected to begin as early as the end of 2024, with completion scheduled before the university’s 70th anniversary celebration in 2025. At that time, this area will not merely be a rose garden but also a timeless connection between Mr. Huang Teng-Hui and his alma mater, symbolizing the legacy of art, love, and dreams at Tunghai University. In gratitude to Mr. Huang, the garden will be named the "Classic Rose Garden."