展覽筆記 vol.29 休斯頓美術館：虛舟佛造像收藏，何鴻毅家族基金會贊助呈現 - MFA Houston, Xuzhou Collection of Buddhist Art，Cataloguing Grant by Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global
- SACA
- Jul 4
- 11 min read
Updated: Jul 5
「虛舟佛造像收藏」（Xuzhou Collection of Buddhist Art）是一項匿名私人佛教藝術珍藏，由何鴻毅家族基金會贊助呈現，於休士頓美術館首次公開亮相，現於卡羅琳‧懷斯‧羅樓（Caroline Wiess Law Building）之亞洲藝術展廳展出。
本次展覽囊括了跨越千年、橫跨亞洲大陸諸多主要佛教文化的珍稀雕塑作品。展品中尤為引人注目的，包括：來自古代犍陀羅（今巴基斯坦北部）的禪坐佛陀像；東印度出土、描述佛陀證悟瞬間的敘事浮雕；一尊中國漆塑佛首，雙目鑲嵌，光彩奪目；以及一尊來自日本的六臂觀音菩薩像，每一臂均象徵一項加持。
唐代漆佛，坂本五郎舊藏，蘇富比售出
整體陳列強調每件雕塑的獨特性，並透過這些作品，共同勾勒出歷史佛陀的生命故事與其核心教義。作為「悟道之具」，這些佛教造像不僅具藝術價值，更承載著能啟發當代觀者的深刻智慧與精神訊息。
「虛舟」二字源於中文，其義為「空舟」。這一命名喚起佛教中常用的譬喻：佛法如舟，可渡無明之河，而舟本無主，唯有心有所應者，方能乘之渡彼岸。正如展廳中這些靜候觀者的造像，唯有專注而具同理心的凝視，方能喚醒其蘊藏的智慧之光。
何鴻毅家族基金會（Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global）
何鴻毅家族基金會秉持「萬物相連」之理念，致力於推動藝術文化與佛教相關計畫，並資助各類促進人類與環境福祉的行動倡議。作為一家植根香港、放眼世界的私人慈善機構，基金會的使命源自創辦人所信奉的價值觀，並透過何氏家族的持續參與得以延續與實踐。
創辦人簡介何鴻毅先生，C.M., O.B.C.
何鴻毅先生（Robert H. N. Ho）生於香港，為何東爵士與何張蓮覺夫人（Clara Ho Tung）之孫，父親為何世禮將軍，母親為何孔基芬女士（Hesta Ho Hung Ki Fun）。早年就讀於嶺南中學及培正中學，後赴美國深造，先後獲得科爾蓋特大學（Colgate University）文學士學位，以及哥倫比亞大學新聞研究所（Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism）新聞碩士學位。
何先生早期從事新聞工作，並負責家族地產及相關投資的經營管理。自退休後，轉而投身公益慈善事業。其母校科爾蓋特大學即為其慈善資助對象之一，捐資促成該校設立「何鴻毅跨學科科學中心」及「何東視覺化實驗室」。
作為承襲慈善家族傳統的一員，何鴻毅先生將關注重點聚焦於醫療健康、教育、佛教與中華文化領域，旨在提升身心健康，促進佛教智慧在當代社會的實踐，並推動跨文化理解與交流。
1994年，為延續祖母何張蓮覺夫人的慈善精神，他於加拿大溫哥華創立「加拿大東蓮覺苑協會」（The Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society），為一非牟利佛教慈善機構；2005年，又成立「加拿大東蓮覺苑基金會」（The Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation），以資助佛學講座與研究計畫。透過該基金會及香港東蓮覺苑，何先生對不列顛哥倫比亞大學（UBC）、香港大學佛學研究中心、多倫多大學與泰國國際佛教大學（International Buddhist College）等機構均有重要捐贈。
推動高等教育中的佛學研究，一直是「何鴻毅家族基金會」的核心宗旨之一。透過廣泛的資助計畫，基金會致力於培育佛學學者與積極參與社會的佛教專業人才，足跡遍及北美、歐洲與亞洲多所頂尖學府。
何鴻毅先生亦創辦了 佛門網，該網站為當今全球最大且最受歡迎的佛教資訊平台之一，涵蓋各宗各派，兼容古今，致力於促進國際佛教知識的普及與交流。
2005年，何先生於香港創立「何鴻毅家族基金會」（The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation），作為一個獨立的慈善組織，旨在於全球範圍內弘揚中華文化與佛教思想。基金會策劃並資助本地與海外多項文化教育項目。2009年，基金會協助英國倫敦維多利亞與亞伯特博物館（V&A）成立該國首座永久性佛教雕塑展廳；翌年，則促成中國秦兵馬俑首次赴加拿大展出。
北魏鎏金銅佛，坂本五郎舊藏，蘇富比2016年售出
近年基金會支持的重要展覽包括：2014年於多倫多皇家安大略博物館及溫哥華美術館舉行的《紫禁城：中國皇帝的宮廷世界》；2016年洛杉磯蓋蒂中心《敦煌石窟：絲綢之路上的佛教藝術》；2017年德國柏林國家亞洲藝術博物館於文化論壇舉辦的《中國面孔：明清肖像藝術》；以及同年華盛頓薩克勒美術館策劃的《遇見佛陀：亞洲各地的藝術與實踐》。
在香港本地，基金會推行結合攝影、寫作與動作表達的青少年藝術教育計劃，啟發創造力，並出版多部榮獲獎項的書籍。此外，基金會亦構思並實施一套文化教育架構，自香港輻射至亞洲及北美地區。為促進本地文化生態的多元發展，基金會亦積極提供創作、交流與研究資助予藝術教育者、作曲家、策展人與文學創作者。
黃花石，東魏造像碑（大魏孝昌二年）
2018年，何先生捐資支持法國盧斯昂戈黑爾（Loos-en-Gohelle）「希爾70戰役紀念園」（Hill 70 Memorial）的主步道建設工程，包括戰壕、橋樑與通往山頂的無障礙設施。該步道特別獻予在1917年8月15日至25日戰役中陣亡的華裔加拿大士兵李煥（Frederick Lee），以示紀念。
過去十年間，何先生將慈善重點拓展至加拿大的醫療體系改革，涵蓋醫療知識推進、病患照護改善等層面。2018年，何先生因其對加拿大醫療機構與大學的深遠捐助與變革性貢獻，獲授「加拿大勳章」（Order of Canada）成員勳位（C.M.），此為該國平民可獲頒的最高榮譽之一。此前，他於2013年亦獲頒「卑詩省勳章」（O.B.C.），以表彰其於醫療研究及精神健康倡導方面的卓著貢獻。
2014年，溫哥華總醫院與卑詩大學醫院基金會（VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation）頒予何先生「領袖獎」，以表揚其改革醫療與人類發展之遠見。2017年，何先生被列入「精神健康領域150位領航加拿大人」（150 Leading Canadians for Mental Health）名單，該倡議由加拿大成癮與心理健康中心（CAMH）主辦，旨在嘉許對加國心理健康系統帶來變革之人士。同年，亞洲企業聯盟協會（The Asian Business Network Association）亦頒授「華裔加拿大傳奇人物獎」（Chinese Canadian Legend Award），以表彰其傑出貢獻。
2009年，何鴻毅先生捐助溫哥華總醫院暨卑詩大學醫院基金會（VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation），設立嶄新的醫學研究機構──何鴻毅研究中心（Robert H. N. Ho Research Centre）。該中心於2011年9月正式啟用，為三項具有國際聲譽的研究計劃提供基地，分別聚焦於：攝護腺癌、卵巢癌以及髖關節健康與機能行動力之研究。
大理國鎏金銅佛
2011年5月，何鴻毅先生與夫人再度捐資，支持獅門醫院基金會（Lions Gate Hospital Foundation），於北溫哥華創設一所全新的精神健康與成癮治療中心──何太與何鴻毅精神醫療與教育中心（The Greta and Robert H. N. Ho Centre for Psychiatry and Education，簡稱 The HOpe Centre）。此中心於2014年9月正式啟用，並設有隸屬卑詩大學醫學院（UBC Faculty of Medicine）之教學設施，旨在擴展醫學生與住院醫師之實習與教育資源。該中心現已成為加拿大全國精神健康領域的教學重鎮，並在國際研究界具領導地位。
2011年10月，何先生再度向溫哥華總醫院暨卑詩大學醫院基金會作出具前瞻性的捐贈，成立何鴻毅醫療照護提升基金（Robert H. N. Ho Enhancing Patient Care Fund）。該基金專注於投資醫護人力資源，包括護士與專職醫療人員的教育、專業發展及終身學習，全面提升溫哥華沿岸衛生區（Vancouver Coastal Health）之病患照護成效。
2016年，該基金進一步拓展至溫哥華沿岸衛生區的「全人姑息照護計畫」（Palliative Approach to Care programme），透過聘任姑息照護臨床專家，提供專業培訓，強化末期照護在地社區醫療機構之實務應用與服務品質。
The Xuzhou Collection of Buddhist Art is a private collection of masterpieces, shown in public for the first time at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The works are on view in the Arts of Asia galleries in the Caroline Wiess Law Building.
The installation presents rare and exceptional sculptures from major Buddhist cultures across the Asian continent over a millennium. Among the highlights are a seated meditating Buddha from ancient Gandhara, today’s northern Pakistan; an eastern Indian narrative panel of a heroic Buddha at the moment of his full awakening; a spectacular Chinese Buddha head in lacquer with inlaid eyes; and a Japanese miniature Bodhisattva of Compassion with six arms, each offering a blessing.
The display highlights unique features of the individual sculptures. Taken together, they tell the life story of the historical Buddha and convey essential tenets of his teaching. The sculptures themselves are recognized as vehicles for enlightenment, as they embody Buddhist insights that are valuable in today’s world.
Xuzhou (pronounced “shoo-joe”) means “empty boat” in Chinese. It evokes the Buddhist metaphor that the Buddha’s teaching is like a raft that one can use to cross over the river of ignorance. Like the raft awaiting its passenger, these vessels remain “empty” until they are activated by an attentive and sympathetic viewer.
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global
Inspired and informed by interconnectedness, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global supports programs in arts and culture and Buddhism, and funds initiatives that enhance the wellbeing of humanity and the environment.
The Foundation is a private philanthropy with historical roots in Hong Kong and a global vision. Our work is guided by the values of our founder and made possible through the ongoing engagement of the Ho family
Founder
Robert H. N. Ho, C.M., O.B.C.
Born in Hong Kong, Mr. Robert H. N. Ho is the grandson of Sir Robert Ho Tung and Lady Clara Ho Tung, and the son of General Ho Shai Lai and Hesta Ho Hung Ki Fun. He was educated at Lingnan and Pui Ching Middle Schools and obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University, and his Master of Science in Journalism from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in the United States.
Mr. Ho spent his business career in journalism and in managing his family’s property and other investments. Since his retirement, he has concentrated on philanthropic activities. One of the beneficiaries of Mr. Ho’s philanthropy was his alma mater Colgate University, where his gifts enabled the establishment of the Robert H. N. Ho Interdisciplinary Science Center and the Ho Tung Visualization Laboratory.
From a family known for its philanthropic legacy, Robert H. N. Ho has focused his interests on health care, education, Buddhism and Chinese culture, with the vision of bettering both physical and mental health, fostering greater integration of Buddhist insights in today’s world, and promoting understanding between cultures.
Mr. Ho has continued the legacy of his grandparents, particularly his grandmother, Lady Clara Ho Tung, by establishing The Tung Lin Kok Yuen, Canada Society, a non-profit philanthropic Buddhist organisation in Vancouver in 1994. He also founded The Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation in 2005 to endow chairs and research programmes in Buddhist studies. Through this organisation and Tung Lin Kok Yuen Hong Kong, Mr. Ho has made donations to The University of British Columbia (UBC), the Centre of Buddhist Studies of The University of Hong Kong, the University of Toronto and the International Buddhist College in Thailand.
Advancing Buddhist studies in higher education has been one of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation’s priorities. Through grant-making, the Foundation nurtures Buddhist scholars as well as socially engaged Buddhist professionals at distinguished universities in North America, Europe and Asia.
Mr. Ho also initiated www.buddhistdoor.net, one of the world’s largest and most-visited websites on Buddhism.
In 2005, Mr. Ho founded The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, a Hong Kong-based independent philanthropic organisation. Committed to fostering Chinese culture and Buddhist insights globally, the Foundation initiates and supports local and overseas programmes. In 2009, it launched the United Kingdom’s first permanent gallery of Buddhist sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum; the following year, it made possible the Qin Terracotta Army’s first visit to Canada. Recent major exhibitions supported by the Foundation include The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors at the Royal Ontario Museum and the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2014; Cave Temples of Dunhuang: Buddhist Art on China’s Silk Road at the Getty Center in 2016; Faces of China: Portrait Painting of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368-1912), an exhibition organised by the Museum für Asiatische Kunst, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin at the Kulturforum and Encountering the Buddha: Art and Practice Across Asia at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, both in 2017. In Hong Kong, the Foundation has developed art education programmes to inspire creativity among young people through photography, writing and movement. It has published award-winning books and conceived a cultural education programme that has radiated from Hong Kong to Asia and North America. Seeking to enhance Hong Kong’s cultural ecology, the Foundation also provides creative, exchange and research opportunities for educators, composers, curators and writers.
In 2018, Mr. Ho made a significant donation to The Hill 70 Memorial directed towards the construction of a walkway, comprising a trench and bridge at the Hill 70 Memorial site in Loos en Gohelle, France, which constitutes the principal upper route to the summit of the Hill 70 Memorial that will also be utilized for handicap access for the summit. This promenade will be dedicated in honour of Frederick Lee, a Canadian of Chinese descent who was killed during this battle, which took place between 15-25 August, 1917.
In the past decade, Mr. Ho has focused on strengthening the field of Canadian health care, from spurring new knowledge to bettering patient experience. In recognition of his transformational philanthropy in support of Canadian health care institutions and universities, he was appointed to the Order of Canada as Member (C.M.) in 2018. The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours. Prior to receiving national recognition, Mr. Ho was appointed to the Order of British Columbia (O.B.C.) in 2013, recognising his support for medical research and raising awareness about mental health in the province.
In honour of his vision to transform health care and human development, the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation presented Mr. Ho with its 2014 Leadership Award. In 2017, he also was honoured as one of the 150 Leading Canadians for Mental Health, a national initiative organised by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), celebrating people who change the mental health landscape in Canada. In 2017, The Asian Business Network Association recognized Mr. Ho’s contribution by awarding him with the Chinese Canadian Legend Award.
In 2009, Mr. Ho made a gift to the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to establish a new research centre at the Vancouver General Hospital. The Robert H. N. Ho Research Centre, opened in September 2011, is home to three internationally recognised research programmes on prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and hip health and mobility. In May 2011, Mr. and Mrs. Ho made a leadership contribution to the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation for the establishment of a new centre for mental health and addiction services in North Vancouver. The Greta and Robert H. N. Ho Centre for Psychiatry and Education (The HOpe Centre), opened in September 2014, includes a teaching facility for the UBC Faculty of Medicine to increase educational opportunities for medical students and residents. The Centre has become Canada’s pre-eminent teaching hospital in the field and a world-leading research institution.
In October 2011, Mr. Ho made a visionary gift to the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation and created the Robert H. N. Ho Enhancing Patient Care Fund. This invests in human capital initiatives that support education, professional development and lifelong learning for nurses and allied health professionals across the Vancouver Coastal Health region, improving patient outcomes. In 2016, a second initiative extended the reach of the Enhancing Patient Care Fund to Vancouver Coastal Health’s Palliative Approach to Care programme. This supports increased expertise and improvements in provision of end-of-life care through the hiring of specialised palliative care clinical leads to educate relevant healthcare colleagues across the regional health authority’s Communities of Care.
In recognition of his contribution and commitment to the arts, academia and society at large, Mr. Ho has received honorary degrees from a number of prestigious academic institutions. These include an Honorary Doctorate from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (2007), Doctor of Social Science honoris causa from The University of Hong Kong (2009), Dean’s Medal for Public Service from Columbia University (2009), Doctor of Humane Letters from Colgate University (2011), Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the University of British Columbia (2012), and Doctor of Humanities honoris causa from Hong Kong Baptist University (2015).
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