Established in 1980, the Executive Yuan National Cultural Award is a lifetime achievement award that honors those who have made special contributions to the maintenance or enhancement of culture, and is the highest honor for an individual in the cultural community.
This prestigious award is given to highly respected individuals in such fields as literature, religion, philosophy and education as well astraditional drama, dance and music.
The annual award panel selects one to five honorees each year. A total of 66 scholars from a variety of fields have received the award to date. Each honoree receives prize money of NT$1 million (US$34,485) and a medallion.
List of Winners
- Chen Daqi (1886-1983) - Educator and the first president of National Chengchi University
- Chen Li-Fu (1990-2001) - Politician and educator
- Chang Chi-yun (1901-1985) - Educator and former education minister
- Archbishop Stanislaus Lo Kuang (1911-2004) - Philosopher
- Lin Po-shou (1895-1986) - Banker
- Chien Mu (1895-1990) - Chinese historian, educator and philosopher
- Mou Zongsan (1909-1995) - Chinese New Confucian philosopher
- Yang Liang-kung (1895-1992）- Historian
- Wu Ching-hsiung (1899 - 1986) - Educator and philosopher
- Mei I-pao (1900-1997) - Educator
- Chiang Fu-tsung (1898-1990) - The first director of the Taipei-based National Palace Museum
- Tai Ching-nung (1902-1990) - Calligrapher
- Uno Seiichi (1910-2008) - Sinologist
- Tseng Hsu-pai (1895-1994) - Journalist
- Huang Chun-pi (1898-1991) - Chinese painter
- Long Chin-san (1892-1995) - Photographer
- Mao Tzu-shui (1893-1988) - Cultural and historical sociologist
- Kao Ming (1909-1992) - Educator and litterateur
- Hang Li-wu (1903-1991) - Educator, politician, and sociologist
- Su Xue-lin (1897-1999) - Cultural and historical sociologist
- Liu Chen (1913-2012) - Educator and former president of National Taiwan Normal University
- Chen Chi-lu (1923~) - Anthropologist
- Chen Jung-chieh (1901-1994) - Philosopher
- Cheng Chien (1906-1991) - Litterateur
- Lee Tian-lu (1910-1998) - Master puppeteer
- Lu Chuan-sheng (1916-2008) - Musician
- Yu Ying-shih (1930~) - Sinologist, historian, and an academician of Academia Sinica
- Yang San-lang (1907-1995) - Artist
- Liang Tsai-ping (1911-2000) - Classical musicologist
- Yang Ying-feng (1926-1997) - Sculptor
- Lu Fo-ting (1911-2005) - Musician, poet, and calligrapher
- Lin Heng-dao (1915-1997) - Historian
- Pan Chung-kuei (1906-2003) - Sinologist
- Hwang Yau-tai (1912-2010) - Musician, writer and composer
- Dharma Master Cheng Yen (1937~) - Buddhist nun, philanthropist, and founder of the Tzu Chi Foundation
- Lee Lin-tsan (1913-1999) - Chinese art historian and artist
- Chen Chin (1907-1998) - Japanese Nihonga artist
- Sim Mow-yu (1913-2009) - Overseas Chinese educator
- Hsu Chang-hui (1929-2001) - Educator and musician
- Chen Hui-kun (1907-2011) - Artist
- Shih Hsiao-yun (1912-2004) - Educator and Buddhist
- Fu Juan-fu (1910-2007) - Artist
- Lee Yi-yuan (1931~) - Anthropologist
- Tsao Yung-ho (1920~) - Taiwanese historian and litterateur
- Lin Yu-shan (1907 -2004) - Japanese Nihonga artist
- Yeh Shih-tao (1925-2008) - Taiwanese writer and historian
- Chang Sheng-yen (1930-2009) - Buddhist monk and religious scholar
- Huang Hai-tai (1901-2007) - Master puppeteer
- Wang Shu-min (1914-2008) - Litterateur
- Lee Kuei-hsien (1937~) - Author and poet
- Lao Sze-kwang (1927-2012) - Philosopher
- Bo Yang (1920-2008) - Litterateur
- Lin Hwai-min (1947~) - Dancer, writer, and choreographer
- Ju Ming (1938~) - Sculptor
- Lin Chih-chu (1917-2008) - Japanese Nihonga artist
- Ma Shui-long (1939~) - Musician
- Kuo Hsueh-hu (1908-2012) - Japanese Nihonga artist
- Tyzen Hsiao (1938~) - Musician and composer
- Huang Chun-ming (1935~) - Novelist and writer
- Chang Kuang-bin (1915~) - Artist
- Liao Shiou-ping (1936~) - Artist and printmaker
- Chang Chao-tang (1943~) - Photographer
- Lin Wen-yueh (1933~) - Litterateur
- Tong Yang-tze (1942~) - Calligrapher
- Lee Tai-hsiang (1941-2014) – Composer
- Hou Hsiao-hsien (1947~ ) – Director, filmmaker, actor
- Pai Hsien-yung (1937~) – Novelist and playwright
- Wang Da-hung (1917~) – Architect
- Han Pao-teh (1934-2014) – Architect
- Yu Kwang-chung (1928-2017) – Poet, author, translator
- Chi Pang-yuan (1924~) – Novelist and translator
- Chung Chao-cheng (1925~) – Roman-fleuve writer
- Li Hsing (1930~) – Filmmaker
- Li Chien-lang (1949~) – Heritage preservationist
- Liu Kuo-sung (1932~) – Painter
- Tsai Ming-liang (1957~) – Filmmaker
- Cheng Shan-hsi (1932~) – Ink painter and calligrapher
- Hsieh Li-fa (1938 ~) – Artist and writer
- Wu Nien-jen (1952 ~) – Filmmaker and scriptwriter