Chinese Name: 吳靜吉
Born: May 3, 1939
Place of Birth: Yilan County (Eastern Taiwan)
Did You Know?
In his memoir, Wu Jing-jyi mentioned two ways to overcome shyness: acting and role-playing, and self-deprecating humor. Many naturally shy people find relief from nervousness and anxiety through acting or telling jokes. This discovery was a crucial turning point for Wu, encouraging him to pursue a career in performing arts such as theater. Through the world of the performing arts, he found ways to overcome his own nervousness and shyness.
Wu Jing-jyi is an influential figure in various fields, including educational psychology, writing, public speaking, management consulting, and performing arts. Born in Yilan in 1939, Wu Jing-jyi was the first child in his village to attend university. While studying at National Chengchi University (政治大學), he developed a particular interest in educational psychology. After graduating, he applied to the University of Minnesota in the United States, becoming the first Taiwanese student to attend the school’s educational psychology program.
From a young age, Wu had an interest in music, theater, and dance. However, due to his shyness, he didn't express it openly while in Taiwan. After obtaining his doctoral degree in the United States, he was determined to fulfill his desire to be part of the performing arts. He went to New York to teach, choosing the city because it is a major hub for performing arts in the United States and the world. This allowed him to explore ballet, opera, and other performing arts. He also had the opportunity to visit Greenwich Village, known for its experimental works, and found a job with the LaMaMa Experimental Theatre Club. Wu thoroughly enjoyed his work with the theater group and spent his free time reading numerous books on drama. He later created his first stage play, "Wonton Soup (餛飩湯)," which received significant attention, including coverage in The New York Times, leading him to meet many Taiwanese artists and intellectuals in the United States.
Upon returning to Taiwan, Wu Jing-jyi became a university professor, and throughout his teaching career, "creativity" became the central theme. Whether teaching management psychology in a business school, general psychology in a psychology department, or educational psychology in an education department, he always taught students how to cultivate creativity. However, his understanding of creativity extended beyond academia. He incorporated it into his beloved theater, continuing to inspire others through his involvement in experimental theater groups.
In 1978, the Gengxin Experimental Theater Troupe (耕莘實驗劇團) was established, and Wu Jing-jyi was invited to serve as the artistic director due to his experience with the LaMaMa Experimental Theatre Club. This troupe would go on to become Taiwan's first amateur experimental theater group, known as the Lan Ling Theatre Workshop (蘭陵劇坊), with Wu Jing-jyi as the artistic director. In an era when modern experimental theater was not yet widespread, Wu drew from his knowledge of psychology, creativity, and his experiences at the LaMaMa Experimental Theatre Club to design an actor training program. He broke away from traditional hierarchical authority and focused on a "participant-centered" approach, helping students discover their true selves in a free and expressive environment. Wu emphasized that everyone’s story and cultural background could become a source of creativity, regardless of race, identity, or social class. He believed that everyone could be each other's teacher. Although the Lan Ling Theatre Workshop disbanded in 1991, many talented performers trained there continue to contribute to other theater groups, such as the renowned Ping-Fong Acting Troupe (屏風表演班), U-Theatre (優人神鼓), and Paper Windmill Theatre (紙風車兒童劇團).
Even at over 80 years old, Wu Jing-jyi continues to exert influence in academia and the arts. In addition to using his training in psychology and his extensive network to help others, he has also written books such as "The Four Dreams of Youth (青年的四個大夢)" (1993) and "Stimulating Creativity: Wu Jing-jyi’s Seventy Short Lectures on Creativity (創造力的激發：吳靜吉的七十堂創造力短講)" (2020), inspiring countless readers. Due to his outstanding contributions to the education and theater communities in Taiwan, Wu Jing-jyi was recognized with the 2023 National Cultural Award.