I knew Dr. Noel Barnard for over forty-five years. Throughout his life, he showed great kindness to me, as well as others with whom he came into contact. In Noel's filial devotion to his mother, he was also a role model for all. This devotion could only be matched by his commitment to academic pursuit. Needless to say, Noel's academic achievements made him a renowned scholar and he gained international acclaim. He had a straightforward character and held fast to his beliefs, which gave him astonishing energy to pursue his research.
From 1971 onwards, for more than thirteen years, I was privileged to work closely with Noel. I recall the first project on which we collaborated was his pioneering research, Metallurgical Remains of Ancient China (Noel Barnard and Satō Tamotsu, Tokyo: Nichiōsha, 1975). I was entrusted with the task of editing and copy-writing the Chinese texts. In the process, I became deeply impressed by Noel's detailed argument and revolutionary presentation of archaeological findings. His painstaking methodology broadened my vision and certainly that of my peers.
I was also fortunate to travel with Noel around the world. Together, we visited both public museums and private collections. Eventually, we produced a unique book, Rubbings and Hand Copies of Bronze Inscriptions in Chinese, Japanese, European, American, and Australasian Collections (Zhong Ri Ou Mei Au Mu suojian suota suomo jinwen huibian 中日歐美澳紐所見所拓所摹金文彙編, Noel Barnard and Cheung Kwong-Yue, Taipei: Yi-wen Publishing, 1978). One unique feature of this book is that each item is provided with an index that refers to its year of occurrence in other publications.
Noel and I were also the first Australian humanities scholars to be formally invited by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) to mainland China after the Cultural Revolution, where we were received with utmost respect and treated as dignitaries. This allowed Noel to produce Studies in Chinese Archaeology 1980–1982: Reports on Visits to Mainland China, Taiwan, and the USA: Participation in Conference in These Countries, and Some Notes and Impressions (Noel Barnard and Cheung Kwong-yue, Hong Kong: Wen-hsueh-she, 1983). His personal notes and records were extensive and meticulous, covering interviews, conferences, agendas, photos, and attendees, as well as the idiosyncrasies attendant on the opening of China at the time. Written from a Western point of view, these records provide an interesting historical reflection on China and Noel went into painstaking detail to bring his new insights to the sinological world.
Noel's primary expertise was in bronze casting, Chu silk manuscripts, and their associated research. He was also internationally renowned for his knowledge of Chinese history and archaeology. I will not attempt to revisit all of his voluminous works, but would like to touch upon his unseen effort and toil. Noel was always hands-on. In early years when computers were not well developed, it was common for every single page of his publications to be a result of his handiwork. He did all the cuttings and measurements, and dedicated himself to every single detail in order to produce a fine publication. The sheer willpower and effort behind each work was phenomenal, and I still cannot but hold him in the highest regard for his work ethic.
Along with his lifelong interest in Chinese history and culture, Noel also expressed much curiosity about the country of China, especially from the citizens' point of view. And so in our travels to the newly opened country, whenever possible, there was a preference to stay in local or student hostels and to take buses over taxis or limousine service. This pursuit of the real China resulted in a trip to Sichuan where he was unfortunately targeted by a thief and lost some money. Interestingly, his anger was instead directed to the damage done to his trousers, which he much treasured. His love of China made him overcome many a hardship, and it left with me many fond memories of him.
(color online) Noel Barnard (right) and his childhood friend Eddy Wong (left) with Cheung Kwong-Yue.
Noel's love of books was also well known. Although he had a well-stocked personal library, on many a trip overseas his first stop would be a bookstore. Hand-bought, hand-wrapped and in many cases hand-delivered to the post office would be Noel's preference in handling his treasured worldly goods. Other interesting aspects of his life came to bear when I stayed over at his house, or when he stayed with my family in Hong Kong. He never had breakfast, eschewing it for a mere cup of Japanese green tea or Chinese Longjing (longjing 龍井) tea, most commonly with a book in hand. Classical music was also his passion and seemed to allow him to focus on academic work even better.
Our mutual respect had grown over the years and this fostered many intellectual exchanges between us and the sharing of research materials. We may not always have agreed on academic issues, but I came to know Noel even better. He truly deserves accolades as one of the most principled and dedicated academics. He was inspiring in his unyielding quest for truth, and never wavered from having an opinion.
The publisher, SMT Publishing, Taipei (Taibei Nantian shuju 台北南天書局) is preparing to print and distribute his three-volume book manuscript, Inscriptions of Chin and the San-Chin, on which he had spent almost twenty years before its completion. In fact, Noel brought this set of manuscripts with him on every single trip that he took, so that he could enrich it and make changes whenever new ideas or research materials appeared. This pursuit of an ultimate publication with the most up-to-date accuracy again demonstrates his character.
After his retirement from the Australian National University, his wish was always to ensure that his personal library was put to the best use. On his ninetieth birthday, when I flew to Australia to celebrate with him, I was able to arrange in advance to have his private collections sent to Jilin University, China, where a Noel Barnard Library will be established. A special thanks go to Professor Wu Zhenwu of Jilin University, China, who has a made tremendous effort to help him realize this dream.
I believe these arrangements lifted a great burden from Noel's mind, as he was more relaxed in the last few years. I am of the hope that his passing was in comfort and his mind was at peace in the knowledge that such a legacy, including his lifework and collections, would be put to the best and continued use in the academic world, through which his spirit of kindness, determination, and dedication will carry on.
