Fossil Expert—Wang,Kun-Yu
【A lifetime dedicated to fossil excavation, witnessing millions of years of life】

 

Donating 1,200 Fossils Dating Back Millions of Years
    Wang Kun-yu graduated from Taipei Normal College (now National Taipei University of Education) in 1984 and returned to his hometown of Zhongliao in Nantou County, dedicating himself entirely to education in a remote rural elementary school. He often took his students deep into the mountains and fields for nature-based lessons. This reignited the passion he had first discovered in 1979 when he accidentally found a 540-million-year-old Wengrong snail fossil. From then on, he dedicated his life to fossil collection—a treasure hunt across Taiwan—in addition to his teaching duties.
 
    In his spare time, Wang Kun-yu explored over 300 rivers, streams, mountain gorges, and hidden creeks in the Zhongliao area of Nantou County, dedicating his life to treasure hunting in Taiwan. He uncovered over 3,000 fossils, reconstructing the epic life stories of these creatures that once lived on the ocean floor and were transformed into fossils on the mountains through tectonic movements.
 
    Wang Kun-yu's lifelong passion, spanning decades of treasure hunting and excavation, includes 20 Wengrong snail fossils dating back over 540 million years—fossils of Cambrian-era organisms—along with nearly 1,200 other fossil treasures. Driven by deep affection for his hometown, he sincerely donated all these artifacts to the Zhongliao Township Office in Nantou County to establish the “Zhongliao Fossil Museum.” However, successive town mayors deemed the project too significant and declined to accept the donation.
 
    To honor his hometown—Zhongliao Township, Nantou County—as a sacred land of beautiful stones and a paradise of fossils, and to spread his love for millions of years to every corner of the world, Wang Kun-yu resolutely organized the 1,200 million-year-old marine fossil specimens and donated them to the National Museum of Natural Science.
 
    This allows the National Museum of Natural Science to possess more Taiwanese-specific collections and sustainably promote diverse educational activities to disseminate knowledge about fossils and natural science.
 
    As a result, Wang Kun-yu not only dedicated his life to education in rural elementary schools but also made the most of every spare moment to discover nearly 3,000 fossil specimens from Taiwan. He was the first person in Taiwan to discover a fossilized ammonite rock layer, contributing to the writing of Earth's history and bearing witness to millions of years of life. His daring treasure hunt earned him the title of “Three Inches Underground.” He selflessly donated all 1,200 million-year-old fossils to the National Museum of Natural Science, promoting natural science knowledge and spreading his love for Taiwan's fossils to every corner of the world. He also vowed to inspire over 2 million people suffering from depression to find hope. Truly deserving of the title “Fossil Expert.” From among 3,683 candidates recommended worldwide, earning the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation’s “28th Global Love of Life Award in 2025.”

Search for Life Fighters from 233 Countries Worldwide

    Everyone can break the shackles of life; everyone’s life holds boundless possibilities.

    For 28 years, the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation, with the support and encouragement of communities worldwide, has tirelessly promoted the “Global Love of Life Movement,” advocating: Be good to yourself—cherish your own life; be good to others—respect others’ lives; be good to the Earth—protect the Earth’s life.

    To date, they have honored 481 Global Love of Life Award recipients from 81 countries across seven continents, along with 16 Global Love of Life Literature Award winners, including the chivalrous poet Cheng Chou-yu and Chinese chef-poet Song Chengbao, and 41 Hope Award recipients, such as anti-drug hero Kao Chao-liang and reformed figure Wu Shih-hsuan. They have also cared for and supported over 350,000 of the world’s most vulnerable children with cancer, including Mary Donita Uy, a bone cancer angel from a Philippine slum, helping them fight cancer with love and live with hope.

    We are deeply grateful for the recognition and resonance from global media outlets such as CNN, BBC, NHK, Yahoo, YouTube, Facebook, and Baidu, which have widely reported our efforts as the “Nobel Prize of Life.”

    We are profoundly thankful for accolades including the 3rd National Public Welfare Award in 2001, the Hong Kong Loving Heart Award in 2010, the Ministry of Education Social Education Contribution Award in 2018, Colombia’s Congress Resolution No. 61 in 2019 granting its highest congressional honor, the United Nations NGO World Harmony Outstanding Contribution Award in 2021, and the China Charity and Filial Piety Culture Award in 2022. These recognitions inspire us to continue sharing, encouraging, and striving alongside global communities.
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    The foundation warmly welcomes nominations of life warriors who demonstrate effort, compassion, courage, and achievement from people worldwide. (Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation Global Love of Life Award Nomination Hotline: +886-2-29178770, Fax: +886-2-29178768, Address: 3F, No. 52, Mingde Road, Xindian District, New Taipei City 231, Taiwan, Website: http://www.ta.org.tw, Email: ta88ms17@gmail.com).
 
Uncovering the History of Earth's Life
    There are no talents in the world that go to waste, nor are there useless things on earth. All living things have their purpose and value for existence. Regardless of where life originates or where it will go, every form of life that has ever thrived on Earth is an immortal legend. The fossils they leave behind serve as epitaphs of life's evolution and as the written words in the Earth's history book.
 
    The history of life's evolution is written in rock layers, more precisely in individual fossils. Fossils are the remains or traces of ancient life preserved in rock layers. According to paleontologists, over 99% of all species that have ever existed on Earth have become extinct, leaving only fossils as records of their existence in the Earth's history.
 
    Wang Kun-yu traveled north from the remote village of Zhongliao in Nantou County to attend the Provincial Taipei Normal College in September 1979. Every week, he took the Kuang Hwa bus back to his hometown in Zhongliao. One autumn morning, while working in the orchard with his father, he accidentally picked up a shell fossil, which he casually tossed under his bed.
 
    It wasn't until May 1994, while leading all the teachers and students of Shuangwen Elementary School on a visit to the Kaohsiung Jiaoxian Fossil Museum, that he was deeply captivated by a fossil displayed in a reinforced glass case at the center of the museum. The fossil, a shell measuring only 8 centimeters in diameter, was labeled as the museum's prized possession—the “Dragon Palace Wengrong Shell Fossil.” It was identical to the fossil he had found in the orchard in 1979, and the origin was labeled as “Zhongliao Township, Nantou County.” The image of the fossil was deeply etched into his mind, and he realized how precious Zhongliao fossils truly were!
 
    Why had the shell fossil from his hometown become the “treasure of the museum” at the Jiaoxian Fossil Museum? Why were the villagers of Zhongliao unaware of these rare fossils? On the way back, he silently vowed to himself, “I must uncover these treasures of Zhongliao and establish a ‘Zhongliao Fossil Museum’ in my hometown.”
 
    Before 1994, he traveled all over Taiwan in search of the “elegant stones” he envisioned. What are “elegant stones”? Stones are the oldest artifacts on Earth and the basic elements that compose the planet. They embody the essence of heaven and earth, reflect the brilliance of the sun and moon, and are sculpted by flowing water and painted by wind and rain, forming natural antiques that have endured for millions of years. However, stones that possess natural beauty, evoke joy, and are so captivating that one cannot bear to part with them are referred to as “elegant stones.”
 
    Throughout Chinese history, many literati and scholars have been obsessed with stones. Among them, the most renowned are Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty and the governor Mi Fu. Emperor Huizong once ordered the collection of all elegant stones nationwide and gathered them in a certain town. Mi Fu's painting and calligraphy were unique, and he was ranked among the Four Great Calligraphers of the Song Dynasty alongside Su Dongpo. During his tenure as governor of Anhui Province, Mi Fu heard of a strange stone in the river. He rushed to the riverbank, saw the stone, immediately set up a mat, adjusted his hat, and bowed, saying, “I have known you, Stone Brother, for twenty years!” This incident is known as “Mi the Madman Bows to the Stone.”
 
    Additionally, during the Tang Dynasty, there was a chancellor named Niu Sengru, who said, “Treat them like guests, regard them like sages, cherish them like precious jade, and love them like one's own children.” Li Deyu said, “Anyone who gives away stones to others is not my descendant!”
 
    Although he did not share Mi Fan's obsession, he would rise at 3:30 a.m. with a flashlight to search for stones in the riverbed.
 
    Though he was not regarded as a descendant by Niu Sengru, he would caress his beloved stones at three o'clock in the morning, utterly captivated.
 
    In 1998, Zhongtai Zen Temple held a “Thousand Monks Prayer Ceremony” at the Nantou County Sports Stadium, where a thousand ordained monks chanted sutras for blessings. He was invited to display one hundred of his finest collected elegant stones. Over three days, the event attracted 120,000 visitors. Venerable Master Wei-Jue of Zhongtai Chan Temple and Venerable Master Miao-Lian of Lingyan Mountain Temple lingered to admire the stones for an entire hour, showcasing the undeniable charm of the elegant stones.
 
    In May 1994, he visited the Kaohsiung Jia-Xian Fossil Museum and was deeply moved by its “treasure of the museum.” From that moment on, he dedicated every moment to the collection and study of fossils, embarking on his lifelong mission: to seek out the indigenous life forms of Taiwan from one million years ago through the fossil record of life history.
 
    “Fossil records” are the laboratories of past evolutionary experiments, with their results frozen in stone. Taiwan has three precious fossils: the Longgong Weng Rong snail fossil, the Nautilus fossil, and the Lavin's sea urchin fossil.
 
    Among these, the Longgong Weng Rong snail fossil is the most precious and rare, earning it the nickname “millionaire snail.” Taiwan is the only place in the world where all three fossils can be found, and 90% of all nautilus fossils in Taiwan come from Zhongliao Township in Nantou County. This serves as a testament to the unique and significant ancient marine environment of Zhongliao Township 15 million years ago.
 
Witnessing over 500 million years of life
    The Wengrong snail first appeared during the Cambrian Period of the Paleozoic Era, approximately 570 million years ago. It is the oldest sea snail on Earth and the ancestor of all modern sea snails. It is extremely rare and valuable, making it one of the world's most famous “living fossils.”
 
    In 1970, Taiwanese fishermen discovered a Dragon Palace Nautilus near the Diaoyu Islands. It was immediately purchased by the Toba Aquarium in Japan for 400,000 New Taiwan Dollars, setting the world record for the highest price ever paid for a shell, earning it the nickname “Million-Dollar Nautilus.”
 
    Due to its large, precious, and beautiful shell, as well as its academic research value, the Dragon Palace Weng Rong Shell is highly regarded by the global academic community and is a coveted collection item for natural history museums worldwide.
The nautilus first appeared 450 million years ago during the Ordovician period of the Paleozoic era. It is often referred to as a “living fossil” and holds significant value in the study of animal evolution. Currently, only four species remain, and it is listed as a “first-class protected animal” under the Washington Convention. Its body contains a central canal connecting 36 air chambers, each of which is arranged in the golden ratio, exhibiting strict artistic and harmonious proportions, and harboring rich aesthetic and scientific value.
 
    In 1954, the world's first nuclear submarine was invented based on the principle of the nautilus's 36 air chambers for submersion, and thus the submarine was named the “Nautilus.”
 
The Treasure Hunt—Earning the Title of “Three Inches Underground”
    The Dragon Palace Wengrong lobster and the Nautilus are extremely rare and precious. The fossils of the Wengrong lobster and the Nautilus hold significant academic research and scientific exploration value.
 
    Over the past four decades, he has traversed the 365 large and small valleys and streams of Zhongliao Township, living among Taiwanese macaques, wild boars, Taiwanese long-haired goats, and large pythons, among other wild animals.
 
    In his quest for the legendary Weng Rong snail and nautilus fossils, he often ventured alone into remote mountainous regions. On one occasion, he was stung by a tiger bee, causing a swollen lump. He quickly hide into his car, but while driving, he noticed the front was foggy. It turned out he had accidentally knocked his glasses out of the window in the rush. He had to put on a raincoat, wrapping himself tightly to avoid getting wet. He walked back to the bees' nest to retrieve his glasses. From then on, he always kept an extra pair of glasses in the car.
 
    Another time, he encountered a python approximately 300 centimeters long and 25 centimeters in diameter. Terrified, he immediately recited, “Amitabha Buddha,” as if in conversation with the snake. Fortunately, the python slowly slithered away!
 
    On February 1, 2003, in a remote mountain valley at an altitude of 888 meters in Zhongliao, I finally discovered a rock layer containing fossils of nautilus and ammonite shells. The area spans twenty hectares, making it the first such discovery in Taiwan. The rock layer is covered with various marine organism remains. The rock layers date back to the Miocene “Shimen Village Formation,” approximately 10 million to 25 million years ago. Due to their ancient age, the rock layers are extremely hard. Extracting a single parrotfish fossil took one and a half hours, leaving my right hand nearly unable to lift afterward. I immediately sought treatment at a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, applied medicinal ointment, and continued the process for nearly 21 days (during winter break).
 
    Every time he discovered what he was certain was a nautilus fossil or a Wengrong snail fossil, he felt extremely excited. During the striking process, every second was filled with intense excitement, and even the pain and soreness were transformed into joy.
 
    In ancient times, the phrase “penetrating three inches into wood” was used to describe someone with profound calligraphy skills. Dr. Wang Shih-wei, Director of the National Museum of Natural Science, praised his expertise in seeking out precious fossils, bestowing upon him the title of “Three Inches Underground.”
 
    In October 2003, the “Wang Kun-yu Fossil Special Exhibition” was held at the Presidential Office in Nantou County, marking the first exhibition of “parrotfish fossils and wongrong snail fossils” in Taiwan. The Nantou County Cultural Affairs Bureau even insured the fossils for 20 million New Taiwan dollars.
 
    In the same year, he shared “Taiwan's Fossil Treasures” at the Academia Sinica and took a commemorative photo with then-President Lee Yuan-Tseh. Over four decades, the fossils collected from Zhongliao have exceeded 2,000 pieces. Each fossil is unique and has its own life story.
 
    It lies in the hard rock layers, waiting for him to uncover each fossil over ten million years old. This is not a coincidence, but a miracle!
 
    They await his excavation, hoping that the people of Taiwan may glimpse the ancient life forms that once thrived here millions of years ago, such as the Wengrong snail, the parrot shell, the lavender sea urchin, the Megalodon shark, the whale, the mammoth, the saber-toothed elephant, and countless others.
 
    In June 2023, he decided to donate the precious fossils he had collected over four decades—approximately 1,200 pieces—to the “National Museum of Natural Science.” Currently, only the National Museum of Natural Science has the capability to conduct fossil research, collection, and exhibition, allowing the public to witness the earliest indigenous life forms in Taiwan. Initially, he envisioned establishing a “Zhongliao Fossil Museum” in Zhongliao Township, but due to various considerations, the plan had to be abandoned.
 
    In recent years, he has actively promoted natural ecology education in primary and secondary schools in Nantou County, particularly fossil exploration. Before Teacher's Day in 2024, he received a thank-you card from a fourth-grade elementary school student: "When I first entered third grade, I felt as though I were in a vast, dark ocean, with restless waves threatening to swallow me whole. I felt alone and on the verge of being submerged. Ms. Kun-Yu ignited the torch of learning joy with the wonders of biology, guiding me out of loneliness. She was like my dearest friend; whenever she discovered new natural knowledge, she shared it with me. Unfortunately, she has left the school, but I still follow in her footsteps, exploring nature on my own. Ms. Kun-Yu—Happy Teachers' Day. Wu Chengyu, September 26, 2024 (See Liberty Times Electronic Edition, September 26, 2024)
 
    After reading this thank-you card, I am filled with joy and emotion. The biggest blind spot in education today is the complete loss of the connection between humans and nature! Most students today suffer from “nature deficiency syndrome.” It is heartening to see this child's curiosity about nature and his strong desire to explore it.
 
    Wang Kun-yu's Quote: “Those who work in literature and history are either fools or madmen; if not fools, then madmen.”
 
    During his tenure at Shuangwen Elementary School in 1991, he was inspired by his mentor, Professor Jian Mingquan, to visit elderly villagers and local dignitaries, establish friendships with them, and conduct interviews and video recordings about the history of Zhongliao Township from the Qing Dynasty to the Japanese occupation period and the early years of the Republic of China. He collected approximately 1,000 ancient documents, manuscripts, and artifacts. He also collected over 2,000 photographs from the Japanese occupation period, scanning each into digital files, printing them as 4x6 photos, and enlarging them in color to A3 size. Processing the old photographs alone cost 500,000 yuan.
 
    Furthermore, the collection of ancient documents and artifacts is valued at nearly one million dollars. For a primary school teacher's salary, one million dollars is a substantial expense. Fortunately, thanks to Wang Kun-yu's dedication to preserving Zhongliao Township's cultural and historical records, they were spared from destruction during the 1999 September 21st earthquake.
 
    Between 2003 and 2005, while teaching, Wang Kunyu published four books: “Zhongliao Beautiful Stones,” “Seed Flower Road Rice,” “Golden Pupa Legend,” and “Dust and Light.” These works span the realms of minerals, plants, insects, and humanities.
 
    Wang Kunyu's wife jokingly said, “After marrying you for seven years, I turned into a stone; in one year, I evolved into a plant; in two years, I further evolved into an animal; and after three years, I finally returned to being human.” These books later became part of the Zhongliao Local History Textbook Series. To this day, many people still request “Dust and Light”—a collection of old photographs with stories. An elderly doctor in Nantou City saw the book and was so moved that he shed tears, pointing out that one of the barefoot children in the book was his grandfather, “Liao Niu.” He asked, “Can you give this book to him?”
 
Determined to inspire over 2 million people with depression to live with hope
    Wang Kun-yu grew up in a poor farming family. His parents worked tirelessly and frugally for thirty years to cultivate and purchase three hectares of land. Even at the age of 60, his mother could still carry 140 kilograms of bananas. They had never used their health insurance card. In September 2003, he was diagnosed with a 15-centimeter neurofibrosarcoma in his lung. After surgery at Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, the tumor was successfully removed. However, due to the malignant nature of the tumor, which was covered by a membrane, there was no adhesion or recurrence.
 
    Two years later (2005), my younger sister, who was 40 years old, was diagnosed with a 25-centimeter malignant neurofibroma in her lung. During surgery, the doctors found the tumor was too large and had adhered to surrounding tissues, so they were unable to remove it and closed the incision. She passed away a year later.
 
    Wang Kun-yu only then realized that this disease has a genetic predisposition. Terrified, he spent every week driving his mother between Nantou and the Tzu Chi Hospital in Dalin, Chiayi. The exhaustion and fear led to the onset of depression. He lost his appetite, couldn’t sleep, and found everything meaningless. Every morning, he woke up feeling utterly depressed, with suicidal thoughts frequently crossing his mind. He would roll around in bed for an hour before forcing himself to get up, struggling even to brush his teeth. He spent the entire day in a state of depression, panic, and sadness.
 
    “There is a pain that cannot be expressed; there is a suffering that cannot be swallowed!” Depression causes more disability in humans than cancer! Currently, there are approximately 2 million people with depression in Taiwan. Medical experts estimate that by 2028, depression will be the leading cause of disability, surpassing cancer or cardiovascular disease.
 
    There is a disease where living is more painful than dying! It is not terminal cancer, but severe depression. What are the symptoms of severe depression? Constant irritability and sadness, lack of interest in everything, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, overwhelming guilt, recurring thoughts of death, loss of appetite and weight loss, and complete helplessness.
 
    He experienced a severe depressive episode in June 2007, living each day like a zombie, with a heart so broken it felt dead. When the heart dies, life energy drops to negative levels, making suicide a constant threat. He was admitted to the psychiatric ward of Taichung Chung Shan Hospital, where patients with various mental illnesses were admitted, each more severe than the next. Some muttered to themselves all day, some lay in bed all day, some moaned constantly, and some experienced hallucinations and delusions.
 
    If there is a hell on earth, it is the psychiatric ward! All electrical items, such as razors, nail clippers, and hair dryers, were classified as dangerous items. Additionally, items like toothpicks, spoons, mirrors, belts, and scarves were also prohibited from being brought in.
 
    When family members visit patients, they must pass through three iron doors. Patients are not allowed to leave and are completely isolated from the outside world. He originally wanted to escape the devil’s attacks, prevent suicidal thoughts, and leave the fiery pit, but instead fell into a human hell.
 
    During his hospitalization, in addition to taking medication, he had to undergo electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) three times a week. ECT involves attaching electrodes all over the body. After receiving an anesthetic injection, he loses consciousness for a few seconds. The doctor then uses an electric shock device to administer high-voltage shocks to the head, inducing seizures. After about an hour, the nurse wakes him up and pushes him back to the ward. He feels dizzy, has lost some memories, and needs to hold onto the railings to walk. He underwent nine sessions of ECT, and some memories from his life are truly lost. The doctor assured him that they would gradually return over time.
 
    The “dujunwo” ward also has some unique experiences that outsiders cannot experience: 1. Nurses conduct a headcount every hour during the night to ensure patients are in bed. Initially, this easily wakes patients, making it impossible to sleep throughout the night. 2. Seeing stray dogs outside the window, I envied their freedom to roam freely. 3. Every morning at 9 a.m., there is a safety check of the bedside cabinets to ensure there are no dangerous items—it’s stricter than the military. 4. Hot water is only available at a fixed time each evening, so you have to rush to get there first. 5. The washing machine is dirtier than the toilet, so it’s best to wash your clothes by hand. 6. the most anticipated part of the day is when the beautiful nurse takes your blood pressure—it’s a rare moment of warmth.
 
    After a month in the hospital, he was discharged, completely transformed. All his depressive symptoms had vanished, though fragments of his life’s memories also faded away. It took about half a year for him to gradually regain his senses. Six years later, depression resurfaced. He sincerely thanked his wife, Ms. Li Yuchan—her endless patience, listening, and companionship helped him overcome depression in just two months. This time, he adopted a different approach. As the Buddha said 2,500 years ago, “What is a great healer?” — “One who knows the illness, knows the cause, can cure the disease, and prevent it from recurring!”
 
    As the saying goes, “A long illness makes a good doctor.” Wang Kunyu created the “12 Rays of Healing Method.”

Hugging and massage.
 
    Believe, “You will definitely get better!” (This light is the most important and most effective!)
 
    In addition to taking medication as prescribed by the doctor, firmly believe in and practice the “12 Rays of Light Healing Method” as described, and depression can be cured in about two months, with no recurrence.
 
    Dr. Li Junde, Chief of the Department of Psychiatry at Zhongshan Hospital, once invited him to give a lecture on mental health at the Cultural Bureau of Taichung City.
 
    Dr. Li Junde spoke in the first half, and he spoke in the second half. After he finished, ninety out of the hundred guests rushed over to surround him and ask various questions. Because he had once been a depression patient, he could empathize with the excruciating pain. Without enduring the biting cold, how could one appreciate the fragrance of plum blossoms?
 
    Because he had emerged from his journey of depression, he could offer a solution. Those who have not cried through long nights are unqualified to speak of life.

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