{{Short description|Taiwanese education professor}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Lien Hui-hsin | occupation = Education professor | parents = Lien Chan (father)<br />Lien Fang Yu (mother) | relatives = Lien Chen-tung (grandfather)<br />Lien Heng (great grandfather) | education = Wellesley College (BA)<br />Harvard University (MEd)<br />Columbia University (DEd) | workplaces = National Taiwan University | thesis_title = A comparative study of 3-D computer software Alias Sketch 1.5 and free-hand observational drawing on adolescent subjects' representation of three-dimensional objects | thesis_url = https://www.proquest.com/openview/9e97d97998363156b1a164e7ca632ab9/1?cbl=18750&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar | thesis_year = 1996 | doctoral_advisor = Judith M. Burton | field = Design education | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|08|1}} | native_name = 連惠心 }}
'''Lien Hui-hsin'''<ref name="ttimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/06/07/2003174079|title=Financial dispute dogs Lien Hui-hsin|date=June 7, 2004|author=Huang Tai-lin|website=Taipei Times|access-date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> ({{Lang-zh|t=連惠心}}; born August 1, 1967), also known by her English name '''Arlene''', is a Taiwanese education professor best known for her translation of Lien Heng's ''General History of Taiwan'', her production of the ''Discoverer'' series, and the documentary ''History of Taiwan''.
== Early life and education == Lien was born in 1967 to a prominent Taiwanese family. She is the oldest child of former vice-president Lien Chan and his wife, Lien Fang Yu, and the great-granddaughter of Taiwanese historian Lien Heng.<ref name="ttimes" />
After attending Taipei American School, Lien graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor's degree in history and literature in 1989. After graduation, she attended Harvard University and obtained a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1991. She then completed doctoral studies at Columbia University and earned her Doctor of Education (D.Ed.) from Teachers College, Columbia, in 1996.<ref name="ttimes" /> Her doctoral dissertation was titled, "A comparative study of 3-D computer software Alias Sketch 1.5 and free-hand observational drawing on adolescent subjects' representation of three-dimensional objects".<ref>{{Cite web |date=1996 |title=A comparative study of 3-D computer software Alias Sketch 1.5 and free-hand observational drawing on adolescent subjects' representation of three-dimensional objects |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/9e97d97998363156b1a164e7ca632ab9/1?cbl=18750&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar |publisher=Proquest |type=PhD Thesis}}</ref>
== Career == Upon returning to Taiwan in 1996, she worked as an associate professor at the Department of Graphic Arts and Communications, National Taiwan University until 2005. In 1996, she produced the first Taiwanese-made historical and cultural education documentary, titled ''Discoverer''. The documentary received recognition for its cultural and educational value and was recommended by Taiwan's Ministry of Education. In 1999, she went on to create a documentary series called ''History of Taiwan'', covering significant historical periods from Dutch Formosa to the Republic of China era. In 2012, she assumed the position of CEO at the Lien Chen-Tung Cultural and Educational Foundation, where she led a team of experts in publishing a vernacular version of ''The General History of Taiwan''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-03 |title=課綱修到「不知誰是孫中山」！連惠心推《臺灣通史》白話版盼改變 {{!}} 遠見雜誌 |url=https://www.gvm.com.tw/article/109921 |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=遠見雜誌 - 前進的動力 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref>
Following her PhD studies at Columbia University in 1994, Lien began producing educational materials, which led to the television documentary series ''Discoverer'', originally presented by Richie Jen.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}<!-- needs RS, not Epoch Times-->
Lien also sought to make the content of her great-grandfather's work, ''The General History of Taiwan'', more accessible. In 1999, she produced and filmed the series ''History of Taiwan'', which included interviews with the National Archives of the Netherlands. The documentary was later aired on the Public Television Channel and China Television Channel, contributing to the preservation of Taiwanese historical data. The ''General History'' consists of 36 volumes covering the period from the Sui dynasty to the Japanese Occupation, and the TV series focused on the book's essential content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kuomintang News Network |url=http://www1.kmt.org.tw/english/page.aspx?type=article&mnum=112&anum=20053 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=www1.kmt.org.tw}}</ref> “History of Taiwan” was in four episodes, entitled “Dutch Period”, “Immigration Period”, “Japanese Occupation” and “Republic of China”. The filming of the four episodes was completed in 2000. The series “Kangxi Dynasty” (original name: Kangxi Empire), produced in Mainland China, also included a scene from ''History of Taiwan'' during its filming in 2001.
Lien's project to create a simplified version of the ''General History of Taiwan'' aimed to engage a broader audience. Collaborating with experts on Chinese literature and history,<ref>{{Cite web |last=世界新聞網 |title=台灣通史譯註本北京發表 連戰：兩岸一脈相傳 |url=https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121220/7797005 |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=世界新聞網 |language=zh-TW}}</ref> the book series “The General History of Taiwan: Original Text + Vernacular Annotation” was published in January 2024. The vernacular edition provides a valuable reference for researchers of Taiwanese history and offers an alternative perspective on historical narratives.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-01 |title=《台灣通史》白話文版問世 |url=https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%8F%B0%E7%81%A3%E9%80%9A%E5%8F%B2-%E7%99%BD%E8%A9%B1%E6%96%87%E7%89%88%E5%95%8F%E4%B8%96-201000704.html |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=Yahoo News |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> The book launch event, held on February 7, 2024, was attended by prominent figures and scholars, emphasizing the importance of Taiwanese individuals being knowledgeable about their history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Storm.mg |date=2024-02-07 |title=連橫《台灣通史》白話文版新書發表 連戰坐輪椅現身力挺-風傳媒 |url=https://www.storm.mg/article/5014766 |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=www.storm.mg |language=zh-TW}}</ref> Former Premier Liu Chao-Shiuan praised the transition to vernacular language, noting its accessibility and engaging narrative style. He remarked on the fresh perspective offered by the vernacular edition, presenting historical narratives in a concise and captivating manner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=【《台灣通史》白話版出爐系列一】捨近求遠！楊渡：台史學者看不 |url=https://www.i-meihua.com/Article/Detail/2867 |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=梅花新聞網 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref>
==Business interests== Lien founded a production company, Hua Yang Broadcasting, and rumours of her failure to manage the company's finances effectively arose as a result of a dispute between her and the company's president, Lee Chun-jung.<ref name="ttimes"/>
Lien was questioned by prosecutors in 2013 because of her position as a major shareholder of the distributor of a weight loss product called Welslim Plus, a product she stated she had herself used. The product contained an unapproved ingredient called cetilistat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/society/201310280039|title=Ex-VP's daughter may be questioned over slimming product doubts|date=October 28, 2013|website=Focus Taiwan|access-date=May 5, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/10/31/2003575802|title=Lien Hui-Hsin probed by prosecutors|date=October 13, 2013|website=Taipei Times|access-date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> Lien had initially denied that she had a financial interest in the company. Her prosecution was deferred, after she pleaded guilty and agreed to donate NT$6 million to the National Treasury.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Li|first1=Lauly|title=Lien Hui-hsin's prosecution deferred for one year|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/07/12/412173/Lien-Hui-hsins.htm|access-date=13 November 2014|publisher=China Post|date=12 July 2014|archive-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024153101/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2014/07/12/412173/Lien-Hui-hsins.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Personal life == Lien married Cheng Hongyuan in 1997.<ref name="ttimes"/> The couple have three daughters, all born in the United States to surrogate mothers, surrogacy being illegal in Taiwan; they were later brought to Taiwan to live.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/11/18/2003547991|title=Lien Chan's family throws spotlight on surrogacy|date=November 18, 2012|website=Taipei Times|access-date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> Cheng is the grandson of Chen Zha-mo, a well-known businessman.<ref name="ttimes"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lien, Arlene}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:Wellesley College alumni Category:Columbia University alumni Category:Taiwanese people of Hakka descent Category:Harvard Graduate School of Education alumni Category:21st-century Taiwanese educators Category:Academic staff of the National Taiwan University {{Improve categories|date=May 2024}}