新竹古稱竹塹，雍正元年（1723），清廷於新竹設治淡水廳，至今三百年。道光三年（1823），新竹舉人鄭用錫高中癸未進士，破臺灣史之天荒，開臺進士之名不脛而走，於今兩百年。三百年來，由於原住民、大陸各省先後移民以及晚近新住民的共同努力，新竹一市學府林立，工商雲集，人文科技輝映，民主民生共榮，已蔚然成為臺灣名府。

新竹位於北臺灣頭前溪與中港溪之間，面向臺灣海峽，背依雪山山脈，氣暖景曛，天賜沃壤。設治以來，文明日化，人文蒸蒸日上。前清中葉，以北郭園為首的鄭家以及以潛園為名的林家，在鄭用錫中進士與林占梅得功名後，揚譽士林，北郭園與潛園更成北臺灣文人政客雅集之區。兩百年來，島內文人燕契，兩岸書家聯席，甚或島嶼與東瀛名流之會聚，無日無之。其流風餘韻，傳沫至今。

光復以來，因中華文明版圖南移，國際政商事業薈萃，新竹更成為耀眼東亞之臺疆明珠。國立清華大學於1956年於新竹復校，上承鄭林開啟之文運，下續北平清華之學風。一甲子多以來，與新竹日生月恒，共策共榮，互蒙其惠。今值設治三百年與開臺科舉中進士第兩百年，本校文物館特辦「竹塹故事――設治三百年.文治兩百年」展，以為名城慶。

Known as Tek-chhàm in the old days, Hsinchu now celebrates three hundred years since the Qing court established the Tanshi Ting in the city in the first year of the Yongzheng reign (1723). It also celebrates two hundred years since Hsinchu native Zheng Yongxi became the first Taiwanese candidate for succeeding the imperial examination in the year of Kueiwei, which was the third year of the Daoguang reign (1823).
After Taiwan was liberate from Japanese colonization, National Tsing Hua University (NTHU) re-established in Hsinchu in 1956 to carry on the cultural development initiated by Zheng Yongxi and the academic milieu of Tsinghua University in Peiking (now Beijing). For over sixty years, NTHU has collaborated and prospered with communities in Hsinchu, mutually contributing to each other’s progress. Hsinchu has become a center of culture and technology, renowned for prestigious academic institutions and innovative technology companies due to the collective efforts of indigenous peoples, immigrants from various provinces in China, and new immigrants in contemporary Taiwan.

This year marks the 300th anniversary of Hsinchu’s establishment and the 200th anniversary of Zheng Yongxi’s success as the first Taiwanese candidate of the imperial examination. The National Tsing Hua University Heritage Museum is pleased to present this special exhibition, “Story of Tek-chhàm—Three Hundred Years Rule of Law, Two Hundred Years Rule of Culture,” in commemoration of the milestone achieved by this magnificent city.