In 1987, Kao sold a house and used the proceeds to hire 100 artists to fashion Chinese chess sets in which the pieces could be recognized by their shape rather than by the Chinese characters that are normally printed on them. From the huge pieces by such sculptors as Wu Jung-tsu and Chu Ming, to the cartoon characters designed by Hung Yi-nan and Tsai Chih-chung, every single set is a true work of art.
民國七十六年，他賣掉一棟房子、自掏腰包請了一百位藝文界人士來創作造形象棋，從雕刻家吳榮賜、朱銘的大件作品，到洪義男、蔡志忠設計的卡通造型，一件件讓人愛不釋手。