In Memoriam: Professor Chen-Ning Yang
In Memoriam: Professor Chen-Ning Yang
The Department of Physics at Hong Kong Baptist University mourns the loss of Professor Chen-Ning Yang, Honorary Doctor of Science (1999) of HKBU, on 18 October 2025. He was 103 years old.
Professor Yang was a titan of 20th century physics whose intellectual brilliance reshaped our understanding of the fundamental forces of the universe. His most celebrated contribution, achieved with his colleague Tsung-Dao Lee, was the groundbreaking theoretical work that led to the overthrow of the law of parity conservation in weak nuclear interactions. For this paradigm-shifting discovery, which proved that nature distinguishes between left and right on a subatomic level, they were awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics. Professor Yang made many other seminal contributions in physics in the fields of statistical mechanics, condensed matter, particle physics, gauge and quantum field theory. Among them is the Yang-Mills gauge theory, developed with Robert Mills. This elegant framework became the very foundation for the Standard Model of particle physics, underpinning our theories of the electroweak and strong nuclear forces. It stands as one of the most profound and fertile theoretical constructs of modern science.
Born in 1922 in Hefei, China, Yang’s academic prowess was evident early. He earned his master's degree in China before traveling to the United States on a scholarship, where he completed his PhD at the University of Chicago in 1948. After his Nobel Prize win, he enjoyed a long and distinguished career at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and, later, at Stony Brook University, where he helped establish a renowned theoretical physics institute. In his later years, he returned to China, becoming an Honorary Director at Tsinghua University.
Professor Yang’s achievements had profound impact on the minds of Chinese people. He was the prime role model to inspire many to excel and become world class scientists. He was also a stern advocate for scientific education and research, and he extended his reach to HKBU, becoming our long-time supporter. He had visited the University and the Department on many occasions. In 1982, he was in BU to officiate the foundation of Fong Shu Chun Library. In the 1990’s, he came and delivered several Distinguished Lectures in Physics. In recognition of his contributions, he was bestowed with an Honorary Degree in 1999 by HKBU. The University further honoured Prof. Yang in 2002 by naming the new student residence after him in the Shaw Campus. Professor Yang remained energetic and continued visiting BU in 2006 and 2008, interacting and inspiring students and staff. His legacy continues to make impacts in the 2020’s. In 2022, Professor Guancong Ma in our Department became a recipient of the prestigious C.N. Yang Award, which was established to honour young researchers with prominent achievements in Asia. The underlying principle behind Ma’s work was originally formulated by Yang – another testimonial to Yang’s lasting impact in physics.
Some of the precious moments while Professor Yang was in BU and in the Department:
The Department conveys its deepest condolences to Professor Yang’s family. His intellectual legacy will last forever, and his tireless effort to nurture future generations will be dearly remembered.