An eminent scientist, Professor YANG Chen Ning won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 together with Professor LEE Tsung Dao for the discovery of non-conservation of parity in weak interactions. He is also the author of non-Abelian gauge theory (Yang–Mills theory of 1954), which has become the foundation of the standard model of elementary particle interactions.
YANG was born in Hefei, Anhui Province, in 1922. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from the National Southwest Associated University in 1942 and his Master’s degree from Tsinghua University in 1944. A year later, he went on to the University of Chicago for the PhD, which he obtained in 1948. He joined the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton in 1949, first as a fellow and then as a professor. In 1966, YANG took up the newly established Einstein Chair at the State University of New York at Stony Brook (now Stony Brook University) and the founding directorship of its Institute for Theoretical Physics. He retired from Stony Brook in 1999.
YANG’s generosity as an academic is evident throughout his career, and most vividly for us through his long association with CUHK. In 1964, he was invited by CUHK to give a public lecture in Hong Kong. In 1982, YANG accepted an Honorary Professorship at CUHK, and then in 1986 graciously accepted a special Chair as Distinguished Professor-at-Large. He jointly managed The Institute of Mathematical Sciences at CUHK with Professor YAU Shing-tung during 1993-1998. He was conferred the degree of Doctor of Science, honoris causa, by CUHK in 1997. In 1999, he generously donated his papers, manuscripts, photographs, audio-visual files as well as medals including the prestigious Nobel Medal and other memorabilia to the University, leading to the establishment of the CN Yang Archive.
YANG has received an array of honours and awards: the Nobel Prize in Physics (1957), the Enrico Fermi Medal (1979), the Rumford Premium (1980), the Oppenheimer Memorial Plaque (1981), the US National Medal of Science (1986), the Benjamin Franklin Medal (1993), the Bower Award (1994), the Albert Einstein Medal (1995), the N Bogoliubov Prize (1996), the Lars Onsager Prize (1999), the Academicum Pontificium (2000) and the King Faisal International Prize (2001)
Born in Anhui, China
YANG Chen Ning (second left) at Chengzhi Primary School. The classmates shown include HSIUNG Ping-ming, later an artist and CHENG Sze-chuh, later a biologist.
Graduated from the Department of Physics of National Southwest Associated University (first right)
Obtained Master’s degree from Tsinghua University
Conferred PhD degree from the University of Chicago
Entered the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton
Proposed non-abelian gauge theory (Yang–Mills Theory) with Robert MILLS
Proposed parity non-conservation
with Professor LEE Tsung Dao
Awarded the Nobel Prize with Professor LEE Tsung Dao
Elected a member of the US National Academy of Sciences
Appointed to Einstein Chair at State University of New York at Stony Brook (now Stony Brook University) and Founding Director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics
Published Yang–Baxter Equation
Returned to China on a visit, after absence of 26 years, and met Premier ZHOU Enlai
Received by Chairman MAO Zedong in Zhongnanhai
Together with Professor TT WU, introduced a “dictionary” relating gauge theory terminology to fiber bundle terminology, a key element that further forged close collaboration between mathematics and theoretical physics
Elected the first President of the National
Association of Chinese-Americans, which was
active in promoting normalization of diplomatic
relations between China and the US
Met DENG Xiaoping during the first official visit by a Chinese state leader to the US
Awarded Enrico Fermi Medal
Accorded the Rumford Premium
Appointed Honorary Professor of Physics of CUHK
Became Distinguished Professor-at-Large of
CUHK (photo taken at YANG’s office in Science
Centre)
Bestowed US National Medal of Science
Elected a foreign member of The Royal Society (London) in the UK
Awarded Benjamin Franklin Medal
Elected a foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (converted to a member in 2016)
Received the Bower Award
Awarded the Albert Einstein Medal
Accorded the N Bogoliubov Prize
Appointed Honorary Director of the Center for
Advanced Study of Tsinghua University
Awarded an honorary doctorate of science by CUHK
Awarded Lars Onsager Prize
Generously donated precious manuscripts, correspondence, awards and certificates including his Nobel Prize medal to CUHK
Established The CN Yang Archive at CUHK
Met President JIANG Zemin at Beidaihe, together with several other Chinese Nobel Laureates
Established the C N Yang Scholarships, which has
since been awarded to over 200 students in
Physics, and Materials Science and Engineering
Awarded King Faisal International Prize
Supported the establishment of the Shaw Prizes (front row, third right)
Launched The CN Yang Archive at CUHK
