Chen Ning Yang, one of the most influential physicists of the 20th century and a Nobel laureate whose work reshaped the landscape of modern physics, died in Beijing on October 18, 2025, at the age of 103. His passing, announced by Tsinghua University, marked the end of a storied life that bridged continents, cultures, and scientific revolutions.
Born on September 22, 1922, in Hefei, Anhui province, China, Yang was raised on the campus of Tsinghua University, where his father taught mathematics. According to Physics World, he completed his Bachelor of Science at the National Southwest Associated University in Kunming in 1942, followed by a Master’s degree at Tsinghua in 1944. Driven by a passion for discovery, Yang moved to the United States in 1945 as part of a government-sponsored program, where he pursued doctoral studies at the University of Chicago. There, he worked under the guidance of Edward Teller, with the influential Enrico Fermi leaving a lasting impression on his scientific outlook. Yang received his Ph.D. in 1948.
After earning his doctorate, Yang joined the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton in 1949—a hotbed of theoretical innovation. It was here that his pioneering contributions to quantum field theory began to take shape, most notably through a collaboration with American physicist Robert Mills. Their 1954 paper introduced what became known as Yang–Mills theory, a non-abelian gauge theory that would become a cornerstone of the Standard Model of particle physics. As Legacy Remembers put it, Yang’s insights into nature’s symmetries helped redefine particle physics and paved the way for unifying the strong and electroweak forces.
The 1950s were a period of profound change in physics, and Yang was at the center of one of its most dramatic moments. In 1956, together with Tsung-Dao Lee, Yang challenged a bedrock assumption: that the weak nuclear interaction preserves parity, or mirror symmetry. Their theoretical work suggested otherwise, leading to a landmark experiment by Chien-Shiung Wu at Columbia University, which confirmed the phenomenon of parity violation. As a result, Yang and Lee were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957 for their “penetrating investigation of the so-called parity laws.” According to the Nobel Prize website, this work led to “important discoveries regarding the elementary particles.”
In his Nobel Banquet speech, Yang reflected on his unique position straddling two worlds: “I am heavy with an awareness of the fact that I am in more than one sense a product of both the Chinese and Western cultures, in harmony and in conflict.” He emphasized his pride in his Chinese heritage and his devotion to the scientific enterprise—a testament to the global nature of modern science.
Yang’s career continued to blossom in the United States. In 1965, he became the founding director of the Institute for Theoretical Physics at Stony Brook University, later renamed the C N Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics in his honor. He served as the Albert Einstein Professor of Physics at Stony Brook from 1966 until his retirement in 1999. During this period, Yang was instrumental in advancing science education and international collaboration, establishing the Committee on Educational Exchange with China, which sponsored around 100 Chinese scholars to study in the U.S.
His influence was not confined to the laboratory or the classroom. Yang received numerous accolades, including the U.S. National Medal of Science in 1986, the American Physical Society’s Lars Onsager Prize in 1990, and the Einstein Medal in 1995. Yet, he also remained a figure of conscience and debate. In recent years, Yang voiced skepticism about China’s plans to build the Circular Electron Positron Collider, a massive underground accelerator intended to succeed CERN’s Large Hadron Collider. As Physics World reported, Yang argued in 2016, “I am not against the future of high-energy physics, but the timing is really bad for China to build such a super collider. Even if they see something with the machine, it’s not going to benefit the life of Chinese people any sooner.” He expressed concerns that the science performed on the CEPC was “just guess work and without guaranteed results,” suggesting that China should focus on more pressing economic and environmental issues.
Yang’s relationship with his homeland was complex and deeply personal. After becoming a U.S. citizen in 1964—a decision he once described as painful and one his father never forgave him for—Yang renounced his American citizenship in 2015. According to Xinhua, he described the United States as a “beautiful country” that had given him great opportunities, even as he reaffirmed his connections to China. In his later years, Yang returned to Beijing, serving as honorary director of the Centre for Advanced Study at Tsinghua University from 1997 and as a professor from 1999 onward. He donated many of his honors and memorabilia, including his Nobel medal, to academic institutions in China and Hong Kong.
Yang’s legacy extended beyond science. He was a founding council member of the Shaw Prize, often dubbed the “Nobel Prize of the East.” At the Shaw Prize award ceremony on October 21, 2025, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu paid tribute to Yang, stating, “That, of course, speaks of the vision Sir Run Run Shaw brought to compelling life – with the help of Professor Yang and other founding members – one that celebrates education and the pursuit of knowledge through science and research.” The Shaw Prize, established in 2004, annually awards US$1.2 million, a medal, and a certificate in astronomy, life science and medicine, and mathematical sciences.
Yang’s personal life was marked by both joy and sorrow. He was survived by his wife, Weng Fan, and three children. His first wife, Tu Chih-li, died in 2003. As Legacy Remembers noted, Yang’s generosity extended to his academic homes, with donations of his awards and personal articles to institutions that shaped his life and career.
Colleagues and former students worldwide have paid tribute to Yang’s lasting impact. Andrea Goldsmith, president of Stony Brook University, remarked, “The world has lost one of the most influential physicists of the modern era. His legacy will continue through his transformational impact on the field of physics and through the many colleagues and students influenced by his teaching, scholarship and mentorship.”
In the end, Chen Ning Yang’s life was a testament to the enduring power of curiosity, the importance of bridging cultures, and the profound impact that one individual can have on the course of science and society. His revolutionary insights and unwavering dedication to the pursuit of knowledge will resonate for generations.
