2021 No.3
Eulogies:Mourning Professor Yu Ying-shih, the Great Intellectual Historian, Former Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Doctor of Laws, honoris causa of CUHK
5 August 2021
Reprint: Communications and Public Relations Office, CUHK
Prof. Yu Ying-shih, the great intellectual historian, Academician of the Academia Sinica, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Doctor of Laws, honoris causa of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), passed away on 1 August in the United States at the age of 91. Members of the University are deeply saddened by the passing of Prof. Yu and extend sincere condolences to his family.

Prof. Alan K.L. Chan, Acting Vice-Chancellor of CUHK, expressed his great sorrow at the loss of Prof. Yu Ying-shih: “Prof. Yu Ying-shih devoted his life to academic excellence.  He was widely recognised as one of the most prominent historians of his generation and had made lasting contributions to the study of Chinese history and culture. With a deep connection to CUHK, Prof. Yu was an alumnus of New Asia College. He later returned to CUHK to head New Asia College and served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University. On behalf of all the members of the University, I extend our deepest condolences to Prof. Yu’s family and my sincere respect for his dedication to scholarship and his contribution to the University.”

Prof. Yu’s family originated in Qianshan, Anhui province and he was born in Tianjin in 1930. He was admitted to New Asia College in 1950 under the tutelage of Dr. Ch’ien Mu, and in 1952 became a member of New Asia College’s first graduating class. After graduation, he went to the US to continue his studies, and became a follower of Prof. Yang Lien-sheng. He received a doctoral degree from Harvard University in 1962 and seven years later was employed by the same university as a professor of Chinese History. In 1973, Prof. Yu returned to CUHK to head New Asia College and also served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University. He resumed teaching at Harvard University two years later.

As Pro-Vice-Chancellor of CUHK between 1973 and 1975, Prof. Yu was instrumental in starting numerous projects in the broad fields of Chinese studies. He himself provided the living link between various academic disciplines. As Chairman of the 1974 Working Party on Educational Policy and University Structure, he helped formulate a number of recommendations which were subsequently taken by the Fulton Commission of 1976 as major points of reference. In recognition of his outstanding academic achievements and his invaluable contribution to the development of the University, Prof. Yu was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa by CUHK in 1977.

Prof. Yu’s erudition defied description and disciplinary boundaries. Although he specialised in Chinese history, he also published extensively on Chinese philosophy, literature, and art, as well as the history of the Chinese intelligentsia, aside from being the author of the widely acclaimed Trade and Expansion in Han China. In commendation of Prof. Yu’s contribution to the field of History, his alma mater New Asia College, along with Chung Chi College, jointly established the “Yu Ying-shih Lecture in History” in 2007, which invites a distinguished historian each year to deliver lectures and seminars on an interesting topic in History.

Prof. Yu was emeritus Gordon Wu ’58 Professor of Chinese Studies, emeritus Professor of East Asian Studies and History at Princeton University, Associate Professor at the University of Michigan, and Charles Seymour Professor of History at Yale University. Prof. Yu won a number of academic honours, including being elected an Academician of the Academia Sinica, Taiwan (1974) and Member of American Philosophical Society (2004), and was awarded the National Cultural Award, Taiwan (1991) and the Tang Prize in Sinology (2014). In 2006, Prof. Yu was also named the recipient of the John W. Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the study of humanity, making him the first ethnic Chinese to be thus honoured.

 
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Professor Yu Ying-shih
Eulogies:Mourning Professor Yu Ying-shih, the Great Intellectual Historian, Former Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Doctor of Laws, honoris causa of CUHK
Eulogies: In Memoriam Professor Yu Ying-shih (in Chinese only)
Eulogies: In Memoriam Leon Vandersmeersch
News: ICS Luncheon 2021 (I)
News: ICS Luncheon 2021 (II)
News: Ceremony for the Golden Jubilee of the Art Museum
News: Southbound Intellectuals and Their Legacy: Lingnan Literati’s Contribution to a Century of Hong Kong Education
News: ICS Welcoming Session for Visiting Scholars
News: ICS Public Lecture “Three Teachings”: Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism
Event: Art Museum “The Bei Shan Tang Legacy: Chinese Painting”
News: Art Museum “Artistic Confluence in Guangdong: Selected Painting and Calligraphy from Ming to Mid-Qing China” (Collection of the Art Museum, CUHK) (Phase II: Qing Dynasty)
News: Art Museum “Enchanting Expeditions: Chinese Trade Porcelains across the Globe”
Event: Art Museum “Oracle Bones Collection from CUHK” (Virtual Exhibition)
Event: Art Museum “INKspiration” Video Series
Event: Art Museum “The Bei Shan Tang Legacy: Chinese Painting” Online Mini Game
Event: Art Museum “Recordings of “The Bei Shan Tang Legacy: Chinese Painting” Symposium
Event: Art Museum “A Glimpse of Jiangnan” Video Series
Event: Art Museum “Artistic Confluence in Guangdong” Lecture Series II
Event: Art Museum “Autumn Guqin Concert”
Event: Art Museum’s Golden Jubilee Celebration Events
Event: Art Museum “Ballads of Ink from Canton” Series
Event: Art Museum “Enchanting Expeditions” Wednesday Lecture Series
Event: Art Museum “Tell-tale Relics” Social Media Sticker Pack
Event: Art Museum “Appreciate Cultural Diversity through Arts”
Event: Art Museum “Art Museum Ambassador Scheme 2021-22”
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Event: Lecture: “Canton Enamelled Metalwares from Qing Dynasty in Hong Kong Collections”
Event: Online Conference “The Interaction between Enamel in the Qing Dynasty and Europe” Online Conference
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Event Highlight: Exhibition: Southbound Intellectuals and Their Legacy: Lingnan Literati’s Contribution to a Century of Hong Kong Education
Event Highlight: “Enchanting Expeditions” Wednesday Lecture Series
Event Highlight: Wenlan Museology Forum.Youth Workshop (Phase IV)
Event Highlight: 2021 International Conference on Ming-Qing Studies, Academia Sinica
Event Highlight: RPCAA Lecture Series (11)
Event Highlight: The Second Southern Institute of Chinese Linguistics
Event Highlight: The 25th International Conference on Yue Dialects
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