Atlanta, October 18, 2025 — Chen-Ning Yang, the renowned theoretical physicist who shattered fundamental assumptions about the universe and became the first Chinese national to win a Nobel Prize, died Saturday at his home. He was 103.
The National Association of Chinese Americans confirmed Yang's death Monday, mourning the loss of both a scientific giant and the organization's founding president.
Yang shared the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics with colleague Tsung-Dao Lee for their groundbreaking work proving that the law of parity conservation — a principle physicists had accepted as universal — fails in weak nuclear interactions. The discovery, made when Yang was just 34, revolutionized particle physics and earned the pair recognition as the first Chinese Nobel laureates.
“Professor Chen-Ning Yang was not only a brilliant scientist but also an inspiring role model for generations of Chinese Americans and aspiring scientists worldwide,” said Lani Wong, current chair of NACA. “His intellect, dedication, and relentless pursuit of knowledge exemplified the very best of human endeavor.”
From Hefei to Princeton
Born in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, in 1922, Yang came to the United States for graduate studies and built a career that bridged two nations and transformed modern physics. His work extended far beyond the parity violation discovery, encompassing the Yang-Mills theory, which became foundational to the Standard Model of particle physics.
Yang held prestigious appointments at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, where he worked alongside Albert Einstein, and later at Stony Brook University, where he mentored generations of physicists and continued his research well into his later years.
Building Bridges
Beyond the laboratory, Yang dedicated himself to strengthening scientific and cultural ties between China and the United States. In 1977, he founded and became the first president of the National Association of Chinese Americans, serving until 1980 and helping establish the organization as a voice for the Chinese American community.
His advocacy for academic exchange helped pave the way for countless Chinese students and researchers to study in American institutions during a critical period of U.S.-China relations.
“His legacy of scientific inquiry, intellectual courage, and cultural bridge-building will continue to inspire us all,” NACA said in its statement.
Yang is survived by his family. Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.
The National Association of Chinese Americans extends condolences to Professor Yang's family, friends, and colleagues.
