Ying-shih Yü (1930-2021), emeritus professor of Princeton University, passed away on August 1, 2021. He was an eminent historian and recipient of the Kluge Prize, one of the highest honors in the humanities worldwide. Professor Yü’s research field is Chinese history, especially Chinese intellectual history. With deep knowledge in diverse disciplines and broad comparative perspectives, he produced outstanding and original works on a wide range of subjects. He was also a public intellectual, reflecting and commenting on issues of contemporary importance throughout his life.
Since the 1970s, Professor Yü had a close relationship with Taiwan, and was influential in many ways. For the purpose of commemorating this exemplary scholar, promoting international exchanges in China-related fields, and advancing humanistic research in Taiwan, National Taiwan University has established this center. The project was approved on August 29, 2023.
The core function of our center will lie in providing a platform for international cooperation and dialogue among humanities scholars in China-related fields. For this aim, we will offer a program of international visiting fellows, scholarships for visiting Ph.D. students, and an international lectureship in the honor of Professor Ying-shih Yü. We will also hold international conferences, workshops, and lectures, and as this center develops, support research projects, including those related to Professor Yü.
The founding funds of this center were donated by Mr. Chual-Hsin Teng (鄧傳馨), Chairman and Executive Director of Thin Chan Corporation. With the support of Mr. Teng’s generous donation, our center will pursue long-term developments so that it can make important contributions to the humanities community in Taiwan as well as internationally.