Prominent Chinese Historian Dies in Princeton, Global Chinese Community Mourns

2014 Tang Prize winner Yu Ying-shih (L) with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou at a ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan on Sept. 18, 2014. Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images

Yu Ying-shih, 91, a world renowned Chinese historian and sinologist, passed away in his sleep at home in Princeton, New Jersey on Aug. 1.

On Thursday (Aug. 5), when the family announced his death, the global Chinese community mourned Yu and praised his contributions to Chinese studies, as well as his support for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong and Taiwan.