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"To understand the laws of nature, one must enjoy life. Why let fame and fortune hinder one's life?"

On August 5, according to CCTV news, Mr. Tsung-Dao Lee, a famous Chinese physicist and Nobel Prize winner in physics, passed away at the age of 98. This physics genius, whose name has long been familiar to the Chinese, has once again awakened the public's memory of him.

↑Photo from CCTV News

There are many keywords that run through Tsung-Dao Lee's legendary life of 98 years, the most well-known of which include: Nobel Prize winner in Physics, parity non-conservation theory, and the story of working together with Chen-Ning Yang to tackle key problems and eventually parting ways. In addition, the China-US Joint Training Program for Physics Graduates (CUSPEA), the National Natural Science Foundation system, the postdoctoral system, the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider, the USTC Junior Class, etc., are all contributions that Tsung-Dao Lee has made to the Chinese academic community. These contributions, together with his academic achievements, constitute the important "A and B sides" of interpreting the life of this master.

One label is genius. In 1926, Tsung-Dao Lee was born in Shanghai, China, and studied at Zhejiang University and Southwest Associated University. In 1946, because of his outstanding talent, Tsung-Dao Lee was selected by his mentor Wu Dayou to accompany him to the United States for study. Wu Dayou said, "Among the graduate students and teaching assistants at Southwest Associated University at that time, no one was as talented and hardworking as Lee." After arriving in the United States, Tsung-Dao Lee, who only studied for two years as an undergraduate, was fortunate to become a disciple of the physics master Fermi at the University of Chicago. He won the Nobel Prize at the age of 31, becoming the second youngest winner of the Physics Prize at the time of the award, and had a profound impact on many fields of physics.

Through his life trajectory, we can see how Chinese physicists, from Hu Gangfu and Ye Qisun to Shu Xingbei, Wang Ganchang, Wu Dayou, and then to Li Zhengdao and Yang Zhenning, stood on the shoulders of the previous generation, creating a bright future and reaching the pinnacle of academia in the midst of war and decline. He also proved to the world that the Chinese can not only conduct modern scientific research, but also overcome the difficulties of the times and environment, pass on the fire of education, and pick the "crown jewel" of physics.

Another label is "the door opener" who allowed Chinese scholars to go to the world and create miracles. In the 1970s and 1980s, he traveled between China and the United States, exerted his influence, and opened a door for many Chinese students to study abroad. From 1979 to 1989, he initiated and participated in the organization and implementation of the China-US Joint Training Program for Physics Graduates (CUSPEA), selecting and recommending 915 people to study in the United States, and cultivated a group of leading scholars and pillars of society. This program has cultivated many high-level physics talents for China and the world, such as Shen Zhixun, Dai Hongjie, Wen Xiaogang, Wang Zhonglin, and Xie Xincheng.

Reading the life story of Tsung-Dao Lee, one can strongly feel the pure heart of this scientific giant. Since 1972, he has returned to China many times to give lectures and offer advice. After the reform and opening up, he has spared no effort to promote the progress of China's scientific education. In 1985, he advocated the establishment of a postdoctoral system and the establishment of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation. In 1998, Tsung-Dao Lee donated his personal savings, named after his wife and himself, to support outstanding undergraduate students in colleges and universities to carry out scientific research internships... In the critical period of national development, these achievements have made important contributions to my country's discipline construction, talent training, and scientific progress, and interpret the patriotic feelings of this sincere scientific master who never forgets his homeland and cultivates people for the country.

"To study physics, one must enjoy life. Why bother with fame?" In May 1996, Tsung-Dao Lee quoted this line from Du Fu in a speech to students at Peking University. This line is the best description of his physics career and life interests. Tsung-Dao Lee, who pursued truth and served his country throughout his life, left behind not only precious scientific wealth, but also endless moral glory.

Su Yuezhe, special commentator of Red Star News

Editor Zhao Yu

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