Renowned classical Chinese poetry scholar Florence Chia-ying Yeh, known for her lifelong dedication to preserving literary treasures, passed away Sunday at age 100. Nankai University in Tianjin confirmed her death, calling it “a profound loss for global cultural heritage.”
Yeh (also called Ye Jiaying) spent over 70 years teaching and amplifying Tang Dynasty poetry globally 🌍. Even in her 90s, she lectured with the energy of a TikTok influencer 🎤 – minus the filters. Her students included literary giants like novelist Kenneth Hsien-yung Pai and poet Hsi Mu-jung.
Born in 1924, she bridged ancient verses and modern audiences, proving haikus aren’t just for history class. “She turned ink-on-paper into fireworks,” said one former student on social media.
Yeh’s work ensured that lines written 1,300 years ago still hit harder than your favorite playlist 🎧. Tributes are flooding Weibo and academic circles, with fans calling her “the Beyoncé of sonnets” for revolutionizing how we see classical art.
