Peking University, Sept. 11, 2014: A nationally treasured mind just stopped thinking — the brightest star fell from above the Weiming Lake.

Tang Yijie, senior professor of philosophy and social sciences at Peking University, died at the age of 87 in Beijing this Tuesday evening.

Tang was born in Tianjin in 1927. He graduated in 1951 from Department of Philosophy, Peking University, which he had served ever since.

In the 1990s, Tang worked on establishing a theory system based on Chinese traditional philosophy. He paid much attention to the fusion of Chinese and Western culture. In May 2014, China Renmin University Press published The Anthology of Tang Yijie, demonstrating his academic achievements.

“Tang is also an active academic activist and organizer of grand academic project of Chinese culture,” said Tang’s student Zhang Guangbao. The Chinese Culture College that Tang established in the 1980s once caught much attention from across China.

In 2002, Tang’s proposal of compiling Ruzang was supported and approved of by China’s Ministry of Education. Tang served as chief expert. This May, Tang introduced to Chinese President Xi Jinping the progress and achievements of Ruzang when Xi visited Peking University. Tang passed away with the project still to be finished.

In 2010, when the Institute of Confucianism at Peking University was established, Tang served as dean.

Written by: Chen Runxi
Edited by: Arthars