John C.Y. Wang
Nov. 20, 1934-Aug. 3, 2018
Stanford, California

Emeritus Professor John C.Y. Wang (Edward Clark Crossett Professor of Humanistic Studies), 83, of the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures, Stanford University passed away peacefully after battling ALS, a motor neuron disease commonly known as Lou Gehrig disease, for more than two years.

He did his undergraduate work at the National Taiwan University (1957), M.A. at the University of Minnesota (1962), and Ph.D. in classical Chinese fiction from Cornell University (1968). He joined the Stanford faculty in 1969, and chaired the East Asian Languages & Cultures department from 1978 to 1990.

Professor Wang was an authority on Chin Sheng-t'an (a 17th-century Chinese literary critic) and devoted his life to the study of narrative techniques of Chinese fiction and history. His writings on these subjects received great acclaim. Later in life, his interest extended to traditional Chinese drama, especially Kun Qu, and offered his insight to this subject through numerous presentations.

He was an eminent scholar in the study of classical Chinese literature and also taught, with honorary titles and various short-term appointments, Chinese or literature at Yale, University of Michigan, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and other leading academic institutions at different times of his distinguished career.

Besides his teaching, Wang served as member on various advisory and editorial boards of academic journals. His outside professional activities included serving as subject specialist for Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications; External Examiner of Chinese Language, Literature/History, Hong Kong University; and many other university or official sponsored programs.

He is survived by his beloved wife Connie; son Michael; daughter Amy and son-in-law Stuart.

Tags: teacher/educator