The Monkey and the Monk

Anthony Christopher Yu, an American scholar, was renowned for his expertise in literature, religion, and Sinology. His academic journey led him to become the Carl Darling Buck Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus in the Humanities and Professor Emeritus of Religion and Literature at the Chicago Divinity School. He was also affiliated with various departments at the University of Chicago, including Comparative Literature, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, and English Language and Literature, in addition to being part of the Committee on Social Thought.

Throughout his prolific career, Yu made significant contributions to the fields of religion and comparative literature. One of his most notable achievements was the four-volume translation of "Journey to the West," one of China's Four Great Classical Novels, into English.

Born on October 6, 1938, in Hong Kong, Yu's family background included his father, Pak Chuen Yu, a general in the Chinese Nationalist Army, and his mother, Norma Sau Chan. After the war, he relocated with his parents to Taiwan. Later on, Yu pursued his education in the United States, earning a bachelor's degree from Houghton College and furthering his studies in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary (S.T.B) and the University of Chicago (Ph.D.).

Recognized for his outstanding contributions, Yu received various honors and awards, including elected membership in the American Council of Learned Societies and Academia Sinica. Additionally, he was a recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship and Mellon Foundation grant.

Anthony Christopher Yu passed away in 2015 due to heart failure, leaving behind a profound legacy in the fields of literature, religion, and Sinology.