Wu Jianxiong Memorial Hall

Wu Jianxiong Memorial Hall

Nestled within the beautiful campus of Southeast University stands a uniquely modern building located to the west of the Grand Auditorium, complementing the Jianxiong Building on the east side. This is the Wu Jianxiong Memorial Hall, which houses the belongings of the esteemed Wu Jianxiong.

The world-renowned physicist and “Chinese Marie Curie,” Wu Jianxiong, came from this very land. She left in 1934 and returned over 60 years later.

In 1930, Wu Jianxiong was admitted to the Department of Mathematics at National Central University. In 1931, she transferred to the Department of Physics, embarking on her journey to pursue scientific truth under the guidance of distinguished mentors such as Shi Shiyuan, Fang Guangqi, Zhang Yuzhe, and Ni Shangda.

Wu Jianxiong achieved remarkable success throughout her life, making outstanding contributions to experimental physics in the 20th century—contributions that had global impact and epoch-making significance. In 1956, she experimentally proved for the first time the “non-conservation of parity in weak interactions,” laying the foundation for Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang’s Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957. She also participated in the American “Manhattan Project” as a foreigner and made significant contributions to its progress. Her extraordinary scientific achievements earned her numerous prestigious honors: in 1958, she became the first woman to be awarded an honorary doctorate by Princeton University, breaking a century-old tradition; in 1958, she was elected a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences; in 1975, she became the first female president in the history of the American Physical Society; in 1976, U.S. President Ford personally presented her with the National Medal of Science at the White House; in 1978, she became the first recipient of the Wolf Prize in Israel; in 1990, the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing named minor planet 2752 “Wu Jianxiong” in recognition of her outstanding contributions to humanity’s scientific endeavors; in 1994, she was elected as the first foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Wu Jianxiong was also appointed or awarded honorary professorships and honorary doctorates by over twenty universities worldwide, including her alma mater, Southeast University.

Wu Jianxiong dedicated her life to physics. Her exceptional achievements rightfully earned her the titles of “the world’s greatest experimental physicist” and “queen of nuclear physics.”

Wu Jianxiong shared an inseparable and lifelong bond with Southeast University. When she first returned to mainland China in 1973, she visited her alma mater, Southeast University, and subsequently returned multiple times to discuss development plans with the university. In 1988, when the university was renamed Southeast University, the couple Wu Jianxiong and Yuan Jialiu were delighted and inscribed: “The new atmosphere and spirit of our alma mater have left a deep impression on us.” In 1990, Southeast University appointed Wu Jianxiong as Honorary Director of the University Council, Honorary President of the Alumni Association, and Honorary Professor. On June 6, 1992, during the 90th anniversary celebration of Southeast University, the couple traveled from the United States to attend the festivities. That year also marked their 80th birthdays and their golden wedding anniversary, for which Southeast University held grand celebratory events. To honor this distinguished alumna and inspire future students, Southeast University renamed the former “Jiangnan Building” to “Jianxiong Building” and the “Molecular and Biomolecular Electronics Laboratory” to “Wu Jianxiong Laboratory.” The Jiangnan Building was the former Science Building of National Central University, where Wu Jianxiong once studied diligently. To support and encourage young scholars, the couple established the “Wu Jianxiong and Yuan Jialiu Award” to recognize promising young faculty members. To further the development of physics, they also donated one million USD to establish the “Wu Jianxiong and Yuan Jialiu Science Lecture Fund,” which supports world-class physicists to give lectures at the university.

On February 16, 1997, Wu Jianxiong passed away in her New York home due to illness. Then-President Jiang Zemin sent a message of condolence, expressing deep regret over her passing. Before her death, Wu Jianxiong expressed her wish to be buried in her hometown. The School of Architecture at Southeast University carefully designed her memorial garden. The design highlights her dedication to education and science, and subtly reflects her scientific conclusion regarding “the non-conservation of parity in weak interactions.” In 1999, to commemorate her great life and scientific achievements, Southeast University sought approval from the CPC Central Committee and the State Council and built the Wu Jianxiong Memorial Hall on campus.

While planning and designing the memorial hall, Southeast University began extensively collecting Wu Jianxiong’s belongings and related materials. After extensive efforts, the first batch of Wu Jianxiong’s belongings arrived at Southeast University by the end of 2000. At the handover ceremony of Wu Jianxiong’s memorabilia held in the United States, her husband, nearly ninety-year-old Yuan Jialiu, excitedly said: “Sending Jianxiong’s memorabilia back to her homeland and having them preserved by her alma mater is my greatest wish, and now it has come true!” In February 2002, the second batch of Wu Jianxiong’s belongings, donated by Columbia University in the United States, safely arrived in Nanjing. This shipment included 88 boxes of manuscripts and letters stored in Wu Jianxiong’s office.

The site selection and design plan of the Wu Jianxiong Memorial Hall were finalized by Yuan Jialiu. The memorial hall was designed by Professor Gao Minquan from the School of Architecture at Southeast University. Construction began in the fall of 2000 and was topped out in June 2001. The memorial hall is a standalone structure with a frame construction, covering a construction area of 2,129 square meters, with four floors above ground and one basement level. The design is solemn, simple, and symmetrical, featuring curved solid walls embedded with glass surfaces, creating a strong contrast between curves and straight lines, as well as solid and void. The arc-shaped flamed granite façade harmonizes with the surroundings and symbolizes Wu Jianxiong’s gentle, elegant character and timeless charm. On May 31, 2002, on the centennial celebration of Southeast University, the Wu Jianxiong Memorial Hall was completed and opened to the public. Jiangsu Satellite TV broadcasted the opening ceremony live to the world via satellite.

The memorial hall showcases the life achievements and belongings of Wu Jianxiong, including medals, certificates, awards, appointment letters, relevant documents, books, calligraphy and paintings gifted by friends and dignitaries, as well as everyday items used by Wu Jianxiong. The main hall on the first floor highlights the honors Wu Jianxiong received and her social impact. The second floor primarily introduces her scientific activities and spirit, displaying the workspace she used and models of some experimental instruments. The main theme of the third-floor hall is “From Childhood to Return,” chronicling Wu Jianxiong’s life journey. The curved corridors on the second and third floors, featuring modern metal suspension glass flooring, will showcase photos of Wu Jianxiong engaging in academic exchanges, social activities, interpersonal relationships, and family life, presenting the elegance and charisma of this extraordinary woman.

The Wu Jianxiong Memorial Hall has become an iconic building at Southeast University. Visitors come in an endless stream, all inspired and moved by her rigorous scientific spirit and noble character.