Ching Ch Ang Tung

Nelson Ikon Wu (1919–2002) was a Chinese-American writer and professor specializing in Asian art history. Born in Peking, he pursued his academic career in the United States, earning degrees from Yale University. Wu became a distinguished professor at Washington University in St. Louis, where he significantly contributed to the promotion of Asian art and culture, co-founding the Asian Art Society. He was also a celebrated author, with his novel "Song Never to End" achieving significant commercial success and critical recognition in Taiwan and Mainland China.

Throughout his career, Wu taught at various institutions, including Yale, San Francisco State University, and Kyoto University. His academic achievements were recognized with honors such as a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright Research Scholarship. Wu's legacy includes the establishment of memorial funds and annual lectureships at Washington University, as well as the preservation of his unique calligraphy work. His intellectual contributions extended to his scholarship on Chinese art and philosophy, with his PhD thesis focusing on the art and landscape painting of Tung Ch'i-ch'ang.

Nelson Ikon Wu was a prominent scholar of Asian art history and culture. After earning his degrees from Yale University, he joined Washington University in St. Louis in 1965, where he became a distinguished professor. His work was instrumental in advancing the study and appreciation of Asian art in the region, leading to his co-founding of the Asian Art Society in 1971. Beyond academia, Wu achieved considerable literary success, particularly in China and Taiwan, where his novel "Song Never to End" became a bestseller. This novel, which explored friendships during the Second Sino-Japanese War, was recognized as highly influential by readers of Taiwan's largest daily newspaper.

Wu's academic focus was on Asian art and architecture, and he held the position of Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of the History of Art and Chinese Culture. His research delved into various aspects of Chinese art, including its format, program, and intellectual underpinnings. His doctoral dissertation at Yale University centered on the 16th-century Chinese painter Tung Ch'i-ch'ang, examining his life, times, and landscape painting. Wu's influence extended to his lectures, such as an annual Christmas talk at Washington University celebrating Pan-Asian spirituality, which drew large audiences.

Following his death in 2002, Nelson Ikon Wu's contributions were honored through various initiatives. Washington University established the Nelson I. Wu Memorial Book Fund and, along with the Saint Louis Art Museum, inaugurated the annual Nelson I. Wu Lecture on Asian Art and Culture. His personal collection on East Asian art, architecture, and Chinese culture is maintained by the Washington University Libraries. A unique aspect of his legacy is his home in St. Louis, which features his handwritten calligraphy of the "Book of Changes" (I Ching) covering the walls of an entire room, a feature that has been preserved.

“Little Little Boy put up his hands with all his little fingers outstretched. One by one, fireflies came out from the all grass and alighted on his fingers, one firefly to each finger, not one more, not one less. With his hand and face alight from the glow of ten fireflies, Little Little Boy looked magnificent.”