Origins & Early Life

Edward Yang (Chinese: 楊德昌; pinyin: Yáng Déchāng; November 6, 1947 – June 29, 2007) was a Taiwanese and American filmmaker. He rose to prominence as a pioneer in the Taiwanese New Wave of the 1980s, alongside fellow auteurs Hou Hsiao-hsien and Tsai Ming-liang. Yang was regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of Taiwanese cinema. He won the Best Director Award at Cannes for his 2000 film Yi Yi.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Yang was born in Shanghai, China, in 1947, where his parents worked for a bank. His family fled mainland China for Taiwan in 1949 following the defeat of the Kuomintang, and Yang grew up in Taipei. After studying electrical engineering in National Chiao Tung University (located in Hsinchu, Taiwan), where he received his bachelor's degree (BSEE), he enrolled in the graduate program at the University of Florida, where he received his master's degree in electrical engineering in 1974. During this time and briefly afterwards, Yang worked at the Center for Informatics Research at the University of Florida. Yang always had a great interest in film ever since he was a child, but put away his aspirations in order to pursue a career in the high-tech industry.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

A brief enrollment...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1947 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1947
• November 6 (11-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 6
• 2007 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2007
• June 29 (06-29) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 29