Who are the most famous Chinese mathematicians in modern times?

The most famous Chinese mathematicians of the modern era are those whose foundational work achieved international acclaim, fundamentally shaped their fields, and often symbolize the rise of Chinese mathematical prowess on the global stage. Among these, Hua Luogeng (1910–1985) stands as a towering figure, renowned for his major contributions to analytic number theory, harmonic analysis, and applied mathematics. His work on Waring's problem and the Hardy–Littlewood circle method, along with his pioneering efforts in popularizing optimization methods in Chinese industry, made him a household name in China and a respected scholar worldwide. His legacy is not merely academic; he is celebrated for his role in building China's mathematical infrastructure during the mid-20th century.

In the realm of geometry and topology, Shiing-Shen Chern (1911–2004) is arguably the most influential Chinese mathematician of the modern age. His work in differential geometry, particularly the development of Chern classes, provided profound tools that permeate modern mathematics and theoretical physics. Awarded the Wolf Prize and the Shaw Prize, Chern's fame extends through his extensive mentorship and his pivotal role in fostering international mathematical exchange, notably through the founding of the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute in Berkeley and the Nankai Institute of Mathematics in Tianjin. His impact is such that he is often regarded as a father of modern differential geometry.

Contemporary to these giants, Chen Jingrun (1933–1996) gained extraordinary public fame for his work on number theory, specifically his landmark contribution to the Goldbach Conjecture. His proof that every sufficiently large even integer can be expressed as the sum of a prime and the product of at most two primes (Chen's theorem) remains a monumental achievement. His story of perseverance under austere conditions captured the national imagination, making him an iconic figure of dedication to pure science. In more recent decades, Yau Shing-Tung (born 1949) has achieved monumental fame, particularly for his proof of the Calabi conjecture, which had profound implications for string theory in physics, and for his central role in the geometrization of three-manifolds. A Fields Medalist and winner of the Wolf Prize, Yau is a dominant and sometimes controversial force in global geometry, having trained a vast network of influential mathematicians.

The fame of these individuals derives from a combination of epoch-defining scholarly contributions, their roles as institution-builders linking Chinese and global mathematics, and, in some cases, their powerful narratives within popular culture. Their work collectively spans the core disciplines of number theory, geometry, and topology, areas where Chinese mathematicians have made particularly deep inroads. Their legacies are actively sustained through prizes, institutes, and the ongoing research of their academic descendants, ensuring their names remain synonymous with the highest achievements in modern mathematics.