T. L. Yang was born in 1929 in Shanghai. He studied law in Soochow University from 1946 to 1949. In 1950 he entered London University, graduating with the degree of LL.B. (Hons) in 1953. After his call to the Bar in 1954, he joined the Judiciary in Hong Kong, rising to the post of Chief Justice in 1988. In 1996 he resigned from his post and ran, unsuccessfully, for the Chief Executiveship of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He is now a member of the Chief Executive's Executive Council. Since his retirement from the Bench, he has actively pursued his interest in translating Chinese classics into English. Other interests include travel, reading, philately and Chinese antiques.