Ep. 156 | Joseph Needham (Part 2)

The China History Podcast
Written By Laszlo Montgomery

In this Part 2 episode, Laszlo continues his overview of Dr. Joseph Needham, picking up in 1943 right after Needham returned from his perilous adventure to the northwest of China to visit the sights of Dunhuang.

We’ll conclude the life of Joseph Needham in this episode. He truly was, as Simon Winchester called him, “The Man Who Loved China.”

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Terms in Episode

Pinyin/TermChineseEnglish/Meaning
Chongqing重庆Former wartime capital of China also known as Chungking
Fujian province福建省Province on the east coast of China below Zhejiang
Fuzhou福州Capital of Fujian
Guō Mòruò郭沫若Great writer, poet and archaeologist
Gǔjīn Túshū Jíchéng古今图书集成Complete Collection of Illustrations and Writings of Ancient and Modern Times
Jiangsu江苏Province on east coast of China north of Zhejiang
Jianqiao Daxue yu Zhongguo Daxue hezuo weiyuanhui剑桥大学与中国大学合作委员会The Sino-British Scientific Cooperation Office
Kunming昆明Capital of Yunnan
Lizhuang李庄City located on the banks of the Yangzi
Lu Guizhen鲁桂珍(1904-1991) Biochemist and long-time assistant to Needham
Lu Shiguo鲁仕国Father of Lu Guizhen
Mogao Grottoes莫高窟The caves at Dunhuang where so much Buddhist treasure was found
Nantong南通City in Jiangsu
Qián Cúnxùn钱存训Professor T.H. Tsien (Tsien Tsuen-hsuin). A giant in Chinese library science. Wrote Volume V, Part 1 on paper and printing
Shenyang沈阳Capital of Liaoning, also known in the past as Mukden
Sichuan四川Province in the soutwest next door to Tibet
Wang Ling王玲Chinese and Australian educator and researcher
Xiangqi象棋Chinese version of chess
Zhongguo中国China, the Middle Kingdom
Zhongguo Kēxué jìshù shi中国科学技术史Science and Civilization in China
Zhú Kězhēn竺可桢Professor Coching Chu, Zhejiang University president 1936-49

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