Chen-Ning Yang: A product of two cultures in conflict and in harmony
By Simons Foundation
Summary
## Key takeaways - **China's 19th Century Scientific Void**: By the 19th century, China was in a very sad state with no modern science at all, despite its long and distinguished history. [00:41], [00:58] - **Boxer War's Crushing Indemnity**: In the 1900 Boxer War, eight armies including some from the United States occupied Beijing and signed a treaty stipulating China pay 450 million taels—an astronomical amount—of silver. [01:13], [01:33] - **US Returns Funds for Tsinghua**: About 10 years after the Boxer treaty, the US Congress passed a law returning the American share of the 450 million taels of silver to China for educational purposes, establishing Tsinghua University. [01:46], [02:12] - **Yang's Campus Upbringing**: Yang was a direct beneficiary as his father was a professor at Tsinghua University since 1929, and he grew up on that campus. [02:34], [02:44] - **Scholarship to Chicago in 1945**: Part of the returned Boxer indemnity money established scholarships for Chinese students to study in America, and Yang won one to become a graduate student in Chicago in 1945. [02:47], [02:59] - **Nobel Reflection on Cultures**: In 1957 at his Nobel acceptance before the king of Sweden, Yang reflected on his history in the context of China's relationship with the West, calling himself a product of both cultures in conflict and in harmony. [03:06], [03:13]
Topics Covered
- China Lacked Modern Science in 19th Century
- Boxer War Forced 450 Million Taels Reparations
- US Repurposed Boxer Funds for Tsinghua University
- Grew Up on Tsinghua Campus via Boxer Reparations
- Product of Sino-Western Conflict and Harmony
Full Transcript
Well, Frank, it's nice to be here with you today. I'm glad I had this
you today. I'm glad I had this opportunity. You said in your Nobel
opportunity. You said in your Nobel Acceptance speech that you personally are a product of both harmony and
conflict between China and the West.
Can you tell me uh what you meant by that? Looking especially back to your
that? Looking especially back to your early years, how the history of that time led up to your introduction to
science and math.
You know that uh China had a very long and distinguished uh history
but uh by the 19th century uh China was uh in a very sad state.
There was no modern science at all.
And uh uh big great powers mostly uh Great Britain uh had tried to carve up China.
And then there was a war in 1900 called the Boxer War. and uh during which uh
eight armies including uh some armies from the United States occupied Beijing and signed a treaty. The treaty
stipulated that China was to pay 450 million tales that means ounces of silver and astronomical
uh amount at that time.
uh in about uh 10 years or so after that, the US uh Congress uh passed a law which said that uh uh
part of that uh the American share of that 450 million uh tales of silver is to be returned to China for educational
purposes.
and uh a foundation was set up and uh the money from the foundation was used for two purposes. One to establish a university in China which is uh called
Tinua University, one of the most famous universities now. It's one of the
universities now. It's one of the earliest modern university in China.
uh I was a direct beneficiary of that because my father was a professor of that university since 1929
and I grew up on that campus.
Uh another part of the money was used to establish scholarships for Chinese students to come to America to study and I won one of those scholarships. So in
1945 I came and became a graduate student in Chicago.
So in 1957 when I stood uh in front of the king of
Sweden and um uh the assembled people uh I was moved to reflect on my own history in the context of uh the history of
China and the relationship between China and the west. So that's why I said that I was a product of uh both cultures in conflict and in harmony.
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