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Live from London | Yasheng Huang on the Origins of Modern China
Dec 23, 2024
Join MIT Professor Yasheng Huang, an expert on modern China and author of influential works, as he dives into fascinating aspects of Chinese history. He tackles the Needham Question, revealing the paradox of ancient innovations and modern stagnation. Discover how footbinding links to technological decline and why increased Buddhism spurred inventions. Huang shares personal reflections from the Tiananmen Square protests and discusses economic reforms versus political setbacks in the 1980s, shedding light on contemporary China's ongoing challenges.
01:25:51
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Quick takeaways
- The Needham Question re-examines China's historic inventions and why they did not lead to an industrial revolution unlike in the West.
- The Keju examination system fostered meritocracy but stifled creativity, leading to a long-term stagnation in China's technological advancement.
Deep dives
The Needham Question and Its Relevance
The Needham Question, posed by British biochemist Joseph Needham, seeks to explain why, despite numerous significant inventions, China did not experience its own industrial revolution. The original inquiry focused on the disparity between the West’s rise and China’s decline, framing the question within a comparative context. However, a rethinking of this question emphasizes understanding China's historical advancements and what led to its later technological stagnation. This new perspective offers a more profound inquiry into China's past and its implications for the present.
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Discover
highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode