| Title |
Taoism correspondence |
| Reference |
SCC2/42 |
| Covering Dates |
13 Dec. 1954–1989 |
| Extent and Medium |
Paper |
|
| Index Terms |
| Philosophy |
| Needham/NRI2/SCC2/42 contains: |
|
1
|
Copy of a letter to Georges Smets, Member of the Royal Academy of Belgium, about the concept of 'Jang [? / Rang] and the custom of 'potlatch' and Smets reply.
Creator: Smets, Georges; Needham, Joseph.
4 sheets; Paper. |
13 Dec. 1954–22 Dec. 1954 |
|
2
|
Copy of a letter to Rt. Rev. F. D. V. Narborough in Colchester, Essex explaining that in the philosophy of science the 'liquidation of the self' is vital for the growth of man's knowledge of the natural world. Joseph Needham's letter is in response to Narborough's 'admirable words about Traherne and the necessity of the liquidation of the self in all good human relations as well as creative activity' on the day of the 'patronal feast at Thaxted'. Needham quotes Francis Bacon, T. H. Huxley and others.
3 sheets; Paper. |
17 July 1955 |
|
3
|
Letter from Chang Chung-yuan in New York City, U.S.A. advising Joseph Needham of his forthcoming lecture tour on Chinese Taoism and discussing his belief in the practice of meditation or yoga. The documents also include a copy of Needham's reply; a typescript of Chang's review of R. B. Blakney's ,'The Way of Life, La Tzu. A New Translation of the Tao Te Ching', (New York, 1955).
Creator: Chang Chung-yuan; Needham, Joseph.
8 sheets; Paper. |
9 Mar. 1957–2 Apr. 1957 |
|
4
|
Letter from Laurence Picken of Jesus College, Cambridge about 'the statement about Taoism and the old religion of ? [Chhu / Chu]' made by E. Erkes in his 'Geschichte Chinas..', (Berlin, 1956).
Creator: Picken, Lawrence.
1 document; Paper. |
2 Dec. 1956 |
|
5
|
Correspondence with Rodney Needham of the Institute of Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford about 'matriarchy and matrilineal society'.
Creator: Needham, Rodney; Needham, Joseph.
5 sheets; Paper. |
1 Sep. 1959–20 Nov. 1959 |
|
6
|
Correspondence with Manfred Porkert of Munich, Germany about his work on Sung Taoism and alchemy and other matters. Other matters discussed include the ' definition of science'; 'material immortality';.
Creator: Porkert, Manfred; Needham, Joseph.
7 sheets; Paper. |
7 June 1960–14 Nov. 1960 |
|
7
|
Letter from Victor Purcell of Cambridge forwarding a letter he received from [?] Blythe of Dunsfold, Surrey about the origin of the 'great plan' concept and Taoism. The letters refer to the ?? [Hung Fan / Hong Fan] setion of the «??» [Shu Ching / Shu Jing].
Creator: Purcell, Victor.
2 sheets; Paper. |
8 Nov. 1960–10 Nov. 1960 |
|
8
|
Part of a letter from Victor Meally of Co. Dublin, Eire about the concept of Jang [? / Rang].
Creator: Meally, Victor.
2 sheets; Paper. |
6 June 1961 |
|
9
|
Correspondence with Keith Critchlow of London about his search for a copy of 'Tao Yen Nei Wai Pi Shê Chhüan Shu'. Joseph Needham's letter explains sources of help for the location of Taoist works, both in Europe and Japan. One of Critchlow's letters is accompanied by a print of a 'Tibetan mandala which has in the third circle tge Pah-Kwa in the Later Heaven arrangement or Inner World arrangement'.
Creator: Critchlow, Keith; Needham, Joseph.
6 sheets; Paper. |
24 Jan. 1962–21 July 1962 |
|
10
|
Letter from Juan Adolfo Vazquez of the Instituto de Filosofia, Medoza, Argentina enquiring about Joseph Needham's 'large corpus of Taoist sacred books' and copy of Needham's reply.
Creator: Vazquez, Juan Adolfo; Needham, Joseph.
2 sheets; Paper. |
26 Mar. 1962–10 May 1962 |
|
11
|
Letter from Robin Jardine of London about Hou Wai-Lu's [??? /Hou Wailu] interpretation of the 'Tao Tê Ching [??? / Dao De Jing]', the political aspect of early Taoism and other matters. The documents also include a copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Jardine, Robin.
3 sheets; Paper. |
17 Feb. 1964 |
|
12
|
Letter from Zofia Ameisekowa of Krakow, Poland about her work on mysticism, experience during World War II and other matters.
Creator: Ameisekowa, Zofia.
3 sheets; Paper. |
15 Oct. 1965 |
|
13
|
Joseph Needham's note of a 'remarkable parallel' to his interpretation of the Taoist attitude to knowledge from H. Chadwick's translation of 'Origin: Contra Celsum'.
1 document; Paper. |
1950–1959 |
|
14
|
Letter from Dr. A.R. Burn of Glasgow, Scotland about Hou Wai-Lu's [??? /Hou Wailu] interpretation of the 'Tao Tê Ching [??? / Dao De Jing]' and the origins of iron and iron-working in Chinese culture. The documents also include a copy of Joseph Needham's reply; page of contact details for Burn after his retirement.
Creator: Burn, A.R.; Needham, Joseph.
3 sheets; Paper. |
4 Sep. 1969–9 Sep. 1969 |
|
15
|
Correspondence with Julien Masseron of The City Literary Institute, London about a translation of the text «???» [Kuan Yin Tzu / Guan Yin Zi] and related matters.
Creator: Masseron, Julien; Needham, Joseph.
4sheets; Paper. |
18 May 1970 |
|
16
|
Letter from H. Vetch of Vetch and Lee Limited, Hong Kong to Dr. Pietr van der Loon of Cambridge requesting topographical information about Hua Shan to assist with the publication of two related manuscripts.
Creator: Vetch, H.
1 document; Paper. |
10 Sep. 1971 |
|
17
|
Letter from George B. Powell of Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A. about the publication of his completed translation of the 'Tao Tê Ching [??? / Dao De Jing]'.
Creator: Powell, George B.
3 sheets; Paper. |
30 June 1971 |
|
18
|
Letter from Silvio Calzolari of Florence, Italy about Taoism in Japan.
Creator: Calzolari, Silvio.
1 document; Paper. |
1968–1972 |
|
19
|
Letter from Stephen Cang of the Institute of Organisation and Social Studies, Brunel University, London, asking for advice to begin studying Taoism and copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Cang, Stephen; Needham, Joseph.
2 sheets; Paper. |
7 Feb. 1977–2 Mar. 1977 |
|
20
|
Cutting from an auction sale catalogue showing a jade table screen with mountain landscape and gilded inscription by ?? [Lao Tze / Lao Zi].
1 document; Paper. |
1970–1979 |
|
21
|
Correspondence with N. J. Girardot of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A. about Girardot's application for tenure at the University and related documents. The documents also include a copy of two versions of Girardot's curriculum vitae; copy of a letter from Needham to Prof. David Burrell of the University, supporting the application; photocopy of a 'Report of Conference on the Work of Mircea Eliade'. (The Conference was directed by Girardot).
Creator: Girardot, N.J.; Needham, Joseph.
19 sheets; Paper. |
5 Dec. 1977–12 June 1979 |
|
22
|
Announcement of the publication of Antony Tatlow's 'The Mask of Evil: Brecht's Response to the Poetry, Theatre and Thought of China and Japan. A Comparative and Critical Evaluation'.
1 document; Paper. |
1977 |
|
23
|
Letter from George F. Allen of London about expressing appreciation of Joseph Needham's treatment of Taoism in 'Science and Civilisation in China'.
Creator: Allen, George F.
1 document; Paper. |
24 Mar. 1978 |
|
24
|
Letter from E. R. Dodds of Oxford about the comparison between Neoplatoism and Taoism.
Creator: Dodds, E.R.
1 document; Paper. |
2 Apr. 1978 |
|
25
|
Correspondence with J. P. Carswell of the British Academy about research programme in Chinese Studies sponsored by the European Science Foundation and related documents. The related documents comprise overviews of three proposed projects for the programme entitled, 'Tao-Tsang - An Analytical and Descriptive Bibliography of the Taoist Cannon'; Literature - A Descriptive Handbook of Chinese Literary Works from 1900 to 1949'; 'The State in China - Concepts and Realities'. Joseph Needham's letter gives his opinions on the value of each of three proposed projects. The documents also include a list of 'proposed members of the steering committees' for the programme.
Creator: Carswell, J. P.; Needham, Joseph.
12 sheets; Paper. |
24 July 1978–8 Aug. 1978 |
|
26
|
Correspondence with N. J. Girardot of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, U.S.A., about a special book-length issue of the journal 'History of Religions' to concentrate on Chinese religions and related documents. The related documents comprise a Univeristy of Chicago leaflet advertising the work.
Creator: Girardot, N.J.; Needham, Joseph.
8 sheets; Paper. |
17 Nov. 1976–8 Aug. 1978 |
|
27
|
Letter from Victor Mair of the Department of East Asian Languages, Harvard University, U.S.A. inviting Joseph Needham's contribution to a book of essays on 'Chuang Tzu [?? / Zhuang Zi]' and copy of Needham's reply.
Creator: Mair, Victor; Needham, Joseph.
3 sheets; Paper. |
12 Apr. 1978–24 Aug. 1978 |
|
28
|
Letter from Dr. Holmes H. Welch of Harvard, U.S.A. about work by Norman Girardot, also of Harvard, on the life of James Legge, copy of Joseph Needham's reply and related documents. The letters refer specifically to the search for funding for a proposed book by Girardot about Legge. They also mention Welch's own published collection of papers entitled 'Facets of Taoism'. The related documents comprise copy of a letter from Edward Tripp of Yale University Press to Welch about the success of 'Facets of Taoism'; copy of Girardot's proposal for the book on Legge; copies of correspondence between Welch and Jen Chi-Yü of Academia Sincia about the translation of Chinese religious texts and Welch's planned trip to China.
Creator: Welch, Holmes H.; Needham, Joseph.
11 sheets; Paper. |
22 Jan. 1979–12 June 1979 |
|
29
|
Letter from Oliver Caldecott of Wildwood House Publishers of London about a translation of the 'Hua Hu Ching [??? / Hua Hu Jing]', sample pages of the work and copy of Joseph Needham's reply. Needham's letter explains the nature of 'Hua Hu Ching'.
Creator: Caldecott, Oliver; Needham, Joseph.
14 sheets; Paper. |
27 July 1979–28 Aug. 1979 |
|
30
|
Letter from N. J. Girardot at Oberlin College, Ohio, U.S.A. about the publication of his book, 'Myth and Meaning in Early Taoism' and copy of a letter from Robin Derricourt of Cambridge University Press expressing an interest in the manuscript. Girardot's letter also advises Joseph Needham about the progress of his project on James Legge.
Creator: Giradot, N.J.; Derricourt, Robert.
4 sheets; Paper. |
31 Oct. 1979–16 Jan. 1980 |
|
31
|
Note from Norman Girardot advising Joseph Needham of his position as chairman of the Religion Department at Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. The documents also include a University of California Press advertisement for Girardot's book 'Myth and Meaning in Early Taoism'.
Creator: Girardot, Norman.
2 sheets; Paper. |
Sep. 1980 |
|
32
|
Documents relating an application by Prof. Norman J. Girardot for a Fulbright Award for proposed research on 'James Legge (1815-1897) and the Study of Chinese Religion'. The documents comprise a letter from Girardot to Joseph Needham asking for his support in the application, 30 June 1981; copy of Needham's letter of reference; copies of Girardot's completed application form for the award and research proposal; copy of Giradot's curriculum vitae; copy of letter to Girardot from J. D. Rogers of the Department of Western Manuscripts, Bodleian Library, Oxford listing papers of James Legge held at the Library; copy of letter to Girardot from Elizabeth Hook, aAchivist at the School of African and Oriental Studies, London advising him about the location of manuscripts relating to James Legge.
Creator: Girardot, Norman J.; Needham, Joseph; Hook, Elizabeth.
25 sheets; Paper. |
24 Jan. 1979–30 June 1981 |
|
33
|
Letter from Raymond J. Barnett of the California State University, U.S.A. explaining his interest in Taoism and asking for Joseph Needham's advice on Taoist temples to visit on a forthcoming visit to China. The documents also include a copy of Needham's letter of reply.
Creator: Barnett, Raymond J.; Needham, Joseph.
4 sheets; Paper. |
4 Nov. 1981–2 Dec. 1981 |
|
34
|
Letter from Norman Girardot of Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. about a forthcoming visit to Oxford to work on his book on James Legge and related documents. The related documents comprise a copy of a letter from Joseph Needham to Sir. Kenneth Dover of Corpus Christi College, Oxford recommending Girardot for a 'temporary attachment the College; 'Table of Contents' for 'Myth and Symbol in Chinese Religion', edited by Girardot and John S. Major; photocopy of the contents pages of Girardot's forthcoming book, 'Myth and Meaning in Early Taoism, The Theme of Chaos (hun-tun).
Creator: Girardot, Norman; Needham, Joseph.
9 sheets; Paper. |
13 July 1982–29 July 1982 |
|
35
|
Letter from Prof. John Adair of the University of Surrey about Chinese philosophy and its relevance to leadership and copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Adair, John; Needham, Joseph.
2 sheets; Paper. |
28 Apr. 1984–14 May 1984 |
|
36
|
Correspondence with Ursula King of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Leeds, about the M. A. thesis of Allerd Strikker on 'parallels between Teilhard de Chardin and Taoism'. King asks Joseph Needham to be external examiner for Strikker's work. The documents also include a list of instructions for examiners.
Creator: King, Ursula.
6 sheets; Paper. |
11 Apr. 1985–27 Feb. 1986 |
|
37
|
Letter from Dirk Van Nuffel in Brussels about his study of Chinese and Taoism and copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Van Nuffel, Dirk; Needham, Joseph.
3 sheets; Paper. |
23 Sep. 1985–5 Nov. 1985 |
|
38
|
Letter from ??? [Ho Chhi-Chung / He Qizhong] of South-Eastern Minority People's Normal College, Kweichow, China about the influence of Taoism on modern science and copy of Joseph Needham's reply.
Creator: Ho Chhi-Chung; Needham, Joseph.
4 sheets; Paper. |
4 Aug. 1985–8 Jan. 1986 |
|
39
|
Correspondence with Rémi Mathieu about his translation of 'Huainan zi [??? / Huai Nan Tzu]' into French. The documents also include related correspondence between Mathieu and Michael Loewe of the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Cambridge.
Creator: Mathieu, Rémi; Loewe, Michael.
5 sheets; Paper. |
12 Jan. 1986–21 Mar. 1986 |
|
40
|
Two letters from Jake Tilson, Editor of the magazine 'Atlas' asking for help to find an author for a short feature on the subject of 'Wu' ? and for permission to use excerpts from 'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 2'.
Creator: Tilson, Jake.
3 sheets; Paper. |
17 Mar. 1986–26 Mar. 1986 |
|
41
|
Letter from R. Gordon Wasson of Danbury, Connecticut, U.S.A., on the 'subject of entheogenic ('hallucinogenic') mushrooms' and copy of related pages from Wasson's book entitled 'Perspehone's Quest: Entheogens and the Origins of Religion'.
Creator: Wasson, R. Gordon.
5 sheets; Paper. |
12 Apr. 1986 |
|
42
|
Two letters from David M. Davies at Peking University, China about his research into longevity.
Creator: Davies, David M.
2 sheets; Paper. |
26 Feb. 1986–7 Mar. 1986 |
|
43
|
Letter from ??? [Yang Ching-Chhêng / Yang Jingzheng of Taipei, Taiwan and copy of an article on «???????».
Creator: Yang Ching-Chhêng?.
3 sheets; Paper. |
3 May 1987 |
|
44
|
Correspondence with Yang Juchou of Taiwan about the First World Conference on Taoism. The documents also include printed information about the event. For more documents relating to the Conference, see also SCC2/41/1/79.
Creator: Yang Juchou.
8 sheets; Paper. |
30 May 1987–16 Oct. 1987 |
|
45
|
Letter from Tim Cloudsley of Glasgow College of Technology about his article on Taoism and the question of whether 'modern science is a Western project'.
Creator: Cloudsley, Tim.
1 document; Paper. |
19 June 1987 |
|
46
|
Letter from G. Kraus of The New Diffusionist Press, Sandy, Bedfordshire about the 'hunter-gatherer syndrome'.
Creator: Kraus, G.
1 document; Paper. |
26 June 1987 |
|
47
|
Letter from Michael Arden of Cambridge asking for Joseph Needham's help to complete a Chinese sign for his 'small hut' at a Cambridge retreat centre.
Creator: Arden, Michael.
2 sheets; Paper. |
14 Aug. 1987 |
|
48
|
Telegram advising of the death of Prof. Hou Wailu [??? / Hou Wai-lu] and note of Joseph Needham's message for a reply telegram.
2 sheets; Paper. |
14 Sep. 1987–25 Sep. 1987 |
|
49
|
Letters from Kuru and Paula Gunawardena of London about a possible television series based 'Science and Civilisation in China'. The documents also include a typescript headed 'Joseph Needham, The Tao and the Way of Science' which introduces Needham's approach to Taoism and the origins of science.
Creator: Gunawardena, Kuru.
5 sheets; Paper. |
26 Oct. 1987–6 Dec. 1987 |
|
50
|
Joseph Needham's original file title.
1 document; Paper. |
1980–1989 |
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