From "Needham Qestion" To "Qian Xuesen's Question"

Qian Xuesen, a member of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, hasbeen honored in China for his" eminent contributions to science" and the Merit Model of Missiles and OneSatellite. Even in his80s, he still showed a keen interest in the development and progress of Chinesescience and technology."One of the important reasons that China has not fully developed is that not oneuniversity has been able to follow a model that can produce creative and innovative talents, none has itsown unique innovations, and thus has not produced distinguished individuals. This is a big question," sayshe when several national government officials visited him. Qian's words provoke us to recall a foreignfriend of China—Joseph Needham, who drew attention to the scientific and technological development inChina as early as50years ago, and doubted "Why modern science has not developed in Chinesecivilization? Why, between the first century B.C. and the fifteenth century A.D., Chinese civilization wasmuch more efficient than occidental in applying human natural knowledge to practical human needs?" Thatis well-known as the "Needham Question"."Qian Xuesen's Question" is, so to speak, the distillation and expansion of the "Needham Question" inthe new era, while both of them reflect intellectuals' concerns about the national development. Experts andscholars whether domestically or internationally all try to think, analyze and research these two "Questions"to look for the conditions and rules of scientific and technological development, to better promote thedevelopment of Chinese science and technology and make China back to its superiority role in the worldscience and technology.This article is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the concepts of the "NeedhamQuestion", including its origin, connotation and classical theory explanation; in the second part, thepersonal experience of Qian Xuesen and the background and representation of "Qian Xuesen's Question"are described; while the third part discusses the similarities and differences between the "NeedhamQuestion" and "Qian Xuesen's Question" and proceeds to show that the "Qian Xuesen's Question" appearsto be an educational question in cultivating talents, however, it is essentially related to the innovations ofscientific and technical talents. Reflecting the histories of modern Chinese scientific and technologicaldevelopment, the "Needham Question" and the "Qian Xuesen's Question" are inevitable results of the Chinese social and historical development, demonstrating Chinese people's intense desire to pursuenational prosperity and strength in modern times.