OBITUARIES: Joseph Needham

Wednesday 29 March 1995 23:02 BST

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Some 30 years ago Joseph Needham told me he had received the rare honour of two "philosophic names" given him by Chinese friends, writes Professor John Dancy [further to the obituary by Professor Mansel Davies, 27 March]. "When I was young they gave me `The Chemical Blast- Furnace'. Now that I am older they have given me `He Who Brings Order Out Of Chaos'."

He wrote them out for me in Chinese characters, and I have carried them in my wallet ever since.

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