Abstract
The Qingdao conference on genetics of August, 1956 is considered to be a model for the implementation of the policy of letting a hundred schools of thought contend and a turning point in the history of the biological sciences, especially genetics, in China. Almost 30 years have passed. As we now [in 1985] look back at the Qingdao conference and later events, we realize even more strongly that the hundred schools policy has enormous power to develop science and enrich academics. At the same time, we even more clearly understand the difficulties involved in implementing this policy.
Editorial note: The English reader will find a concise account of the Qingdao Symposium of 1956 in the article ‘Genetics in China’ by Li Peishan (ISIS vol. 79, pp. 227–236, June 1988). The complete text of the Proceedings of the Symposium was published in English translation in a special issue of the journal Chinese Law and Government, vol. 19, no. 2 (Summer 1986), preceded by a detailed introduction prepared by the Editor, Laurence Schneider (pp. iii–xxi). The important speeches of Yu Guangyuan which were delivered at the opening and closing sessions of the Qingdao genetics conference are given in the preceding chapter.
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Notes
Journal of Dialectics of Nature VII(4) (1985) 41-49. This article is a comprehensive summary which appeared in One Hundred Schools Contend — The Only Road for the Development of Science (Bai Jia Zhengming — Eazhan Kexuede Biyou Zhi Lu) Commercial Press, 1985 (an eyewitness account of the Qingdao conference on genetics in 1956). With a few exceptions which have been noted, all materials concerning the Soviet Union are quoted from the appendix, ‘The Three Debates within the Soviet Biological Community between 1935 and 1956.’ Most of the materials concerning China are based on this book and on research conducted by the authors at that time.
Vavilov was a Soviet botanist, agriculturalist, geneticist and phytogeographer who enjoyed a high reputation in the Soviet and international biological communities. Born in Moscow in November, 1887, he died in prison at Saratov, U.S.S.R., in 1943.
Li Peishan, ‘The Lysenko Movement — A Typical Example of Political Interference in Academics,’ in The Development of Science and Technology (Ke Xue Ji Shu De Fa Zhari), Popular Science Press, 1982, pp. 212-219.
Li He and Du Yi translated the paper which was published by Tian Xia Book Company in August of 1949.
‘New Ideas on Biological Species in Science,’ Journal of the Chinese Michurin Society (Zhong Guo Mi Qiu Lin Xue Hui Hui Kan), no. 1, August 1950.
There are a total of 21 volumes in the Chinese translation of Discussions on Species and Species Formation (Guan Yu Wu Zhong Yu Wu Zhong Xing Cheng Wen Ti De Tao Lun) published by the Science Press from October, 1954 through June, 1957. Of these, 14 were published before August, 1956.
Hu Xiansu was one of the Chinese botanists who made important contributions to plant taxonomy in China. His book, A Short Course on Plant Taxonomy, published by the Higher Education Press in March, 1955, contains a detailed discussion of theories and techniques of plant classification. However, because the book was criticized, unsold copies were later destroyed.
See People’s Daily (Renmin Ribao), November 1, 1955.
Documents from the Eighth National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (Zhong Guo Gong Chang Dang Di Ba Ci Quan Guo Dai Biao Da Hui Wen Xian), p. 570.
Li Ruqi, Professor of Biology at Peking University, studied, conducted research, and earned his Ph.D. in Morgan’s laboratory during the 1920s.
See Gong Yuzhi, ‘The Only Way for Science to Develop — Introducing Comrade Mao Zedong’s Letter and Comments on the Republication of the Article “Letting a Hundred Schools Contend in Genetics” ‘Guangming Daily (Guangming Ribao), December 28, 1983.
Mark B. Adams, ‘Biology After Stalin: A Case Study,’ in The Journal of East and West Studies, Vol. 23, no. 1 (102) (Winter, 1977–78) pp. 53-80; Zhores A. Medvedev, The Rise and Fall of T. D. Lysenko, Michael Lerner, transi. New York: Columbia University Press, 1969, Ch. 9–10. (Chinese translation by Li Baoheng and Zhao Yuanshou, Shanghai Translation Press, 1980.).
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Peishan, L., Qinzhe, M., Qinghe, H., Shu-e, H. (1996). The Qingdao Conference of 1956 on Genetics: The Historical Background and Fundamental Experiences. In: Dainian, F., Cohen, R.S. (eds) Chinese Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, vol 179. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8717-4_5
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