I Introduction

I have already selected and translated seven or eight conversation pieces recording conversations with some famous, contemporary French scientists. Science made them realize that science is not almighty, that science and religion each has its own sphere. Not only do they not clash with each other; on the contrary, they can give each other mutual assistance. Science also makes them strengthen or gain faith.

Now once again to introduce someone famous all over the world, the great palaeontologist and palaeanthropologist who discovered "Peking Man", Father Teilhard de Chardin.

This year is the centenary of his birth. African scientific circles and UNESCO have suggested arranging a solemn commemoration of the French palaeanthropologist, Fr. Teilhard de Chardin. This summer meetings will be held over a period of three months at the Catholic University in Paris, France, the Institut Catholique de Paris; academic papers and commemorative essays will be delivered.

The quarterly Daziran, published by the Association of Chinese Natural Science Museums, the Chinese Society for Environmental Science and the Beijing Museum of Natural Science, in its first issue for 1981 published an article written by Zhen Shuonan and Huang Weiwen, "Recalling the French Palaeontologist Teilhard de Chardin's Time in China", in which they lauded to the skies the scientific contributions of their teacher and his human qualities.

Rev. Father Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S. J. was a Frenchman, born in 1881, who later entered the Society of Jesus and was ordained a priest in 1912. He came to our country twice; the first time in 1923 for just a year; the second time in 1926, this time staying for twenty years. In 1946 he returned to Paris; he died in the U. S. A. in 1955.

In 1941 I was returning from Northern China to Shanghai; while passing through Tianjin, I met him. His humility, his warmth and his kindness were very moving. He brought us to visit the Beijiang (Northern Frontier) Museum, explained to us the fossils of the "Ordos culture", and then explained to us about the tools used by Peking Man which were exhibited in the parlour of his residence. At the time we really did not dare to believe that the simple, unpretentious, humble, sincere person standing before us was the discoverer of Peking Man, famous throughout the contemporary world.