Shing-Tung Yau：Science and the Humanities: A Shared Origin

Science and the humanities are often regarded as separate realms—the former grounded in reason, relying on tools, and dedicated to exploring the laws of nature; and the latter concerned with the human spirit, values, and sentiments. One pursues truth, while the other, goodness. They seem to stand in stark contrast, as distinct as black and white. Yet this is not really the case. Confucius once said, “My Way is one, and runs through all.” Though academic disciplines have grown increasingly specialized, at their core science and the humanities have always shared a common origin and evolved through mutual enrichment. Science provides a concrete foundation for the humanities, while the humanities imbue science with a soul. Ultimately, they are united as one great Way.

Creation begins only when the heart is moved

Students often ask me why, when discussing mathematics, I frequently speak of poetry, history and the literary classics. In my view, while a solid professional foundation is essential for academic research, what truly matters in creation—whether in groundbreaking scientific research or a literary masterpiece—all springs from genuine passion and an open mind.

Throughout the thousands of years of Chinese literary heritage, Qu Yuan composed his Lament, Sima Qian wrote his Records of the Grand Historian, Tao Yuanming sang of his rural retreat, Li Bai and Du Fu poured out their innermost thoughts, and Su Shi depicted the vicissitudes of human life. And all their works represent magnificent expressions of genuine feeling and a lofty spirit. Why is this so? As Mencius said, “I am good at cultivating my vast, flowing vital energy.” Sima Qian also wrote, “When one’s heart is pent up with frustration, one recounts the past to inform and inspire those to come.” Clearly, all these classics that have endured through the ages possess a common quality: they are powerful and profound, and at the same time gentle and deeply moving, for they express the sentiments of the country and the cosmos, and carry a deep understanding of human life.

In The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, Liu Xie regarded the Confucian classics as the highest form of literature, praising their value in embodying the Way and illuminating truth. In my view, the Way he spoke of is not merely the humanistic way of self-cultivation, moral integrity, and engagement with worldly affairs, but it is also the natural order in which all things in the universe move and transform. Literature and science share the same underlying principle and have a common origin. Therefore, from the ancient Greek philosophers to the great scientists of modern times, distinguished scholars with outstanding achievements have almost invariably written with elegance and clarity. Their writings were not deliberately polished; with the Way dwelling in their minds and the principles of both literature and science integrated in depth, clarity of expression came to them as naturally as understanding the Way itself.

When tackling major problems, the passions and feelings of scientists play a pivotal role, for these are the most fundamental and enduring driving force in the search for the unknown. Confronted with profound natural truths, scientists devote themselves wholeheartedly to the pursuit of knowledge, deeply appreciating the elegance and power of scientific laws, and marveling at the exquisite structure of the natural world. I once used a famous line to express such unwavering devotion—If truth is within reach, I would not regret it even if I were to die nine times over. It is the same spirit that sustained Wen Tianxiang, who, even when imprisoned, held fast to his principles and composed the famous Song of Righteousness that affirms his integrity.

Science and the humanities are interconnected, sharing the same underlying principle

I often say that mathematicians pursuing top-tier scholarship can draw valuable inspiration from classical literary techniques such as fu (exposition), bi (analogy), and xing (affective imagery). They are not merely rhetorical devices, but a genuine testament to the connection of the arts and the sciences, and the unity of knowledge and action. The ways of thinking and innovative logic underlying the breakthroughs by modern mathematicians in various branches of study are actually very similar to those found in the works of literary masters. I am convinced that outstanding mathematicians and researchers must possess a profound understanding of the humanities, so that they can draw insights from the rich tapestry of human life and natural phenomena, enabling them to continually refine their mathematical theories, and ultimately grasp the supreme truth and beauty of science. By contrast, if they remain complacent, merely tinkering with the works of their predecessors, all they can do is, at best, produce derivative works without any groundbreaking achievements.

Neither scientific breakthroughs nor artistic creation can be achieved through mechanical repetition or rigid imitation. The essence lies in the creative thinking processes—association, analogy, and imagination. Scientists discern connections among seemingly unrelated phenomena and formulate a unified theory thereof. Poets, on the other hand, draw upon myriad images from human experience and build a vivid world of art. They both seek to uncover the fundamental principles underlying a wide range of complex phenomena. Without such creative thinking, neither can science advance nor can there be fresh insights in the humanities. The Chinese literary tradition, stretching over millennia, has bequeathed to us the enduring classics of Qu Yuan, Sima Qian, Li Bai, Su Shi, Cao Xueqin, and many other great minds, which are precious treasures that enlighten the mind and enrich the spirit. Whether in the fields of mathematics, science and technology, or in literature, history and philosophy, this heritage offers us passion, dialectical wisdom, and a broad vision. In a word, scientific innovation can be sustained by humanistic depth, while the humanities should be grounded in scientific rationality.

The different paths of seeking truth and pursuing beauty converge into one

People tend to think of science and technology as practical and utilitarian, concerned primarily with the function of tools. The humanities, on the other hand, are regarded as refined and transcendent, concerned solely with spiritual and emotional pursuits. While scientists explore the truth of nature, literary artists seek the beauty of the human experience. The two pursuits may seem to belong to distinct domains and follow separate paths, yet deep down, they share an unwavering commitment to the same ideal: an unceasing quest for perfection. In this pursuit of truth and beauty, their divergent paths eventually converge.

A mature and self-consistent mathematical theory that is rigorous in logic, elegant in structure and complete as a system can rival any literary classic. French mathematician André Weil expanded the frontiers of number theory through algebraic geometry; Canadian mathematician Robert Langlands founded the Langlands Program, a grand framework unifying number theory with automorphic forms; my colleagues and I have been striving to develop geometric analysis. All these endeavors share the same goal: to uncover the most coherent frameworks for explaining the truths of the natural world. This persistent aspiration toward perfection cannot be explained by utilitarian rationality alone. It springs from a deep-seated and steadfast faith in truth and beauty.

Mathematicians will often employ thousands of pages of abstract theory to unify, describe, and explain vague and disparate phenomena through highly abstract methods. This vividly embodies the relentless pursuit of perfection in mathematics. A notable example is the supersymmetry theory proposed by physicists in the 1970s, which predicted that every particle has a supersymmetric counterpart, namely a “superpartner.” Even though no supersymmetric particles have yet been observed in the laboratory, the theory has continuously inspired groundbreaking research across multiple fields of mathematics and physics.

German physicist Hermann Weyl once remarked, “If a theory conflicts with observed phenomena but is beautiful and elegant, I would rather believe in the theory itself.” The flourishing of gauge field theory is rooted precisely in this faith in the beauty of science. Similarly, after completing the famous Dirac equation, a cornerstone of relativistic quantum mechanics, British physicist Paul Dirac marveled at how it “beautifully described the properties of elementary particles, revealing characteristics that even I had not anticipated.” This is the wondrous nature of scientific innovation: the very tools we use to probe the truth carry us beyond the boundaries of our knowledge, into the vast uncharted unknown.

The same holds true for literary figures. When Cao Xueqin wrote Dream of the Red Chamber, he “wrote every word in blood, and ten years of toil made the work extraordinary.” His writing fused a lifetime of experience and the vicissitudes of the human world into a complete, vivid world of art. Such literary fiction portrays human nature and society with a depth and poignancy far surpassing that of many factual accounts. Many writers in later generations tried to continue the narrative but none ever came close as they lacked the profound and pure humanistic spirit, sweeping vision, and relentless pursuit of perfection that defined Cao’s work.

Science looks outward, using reason to analyze the natural world and seek the truth of nature. The humanities look inward, depicting the myriad facets of human life with emotion and empathy, and uphold the beauty of the human world. When scientists confront the great nature and writers face the human world, they are both driven by the same unwavering inner yearning—to seek truth, practice it, and rest in the highest good.

Broad learning and historical understanding nourish true scholarship

How, then, can we cultivate creative thinking that bridges science and the humanities, and nurture genuine academic passion to pursue truth and beauty? The answer lies in liberal education, in immersion in our cultural heritage, and in the continuity of history. I often tell my students that scholarship knows no divide between science and the humanities. What matters most is sincerity and genuine passion. When young scholars become deeply devoted to their academic subject, the path of learning will unfold naturally and lead steadily forward. This pure passion for knowledge, along with the perseverance it sustains, cannot be fostered without long-term humanistic cultivation and a broad and liberal education.

Academic researchers should set their sights on goals that span generations and knowledge that stands the test of time. They should neither be confined by short-term gains or losses, nor be limited by narrow perspectives. Such a faith constitutes the very foundation of my own scholarly work. I am now teaching a weekly course on the history of mathematics. History is important because it serves as a mirror that not only reveals the reasons behind the successes and failures of our predecessors, but also transmits to us the emotions and passions that the ancestors have passed down through the millennia. Without knowing history, you cannot know where you come from; without knowing where you come from, you cannot be sure where you are going. This is especially true of the history of mathematics. It helps us to witness the birth of great ideas, and feel the joy and frustration of the mathematicians who first conceived them. Such feelings touch the heart more deeply than any formula ever could.

To this day, there remains a gap in research originality between China’s theoretical scientists and their counterparts around the world. As I see it, our scientists could benefit from a greater and deeper cultivation of the humanities. They should strive for a better understanding and deeper appreciation of the truth and beauty of nature. The Chinese are a nation rich in emotion and depth, qualities common to both scientists and writers. As we have seen in the examples mentioned earlier, the works of many eminent figures stand proudly alongside other masterpieces of literature around the world!

As artificial intelligence surges to the forefront of technological development in the new era, the value of a dialectical unity between science and the humanities has become increasingly apparent. Artificial intelligence relies on mathematical logic and big-data computing power to reshape the research paradigms, thus representing the ultimate application of instrumental rationality. Yet the faster technology evolves, the more crucial it is that we do not lose sight of our humanistic roots, value judgments, and aesthetic sensibilities. Without humanistic guidance, science and technology can be blind; without scientific support, the humanities can be hollow. At a time when artificial intelligence is being closely embraced in scientific research and social life, it is all the more imperative to uphold the ideal of unity between science and the humanities, as well as between truth and beauty.

I look to the young scholars of this new era to hold fast to their original aspiration for truth with sincerity and a humble heart, and carry forward the Chinese cultural heritage without blindly following or clinging to convention. May they be able to delve deep into mathematics and other sciences, explore the true wonders of nature, and tackle original problems; and at the same time, immerse themselves in the humanities, cultivate a broad and noble spirit, and remain steadfast in their scholarly aspirations. I hope they shape a grand vision through humanistic cultivation, and forge ahead by means of science and technology. In the integration of the sciences and the humanities may they find the Way and realize their full potential.

Shing-Tung Yau is Chair Professor, Director of the Yau Mathematical Sciences Center, and Dean of Qiuzhen College of Tsinghua University.

(Originally appeared in Qiushi Journal, Chinese edition, No. 15, 2026)

Source: English Edition of Qiushi Journal，2026 No.5