In 1974, Prof. Bodde began work on his contribution to 'Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 7' to include sections entitled 'The Dynamics of Written Chinese', 'The Ordering of Space, Time and Things', 'The Role of Religion', 'The World of Man' and 'Man and Nature'.
Repeated delays in the publication of the material menat that Bodde decided to withdraw his contribution in 1985. In a letter to Joseph Needham, he states 'the differences between our interpretations of Chinese civilisation were so great as to make any attempt to bridge them satisfactorily almost impossible', (21 May 1985).