A Study On Yih-yuan Li’s Research In Anthropology

Yih-yuan Li is Taiwan’s second-generation anthropological leader. He had studied in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology Department of History, National Taiwan University, under the tutelage of Li Ji, Shun-Sheng Ling and Rui Yifu, who are famous modern archaeologists and anthropologists.Yih-yuan Li accepted a strict and systematic modern anthropological theory and fieldwork methods training,and then got the systematic study of the West, especially the United States of anthropological theory and methods after studying in the United States Department of Anthropology, Harvard University. Lee engaged in teaching and research work of anthropology, and actively promote the transformation of Taiwan in the field of anthropology after returning to Taiwan. Looking at Lee’s life, he involved academic field is extremely broad in different research directions,including anthropology, cultural studies, family and clan research, mythology research and so on, and have important treatises were published. However, his writings on the overall situation, still centered anthropology. Especially in the research of indigenous peoples in Taiwan, overseas Chinese and Taiwan Chinese Society and other community. Lee works very abundantly, and makes outstanding achievements. Because of this, this paper focus on his anthropological research.In this paper, a large number of academic works in interviews, Lee’s books, the autobiography and other relevant works of first-hand data, based on a comprehensive analysis and on the absorption of existing research results, the overall context of Lee’sacademic life is placed in the Taiwan modern development of anthropology, through to the modern Taiwan anthropological analysis in subject characteristics at different stages of its development trend, to understand and grasp the history of anthropological research and Lee’s tendency of scholarship in different stages and characteristics of his academic achievement, and try to make a comprehensive and objective evaluation on his academic achievements in the field.In addition to the full text of introduction, this paper is divided into three parts.Part one, "The Life and scholarly way", focuses on Lee’s life and research career. Studies Lee’s academic origin and reveals the development and change of his academic life on the basis of studying his early academic course, apprentice relationship and the tradition of Taiwan’s development of modern anthropology.Part two, "The main areas of research and its achievements," focuses on Yih-yuan Li’s academic contribution to the academic field, such as indigenous peoples in Taiwan, overseas Chinese community and Taiwan’s Han Chinese society.Part three, "Conclusion", analyzes and evaluates Yih-yuan Li’s theoretical contribution, characteristics of studies and his academic style based on the full text.