Chen Chi-nan

In this Chinese name, the family name is Chen (陳).

Not to be confused with Chen Che-nan.

Chen Chi-nan (Chinese: 陳其南; pinyin: Chén Qínán; Wade–Giles: Chʻên² Chʻi²-nan²; born 29 October 1947) is a Taiwanese anthropologist. He led the Council of Cultural Affairs from 2004 to 2006. He was named Director of National Palace Museum in 2018 and served until 2019.

Chen Chi-nan
陳其南
Director of National Palace Museum
In office 16 July 2018 – 13 January 2019
Preceded by	Lin Jeng-yi
Succeeded by	Lee Ching-hui (acting) Wu Mi-cha
Minister of Council of Cultural Affairs of the Republic of China
In office 20 May 2004 – 24 January 2006
Deputy	Wu Chin-fa
Preceded by	Tchen Yu-chiou [zh]
Succeeded by	Chiu Kun-liang
Minister without portfolio
In office 1 February 2002 – 19 May 2004
Personal details
Born	(1947-10-29) 29 October 1947 (age 77) Gaoshu, Pingtung County, Taiwan
Education	National Taiwan Normal University (BA) National Taiwan University (MA) Yale University (MA, PhD)

Early life and education

Chen was born in Pingtung County in 1947. He graduated from National Taiwan Normal University with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in geography in 1970 and obtained a master's degree in anthropology from National Taiwan University in 1975. Chen then pursued further graduate studies in the United States at Yale University, where he earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) in anthropology in 1978 and his Ph.D. in the subject in 1984.^[1]

Chen then worked as a researcher at the Academia Sinica and taught anthropology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of Virginia.^[2] After returning to Taiwan, Chen joined the college of humanities and social sciences at National Chiao Tung University, where he later became dean.^[3][4]

Political career

Chen was named the vice chairman of the Council for Cultural Affairs from 1994 to 1997.^[5] In January 2002,^[6][7] he was appointed a minister without portfolio in charge of education and culture.^[2] Chen became chairman of the Council of Cultural Affairs in May 2004.^[8][9] He and all members of the Executive Yuan led by Frank Hsieh resigned en masse on 24 January 2006.^[10]

In 2014, Chen helped Ko Wen-je select the head of Taipei's Department of Cultural Affairs.^[11] In July 2018, Chen was named Director of National Palace Museum, succeeding Lin Jeng-yi.^[12] Upon taking office, Chen stated that he would pursue Taiwanization of the museum.^[13] He mentioned that the museum had not worked to include other cultures present on Taiwan, namely the indigenous peoples present long before Han immigration to Taiwan, and that he would try to diversify the museum's holdings and displays.^[14][15] He left the job in January 2019.^[16]