Li Xueqin

For the Chinese Olympic skier, seeLi Xueqin (skier).For the Chinese comedian, seeLi Xueqin (comedian).

In thisChinese name,thefamily nameisLi (surname lý ).

Li Xueqin(Chinese:Lý học cần;Wade–Giles:Li Hsüeh-ch'in,28 March 1933 – 24 February 2019) was a Chinese historian, archaeologist, andpalaeographer.He served as Director of the Institute of History of theChinese Academy of Social Sciences,Professor of the Institute of Sinology ofTsinghua University,Chairman of the Pre-Qin History Association of China, and participated in theXia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project.

Li Xueqin
Lý học cần
Born	(1933-03-28)28 March 1933 Beijing
Died	24 February 2019(2019-02-24)(aged 85) Beijing
Alma mater	Tsinghua University
Scientific career
Fields	Ancient Chinese history, archaeology, andpalaeography
Institutions	Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University
Academic advisors	Chen Mengjia
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese	Lý học cần
Traditional Chinese	Lý học cần
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Lǐ Xuéqín Wade–Giles Li Hsüeh-ch'in

Li Xueqin and Xu Weiying.jpg

Early life and education

Li was born 28 March 1933 inBeijing.After finishing middle school in 1948, he tested number one in the entrance examination of theelectrical engineeringdepartment of the National Beiping High School of Industry. However, he was unable to attend the school because a medical examination misdiagnosed him withtuberculosis.After graduating from high school, he was admitted toTsinghua Universityin 1951, where he studiedphilosophyandlogicunder professorJin Yuelin.

At Tsinghua, Li's main hobby was studying theoracle bonesin the library, putting together pieces of oracle bones like puzzles.At the same time, scholar Guo Ruoyu (Quách nhược ngu) was writing a book on the oracle bones.Chen Mengjia,the oracle bones expert, thought the book needed more work, and recommended Li to assist Guo in his work.Li was thus "borrowed" by theInstitute of Archaeologyof theChinese Academy of Sciencesto become a research assistant to Guo and Chen.

In 1952, the Communist government reorganized Chinese universities in theSovietmodel. As part of the reorganization, Tsinghua became a specialized engineering college, and its schools of humanities, science, and law were merged intoPeking University(PKU). Instead of moving to PKU with the philosophy department, Li chose to stay with the Institute of Archaeology, and never finished college.

Career

In 1954, Li moved to the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (later of theChinese Academy of Social Sciences). In the 1950s, he systematically collatedShang dynastyoracle bones excavated fromYinxu,studied the events and historical geography from the oracle scripts, and identified oracle bones from theWestern Zhouperiod. In the late 1950s, he studied thebronze inscriptions,pottery inscriptions,seals,coins,bamboo and wooden slips,and silk texts from theWarring States period,facilitating the formation of a new branch of Chinesepaleography.

After the major disruptions of theCultural Revolution(1966–76), Li participated in the research of the major archaeological discoveries ofMawangdui,Shuihudi,andZhangjiashan,making important contributions to the understanding of ancient cultural history of the Warring States and theQinandHandynasties.

From 1985 to 1988, Li served as vice director of the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, later becoming director. Beginning in 1996, he served as chief scientist and director of the government-commissionedXia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project.In August 2003, Li returned to his alma mater Tsinghua University as a professor. After 2008, he focused his research on the newly recoveredTsinghua Bamboo Slips.

Evaluation

Li was considered an important Chinese historian.According to the American writer and journalistPeter Hessler,Li was able to do research while satisfying theCommunist Party.He wrote many books, several of which have been translated into English, includingEastern Zhou and Qin Civilizations(translated byKwang-chih Chang),The Wonder of Chinese Bronzes,Chinese Bronzes: a General Introduction,andThe Glorious Traditions of Chinese Bronzes.

In 1993, Li made a speech in which he called for historians to "leave the 'Doubting Antiquity' period" and join the "Believing Antiquity" movement, in contrast to theDoubting Antiquity Schoolthat had been highly influential since the 1920s. Scholars of this viewpoint argue that archaeological discoveries of recent decades have generally substantiated Chinese traditional accounts rather than contradicted them. Li himself favoured a thirdhistoriographicalapproach, which he termed "Interpreting Antiquity."

Controversies

Li was involved in several controversies, including writing a smear piece on his own mentor Chen Mengjia. Later, Li deeply regretted slandering Chen and said he tried to restrain himself from writing too harshly.

Chen Mengjia

When theAnti-Rightist Campaignbegan in 1957, the eminent scholarChen Mengjiawas labeled aRightistand an enemy of theCommunist Partyfor his outspoken opposition to thesimplification of Chinese characters.Li, then a research assistant to Chen, published a review that criticized Chen's scholarship and attacked him as "arrogant" and having "an extreme tendency to boast".In 1966, at the beginning of theCultural Revolution,Chen was again severely persecuted for his ideas.

In the 2000s, American journalistPeter Hesslerinterviewed Li and surprised him with questions about Chen Mengjia. In response, Li expressed deep regret of his actions as a young man. He said that he was pressured by the Institute of Archaeology to write the review and that he kept the criticism to the minimum and took care to only criticize Chen's scholarship and avoided applying more damaging political labels such as "Rightist".

Death

Li died in Beijing on 24 February 2019, at the age of 85.