{{Short description|Taiwanese anthropologist}} {{family name hatnote|Chen (陳)|lang=Chinese}} {{distinguish|Chen Che-nan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Chen Chi-nan | native_name = {{nobold|陳其南}} | native_name_lang = zh-tw | honorific_suffix = | image = 國策顧問陳其南.jpg | image_size = | caption = | order1 = Director of National Palace Museum | term_start1 = 16 July 2018 | term_end1 = 13 January 2019 | predecessor1 = Lin Jeng-yi | successor1 = Lee Ching-hui (acting)<br>Wu Mi-cha | order2 = Minister of Council of Cultural Affairs of the Republic of China | term_start2 = 20 May 2004 | term_end2 = 24 January 2006 | deputy2 = Wu Chin-fa | predecessor2 = {{ill|Tchen Yu-chiou|zh|陳郁秀}} | successor2 = Chiu Kun-liang | order3 = Minister without portfolio | term_start3 = 1 February 2002 | term_end3 = 19 May 2004 | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1947|10|29}} | birth_place = Gaoshu, Pingtung County, Taiwan | party = | other_party = | occupation = | children = | education = National Taiwan Normal University (BA)<br>National Taiwan University (MA)<br>Yale University (MA, PhD) }} '''Chen Chi-nan''' ({{lang-zh|c=陳其南|w=Chʻên2 Chʻi2-nan2<!--DO NOT REMOVE This information helps the reader understand the origin of the spelling of this person's English language name.-->|p=Chén Qínán}}; 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.
==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 won a Fulbright Program grant to pursue graduate studies in the United States, earning a Master of Arts (M.A.) in anthropology in 1978 and his Ph.D. in anthropology in 1984, both from Yale University.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who's Who in the ROC |url=http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/Upload/WebArchive/4695/Who's%20Who%20in%20the%20ROC.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020105104/http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/Upload/WebArchive/4695/Who%27s%20Who%20in%20the%20ROC.pdf |archivedate=20 October 2016 |accessdate=5 May 2016 |pages= |agency=Executive Yuan}}</ref> His doctoral dissertation was titled, "'Fang' and 'Chia-tsu': The Chinese kinship system in rural Taiwan".<ref>{{Cite web |date=1984 |title=Fang' and 'Chia-tsu': The Chinese kinship system in rural Taiwan |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/ec3ee417dc5286d7ef6e3929f0afcaf5/1?cbl=18750&diss=y&pq-origsite=gscholar |access-date=23 October 2025 |publisher=Proquest |type=PhD Thesis}}</ref>
== Academic career == After receiving his doctorate, Chen worked as a researcher at the Academia Sinica and taught anthropology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of Virginia.<ref name="ccastart">{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Jewel|title=Chen Chi-nan starts as Cultural Affairs chairman|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/05/03/2003153943|accessdate=13 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=3 May 2004}}</ref> After returning to Taiwan, Chen joined the college of humanities and social sciences at National Chiao Tung University, where he later became dean.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chu|first1=Monique|title=Rebuilding needs grassroots efforts|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/1999/10/10/0000005845|accessdate=13 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=10 October 1999}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Liu|first1=Shao-Hua|title=Chen gets down to work|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2000/03/27/0000029503|accessdate=13 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=27 March 2000}}</ref>
==Political career== Chen was named the vice chairman of the Council for Cultural Affairs from 1994 to 1997.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Tu to tango with education ministry|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/04/28/2003138366|accessdate=13 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=28 April 2004}}</ref> In January 2002,<ref>{{cite news|archivedate=20 December 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220062519/http://www.taiwantoday.tw/noticias/fp.asp?xItem=28464&CtNode=2068&mp=121|title=Nómina del nuevo Gabinete|url=http://www.taiwantoday.tw/noticias/fp.asp?xItem=28464&CtNode=2068&mp=121|accessdate=5 December 2016|work=Taiwan Today|language=Spanish}} [http://taiwaninfo.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=19173&ctNode=103 Alt URL]</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The New Cabinet|url=http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=19173&ctNode=451|accessdate=5 December 2016|work=Taiwan Today|date=25 January 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220061518/http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=19173&ctNode=451|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> he was appointed a minister without portfolio in charge of education and culture.<ref name="ccastart"/> Chen became chairman of the Council of Cultural Affairs in May 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Jewel|title=New historic Hualien tour a joy to take|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/08/17/2003199073|accessdate=13 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=17 August 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Ko|first1=Shu-ling|title=Six outgoing Cabinet members honored at party|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/05/20/2003156221|accessdate=13 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=20 May 2004}}</ref> He and all members of the Executive Yuan led by Frank Hsieh resigned en masse on 24 January 2006.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chuang|first1=Jimmy|title=Hsieh and Cabinet tender resignations|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/01/24/2003290463|work=Taipei Times|accessdate=13 March 2016|date=24 January 2006}}</ref>
In 2014, Chen helped Ko Wen-je select the head of Taipei's Department of Cultural Affairs.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Loa|first1=Lok-sin|title=Taipei's Ko Wen-je takes firm line with new hires, reaffirms selection process|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/12/22/2003607307|accessdate=13 March 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=22 December 2014}}</ref> In July 2018, Chen was named Director of National Palace Museum, succeeding Lin Jeng-yi.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lin |first1=Sean |title=Premier unveils Cabinet picks |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/07/13/2003696587 |accessdate=13 July 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=13 July 2018}}</ref> Upon taking office, Chen stated that he would pursue Taiwanization of the museum.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Tzu-ti |title=New Director vows to take 'Taiwanization' approach to National Palace Museum |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3484302 |accessdate=17 July 2018 |work=Taiwan News |date=17 July 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maxon |first1=Ann |title=Palace Museum should be more local: new boss |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/07/17/2003696822 |accessdate=17 July 2018 |work=Taipei Times |date=17 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cheng |first1=Ching-wen |last2=Wang |first2=Flor |title=New director takes helm at National Palace Museum |url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aedu/201807160028.aspx |accessdate=17 July 2018 |agency=Central News Agency |date=16 July 2018}}</ref> He left the job in January 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Museum|first=National Palace|date=2020-05-08|title=Present/Former Leaders|url=https://www.npm.gov.tw/en/Article.aspx?sNo=02000049|access-date=2020-06-27|website=National Palace Museum|language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Directors of National Palace Museum}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chen, Chi-nan}} Category:Living people Category:Taiwanese anthropologists Category:National Taiwan University alumni Category:Academic staff of the Chinese University of Hong Kong Category:University of Virginia faculty Category:Academic staff of the National Chiao Tung University Category:Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni Category:1947 births Category:Politicians of the Republic of China on Taiwan from Pingtung County Category:Ministers of culture of Taiwan Category:Directors of National Palace Museum Category:National Taiwan Normal University alumni Category:Taiwanese university and college faculty deans