Chinese Anthropological Review: Issue 1

Author: Wang Mingming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Anthropology is a discipline group that conducts comprehensive research on humans from the perspectives of biology and culture. The term is composed of "anthropos" (human) and "logos" (knowledge), literally meaning the knowledge and study of humans. It first appeared in the descriptions by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle of individuals with noble moral qualities and behaviors. In 1501, the German scholar Hender used this term as the title of his work on human anatomical and physiological structures. Therefore, before the 19th century, the term "anthropology" was equivalent to what we now call physical anthropology, particularly referring to the study of human anatomy and physiology.
In the 19th century, many scholars in Europe began to take an interest in the discovery of archaeological fossil remains, which were often accompanied by artifacts still used by contemporary primitive peoples. As a result, scholars began to focus on the physical types of primitive races and reports on the cultures of primitive societies. These initial observations were brought to Europe by explorers, missionaries, sailors, and others. Later, anthropologists also traveled to unfamiliar cultures to gather related materials. Thus, anthropology moved beyond its traditional focus on human anatomy and physiology and expanded into a comprehensive, interdisciplinary study of humans from the aspects of physical characteristics, culture, archaeology, and language.
Of course, due to differences in academic traditions across countries, there are varying interpretations of the term "anthropology" and its sub-disciplines. On the European continent, the term "anthropology" is interpreted narrowly, referring exclusively to the study of human physical characteristics, while the study of human culture is termed ethnology. Anthropology is a discipline group that conducts comprehensive research on humans from the perspectives of biology and culture. The term is composed of "anthropos" (human) and "logos" (knowledge), literally meaning the knowledge and study of humans. It first appeared in the descriptions by the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle of individuals with noble moral qualities and behaviors. In 1501, the German scholar Hender used this term as the title of his work on human anatomical and physiological structures. Therefore, before the 19th century, the term "anthropology" was equivalent to what we now call physical anthropology, particularly referring to the study of human anatomy and physiology.
In the 19th century, many scholars in Europe began to take an interest in the discovery of archaeological fossil remains, which were often accompanied by artifacts still used by contemporary primitive peoples. As a result, scholars began to focus on the physical types of primitive races and reports on the cultures of primitive societies. These initial observations were brought to Europe by explorers, missionaries, sailors, and others. Later, anthropologists also traveled to unfamiliar cultures to gather related materials. Thus, anthropology moved beyond its traditional focus on human anatomy and physiology and expanded into a comprehensive, interdisciplinary study of humans from the aspects of physical characteristics, culture, archaeology, and language.
Of course, due to differences in academic traditions across countries, there are varying interpretations of the term "anthropology" and its sub-disciplines. On the European continent, the term "anthropology" is interpreted narrowly, referring exclusively to the study of human physical characteristics, while the study of human culture is termed ethnology.