The Evolution of Chinese Anthropology's Overseas Ethnography from A Knowledge Network Perspective
The production of knowledge within the field of anthropology while using ethnography as a normative method has proven to be valuable to the modern global knowledge system.Within Chi-nese social sciences,the academic practice of o-verseas ethnography has advanced Chinese anthro-pological research by encouraging scholars to en-gage in social empirical studies abroad and com-pose research reports.Over the past two decades,the evolution of overseas ethnography has not only broadened the research scope and methodological perspectives of Chinese anthropology but also laid the groundwork for enriching the global cognitive landscape with Chinese scholars assuming a promi-nent role as both subjects of study and contributors to the mode of knowledge dissemination.Conse-quently,this has created a multi-dimensional and dynamically constructed epistemological network.At present,Chinese overseas ethnographers have undertaken extensive research in nearly 40 countries spanning five continents.Their investiga-tions have encompassed a wide array of environ-ments,from rural village temples and urban streets to corporate settings,forests,islands,and digital platforms.These studies have been particularly fo-cused on"developing countries,"regions associat-ed with the"Belt and Road"initiative,Southeast Asia,Africa,and Latin America.In addition to studying major ethnic groups,overseas Chinese,and indigenous populations,considerable attention has been given to mobile groups,commodities,capital flows,and technological exchanges within the context of globalization.Besides,the research themes have covered politics,economics,educa-tion,ecology,religion,art,heritage,and infra-structure.Through detailed micro-level case stud-ies,these ethnographic approaches have been at-tempting to capture the comprehensive cultural and societal fabric of local communities.What is more,research approaches generally appear to have e-volved from community-based studies and multi-si-ted ethnography to a more comprehensive ethnogra-phy of world society,from physically-grounded fieldwork to the incorporation of virtual ethnogra-phy based on social media,and from observational participation and in-depth interviews to comprehen-sive approaches integrating digital technologies.This substantial transformation arguably highlights unique strengths of social empirical research in so-cial science.The change and construction of overseas eth-nographic knowledge networks are intricately inter-twined,reflecting the agency of researchers and the systematic evolution of academic practice,knowledge production,and network presentation.Changes in structural order and developmental trends can be seen as characteristics of this process."Culture"and"ethnic groups",moreo-ver,emerge as key concepts in overseas ethnogra-phy,where the notion of"dialogue"usually plays a pivotal role in theoretical and methodological in-novation.Furthermore,recent years have wit-nessed an emergence of research areas such as the"Belt and Road"initiative and"Area Studies,"fueling new knowledge in overseas ethnography.Research also reveals that the driving forces behind the construction of these networks are specific practices rooted in the contextual realities of China's national development and knowledge dis-course construction.Internally,the initiative comes from the choice,flow,and dialogue of research subjects.Meanwhile,changes in knowledge pro-duction and knowledge consumption patterns poten-tially also influence the form of knowledge presen-tation.To conclude,in response to the new trend of knowledge society development,researchers in o-verseas ethnography have the potential to deepen the significance of their case studies,strengthen academic networking,and contribute to advancing knowledge in overseas social empirical research.Thus,anthropological knowledge products may ef-fectively be utilized to improve national compre-hensive literacy and overall societal quality,serve multiple subjects,and promote exchange as well as mutual learning among cultures.
overseas ethnographyChinese anthropologyempirical studies on overseas socie-tyknowledge networkarea studies
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