Dr. James Watson

Biography

Professor James Watson is an Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Harvard University with a distinguished career spanning over five decades in ethnographic research, primarily in southern China. His expertise encompasses various aspects of Chinese kinship, social organization, political rituals, and the social implications of food consumption. Watson has conducted extensive studies on Chinese emigrants in London, focusing on ancestor worship, popular religion, and village family life. As a prominent figure in the field of anthropology, he has also contributed to the understanding of the cultural dynamics in post-socialist China, particularly regarding the effects of transnational food industries in East Asia and Europe. A graduate of the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Chinese Studies and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, he has taught at various institutions including the University of London, University of Pittsburgh, University of Hawaii, and University of Houston. Watson has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and served as the Past-President of the Association for Asian Studies. In 2003, he was awarded the title of Harvard College Professor for his dedication to undergraduate education.

Research Interests

Experience