Yi Zhongtian

Yi Zhongtian
Yi giving a talk at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in July 2013
Born	(1947-02-08) 8 February 1947 (age 69) Changsha, Hunan Province, Republic of China
Occupation	Writer, scholar, historian, professor
Language	Chinese
Nationality	People's Republic of China
Education	Master of Chinese Language and Literature
Alma mater	Wuhan University
Subject	Chinese history, Chinese politics, aesthetics
Notable works	Pin Ren Lu (品人录) Du Cheng Ji (读城记) Pin San Guo (品三国) Xian Qin Zhuzi Baijia Zhengming (先秦诸子百家争鸣)

Yi Zhongtian (born 8 February 1947) is a Chinese writer, scholar and historian. He is also a professor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, School of Humanities, Xiamen University.

Yi's grandfather, Yi Silin (易思麟), graduated from the Hunan Law School (湖南法政学堂; now part of Hunan University) and served as the acting county magistrate of Dao County, Hunan Province. He became a self-taught physician after leaving office. Yi's uncle, Yi Rengai (易仁荄), graduated from the Department of History, Tsinghua University, in 1935. Yi's father, Yi Tingyuan (易庭源), was an accountant.

Yi spent his childhood in his birthplace, Changsha, Hunan Province, before moving to Wuhan, Hubei Province, at the age of six. He attended Yuemachang Primary School (阅马场小学) and No. 1 Middle School attached to Central China Normal University (华中师范大学第一附属中学).

In 1965, after graduating from middle school, Yi went to Xinjiang to join the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Later, he became a middle school teacher.

Yi was accepted into Wuhan University and he read ancient Chinese literature under the tutelage of Hu Guorui (胡国瑞). He graduated in 1978 with a professional degree and obtained a master's degree in 1981. He stayed at his alma mater after graduating and became a lecturer. He is currently a professor and PhD supervisor in the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, School of Humanities, Xiamen University.

Yi's academic interests span a variety of disciplines, including literature, visual arts, aesthetics, psychology, humanities, anthropology, history, and others. He is also interested in the development of modern cities in China, and has been referred to as a "city planner" or "city observer".