National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) conferred an honorary doctorate upon Mr Nan-Jun Yang on November 6, 2010, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to academic and cultural advancement.

Professor Wen-Shu Hwang, NDHU President, awarded NDHU’s first honorary degree to Mr Yang at an international symposium entitled “Nan-Jun Yang and Contemporary Indigenous Studies, and Mountaineering History of Taiwan” held at NDHU.

Born in 1931, Longqi, Tainan, Mr Yang was graduated from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, National Taiwan University, in 1955. A pioneer and legend in mountaineering, he is an advocate in challenging the Hundred Mountains of Taiwan. Besides re-establishing ancient trails and opening up new climbing tracks, he integrates humanitarian, historical, and ecological aspects in mountaineering. With his unflagging commitment in cultural anthropology, he has recorded an enormous amount of data on indigenous studies, tribes and historical sites in the mountains. His books on and translation of works by anthropologists and naturalists visiting Taiwan open a gateway to understand Taiwan dated back to the European settlement era.

In recognition of his remarkable contributions to Taiwan’s indigenous cultural studies, ancient trails studies, and mountaineering history, Mr Nan-Jun Yang was conferred the degree of Doctor of Social Sciences, honoris causa.

Dr Nan-Jun Yang with Professor Wen-Shu Hwang, NDHU President.

Dr Nan-Jun Yang with NDHU academics.