Foundation in Guangzhou
Preparations began in Guangzhou in 1928, with Fu Sinian, Gu Jiegang and Yang Zhensheng as standing preparatory members. The institute formally opened in July. Its move to Baiyuan on 22 October provided independent premises; that date became its anniversary.
Fu’s program sought expanded evidence and research techniques, including archives, inscriptions, excavation and linguistic surveys. After moving to Beiping in 1929, the institute was reorganized into history, language and archaeology groups headed by Chen Yinke, Yuen Ren Chao and Li Ji respectively.
Yinxu fieldwork and collections
Between 1928 and 1937 the institute conducted fifteen Yinxu campaigns. Dong Zuobin, Li Ji, Shih Chang-ju and colleagues investigated inscriptions alongside buildings, tombs and other remains. Findspot records, rubbings and reports preserved relationships beyond individual objects.
In 1936, the thirteenth campaign uncovered oracle-bone pit YH127. Dense, fragile material was transported within a block of soil to Nanjing for indoor excavation. Subsequent conservation and the joining of fragments continued to recover names, dates and incomplete inscriptions, making older collections sources of further discoveries.
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Relocation and changing research divisions
The institute settled in Nanjing in 1934, evacuated through Changsha and Kunming to Lizhuang during the war, and returned in 1946. Staff, books and artifacts moved to Taiwan from late 1948, initially to Yangmei and then to Nangang in 1954.
An oracle-bone research room established in 1958 became a broader palaeography group in 1990. The language group formed the preparatory office for a separate linguistics institute in 1997. History, archaeology, anthropology and palaeography became research divisions in 2003, while the institute retained its historical name.