Leo Ou-fan Lee


Leo Ou-fan Lee is a Chinese commentator and author who was elected Fellow of Academia Sinica in 2002. Lee also was a professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong, Princeton University, Indiana University, University of Chicago, University of California, Los Angeles, and Harvard University.
Lee has served as columnist of several publications, such as the Yazhou Zhoukan, Hong Kong Economic Journal, Ming Pao, and Muse.

Biography

Lee was born in a wealthy and highly educated family in Taikang County, Henan in 1942. Both his father Li Yonggang and mother Zhou Yuan were musicians and educators. His given name "Ou-fan" is the Chinese version of Orpheus, the Greek god of music.
Lee graduated from National Hsinchu Senior High School and National Taiwan University. He first took a master's degree from University of Chicago, where he was inspired by T.H. Tsien to study Chinese literature. He then went on to study at Harvard University, where his mentors included Benjamin I. Schwartz and John King Fairbank. received his Doctor of Arts degree from Harvard University, in 1970, majoring in history and East Asian languages.
After graduating he taught at Chung Chi College of Chinese University of Hong Kong, Princeton University, Indiana University, University of Chicago, University of California, Los Angeles, and Harvard University.
In 2002, Lee was elected Fellow of Academia Sinica.

Works

Lee was first wed to dancer Wang Xiaolan, the daughter of Hualing Nieh Engle and poet Paul Engle. After a turbulent divorce, he remarried in September 2000. Li Yuying, his second wife, who was the former wife of Deng Wenzheng. The couple was divorced, and Lee has since remarried.