Chinese and Taiwanese studies researcher Dr. Valentin Ts. Golovachev's book deals with the life and reaserch works of an Imperial Russian naval officer Pavel Ivanovich Ibis (1852-1877) who may be considered as a founder of Taiwanese Studies in Russia. In 1875 Ibis made a research expedition to Taiwan, collected geographical, etnographic, and linguistic data and presented the results of his study in a large article "An Excursion in Formosa" published in Russian and German languages. The author of the present book based on the documents reconstructed Ibis's biography, analyzed the quality of his professional training and working methods, recreated the circumstances of his last illness and death. The book includes all currently known research papers of Ibis and numerous illustrations.