严如煜出生于一个具有“实地调查”家学传统的“理苗世家”,这种家学传统是他在平息乾嘉苗民事变时建功的资养,更是他“田野派”才干的来源。嘉道年问,严如煜坐镇南山、治理汉中,为官陕西20余年。他通过大量的实地调查与亲身实践,在平定汉中白莲教事件与“棚民”事件过程中建立了卓著的功绩。他一生著述颇丰,这些著作被后人视为“经世致用”之具。但是,我们从其生平事迹与著作中还可以看出,严如烂更是一个深入实地、长于基层社会调查的“田野派”学者。
Yan Ruyi was born in a traditional family that its members is the governors of Miao,his family had survey tradition in study. The tradition of his family study provided nutrition for his achievement in quelling miao rebellion in Qianlong and Jiaqing dynasty, and it was the the source of the ability in the school of tianye. In Qiaqing and Daoguang dynasty, Yan Ruyi governed Hanzhoung of Shanxi for more than 20 years. Through much field surveys and personal practice,he established a good record in putting down the event of White Lotus Society and Pengming. He had many works in his life,which was regarded as the tool of Pragmatism by the next generations. We can know that Yan Ruyi is a scholar of the school of tianye who is good at the survey in grassroots community.