Education
Shanxi University, BA in history (1982),
Beijing University, MA in history (1989)
Beijing University, PhD in history (1993)
Positions Held
Researcher, Shanxi Provincial Research and Protection Institute of Traditional Architecture (1982-1985)
Deputy Director, the Second Research Department, Shanxi Provincial Research and Protection Institute of Traditional Architecture (1987-1990)
Teaching Assistant, Archaeology Department, Beijing University (1990-1993)
Post doctoral Fellow, Beijing University (1993)
Professor and Deputy Director, Research Department of Archaeology of Frontier, Ethnicity and Religions, Institute of Archaeology, CASS (1996-present)
Adjunct Professor, Research Center of Archaeology, Beijing University (2000-2003)
Research Interests:
Archaeology from the Han to Tang dynasties and Buddhist archaeology, especially Buddhist statues, caves, and temple sites of the Northern and Tang dynasties. Undertaking the ongoing research project is the surveys and researches on the Buddhist sites along the northern Silk Road.
Major Archaeological Excavations and Studies:
Archaeological investigations of various Buddhist grottos since 1985, including Xumishan Buddhist Grottos (Ningxia), Maijishan Grottos (Gansu), Xiangtangshan Grottos (Handan, Hebei), Xiaonanhai Grottos (Anyang, Henan), Yungang Grottos (Datong, Shanxi), Tianlongshan Grottos (Taiyuan, Shanxi), Mogao Grottos (Dunhuang, Gansu), Binglingsi Grottos (Yongjing, Gansu), Longmen Grottos (Henan), Gongxian Grottos (Henan), Cliff Carvings at Shandong Province, Guangyuan and Bazhong Buddhist carvings (Sichuan), and Jianchuan Grottos (Yunnan);
Archaeological investigations, survey, and excavations at Angkor Wat (Cambodia) in 1998 as a member participant of the ‘Saving Angkor Wat’ plan initiated by UNESCO; Excavations at the sites of Baitasi Temple at Wuwei, Tang and Song east city gate of Yangzhou City, and Tongzisi Temple at Taiyuan.
Projects and Major Publications:
Contributor of chapters on religious archaeology in a multi-volume ‘Chinese Archaeology’(national project); books include ‘A Comprehensive Catalogue of the Xumishan Buddhist Grottos’, ‘Tianlonghan Grottos’, ‘A Study on the Buddhist Grottos of the Late Northern Dynasties’, and ‘Ancient Buddhist Grottos’. Numerous articles in Kaogu Xuebao, Kaogu, Wenwu, Yanjing Xuebao, and Orientations. Representative articles discuss the following topics: Buddhist Grottos and Sutra Carvings in the Yecheng Area, Some Issues concerning the Xiaonanhai Caves at Anyang, Periodization of Tianlonghshan Grottos, The Yangzhou City in the Sui and Tang, and Buddhist statues of the Southern Dynasties from Chengdu.
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