David Der-Wei Wang

David Der-Wei Wang serves as Edward C. Henderson Professor of Chinese Literature and Comparative Literature at Harvard University, holding dual appointments in the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. He directs the CCK Foundation Inter-University Center for Sinological Studies and holds prestigious Academician positions at both Academia Sinica and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His distinguished career includes prior faculty roles at National Taiwan University (1982-1986) and Columbia University (1990-2004), with continuous Harvard affiliation since 1986.

His academic credentials include:

• B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature, National Taiwan University
• M.A. in Comparative Literature, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1978)
• Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, University of Wisconsin-Madison (1982)

Wang's research pioneers interdisciplinary approaches to Modern and Contemporary Chinese/Sinophone Literature, Late Qing fiction, and colonial Taiwanese studies. His work critically examines historical trauma, cultural identity formation, and transnational literary networks, particularly through the lens of political upheaval and diasporic experiences. Special attention is given to mid-20th century Chinese intellectuals navigating ideological crises, with methodologies blending comparative literary theory and historical analysis.

His eight major publications (1997-2020) reveal consistent thematic evolution toward global frameworks for Chinese literary studies. Early works like Fin-de-Siècle Splendor established foundations in Late Qing modernities, while later volumes including A New Literary History of Modern China and Why Fiction Matters expand into transnational Sinophone networks and contemporary sociopolitical relevance. The corpus demonstrates increasing emphasis on diasporic perspectives and decolonizing methodologies across Chinese literary historiography.

Wang's scholarly recognition includes:

• Academician, Academia Sinica
• Academician, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Changjiang Scholar Award (2008)
• Humanitas Visiting Professorship at CRASSH, Cambridge (2013-14)

As Director of the CCK Foundation Inter-University Center for Sinological Studies, Wang coordinates international research initiatives connecting North American and Taiwanese institutions. This leadership role facilitates collaborative projects in digital humanities and comparative Sinology, supporting emerging scholars through cross-institutional fellowships and academic exchanges focused on reimagining Chinese studies through global perspectives.