About
James Robson is the James C. Kralik and Yunli Lou Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations and Harvard College Professor at Harvard University, serving as Director of the Harvard-Yenching Institute. His work focuses on medieval Chinese Buddhism and Daoism, with specialties in sacred geography, talismans, and Chan/Zen traditions. He holds a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Stanford University (2002).
Research: Robson’s research includes a collaborative project with the École Française d’Extrême-Orient on Hunan province’s religious statuary, and current work on Buddhist monasteries and mental hospitals in Japan. His book Power of Place: The Religious Landscape of the Southern Sacred Peak (2009) earned prestigious awards.
Awards: Stanislas Julien Prize (2010) and Toshihide Numata Book Prize in Buddhism (2010).
Teaching & Leadership: Director of Graduate Studies for the Regional Studies East Asia M.A. program. Taught courses on Daoism, Chinese Buddhism, and Zen. Office hours in Fall 2023: Thursdays 11:00-12:00 PM (CGIS S114).
