Jiayi Chen

Jiayi Chen is an Assistant Professor of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Washington University in St. Louis (on leave from Fall 2024 to Spring 2025). She holds a PhD in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago (2023). Her research focuses on early modern Chinese literature, game studies, theater, and Sino-Japanese cultural exchange. She is currently developing her dissertation, Reading Games in Early Modern China, into a book exploring the role of games in shaping literary epistemology and reality navigation in pre-digital China.

Her ongoing projects include studies on virtual reality concepts in early modern Chinese culture, the interplay between games and theater, and the history of miniature books. With a background in museum studies, she emphasizes integrating academic research into public exhibitions and events. Chen’s work has been supported by prestigious institutions including the Japan Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Her academic awards include a junior fellowship at the Mellon Society of Fellows in Critical Bibliography. While no specific grants are listed, her research has received sustained institutional support. She is affiliated with the Rare Book School and collaborates with colleagues on interdisciplinary projects bridging academia and public engagement.