Alison Bailey

Alison Bailey is an Assistant Professor in pre-modern Chinese literature at the Department of Asian Studies, University of British Columbia (UBC). She holds a BA from SOAS, University of London, an MA from UBC, and a PhD from the University of Toronto. Since 1995, she has been based at UBC, with prior teaching roles at SOAS and Cornell University. She served as Director of the Centre of Chinese Research (2004–2011) and Director of China Links (2010–2012). She is also a Trustee of The Dr. Sun Yat-sen Classical Chinese Garden Society.

Her research focuses on pre-modern Chinese literature, particularly fiction and literary criticism, with interdisciplinary work on law, state-society relations, historical memory, trauma, violence, and filial piety. Current projects include A Shield for a Pillow (on filial revenge) and a monograph on jurist Wang Mingde’s legal treatise. She has published in Renditions, Ming Studies, and The China Quarterly.

Her teaching includes courses on Chinese literature, legal history, and cultural studies. She has contributed to academic conferences globally and promotes engagement with Asia through professional seminars.