Luca Gabbiani

Luca Gabbiani is a Director of Studies at the French School of the Far East (EFEO), specializing in Chinese history with a focus on government institutions, urban governance, and legal processes during the late imperial and Republican periods. He holds a PhD from the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (2004) and has taught at institutions such as the Strasbourg Institute of Political Studies and the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences. His research explores the role of urban communities in shaping governance, particularly in Beijing, and he has led major projects like the ANR-funded 'Legalizing Space in China.'

Key affiliations include the China-Korea-Japan Laboratory (EHESS/CNRS) and editorial roles at journals like T’oung Pao and Cahiers d'Extrême Asie. Notable collaborations include work on legal handbooks, urban temple history, and comparative studies on property and inheritance. His recent publications address topics like urbanization, corruption, and mental health in legal contexts.

His work bridges historical analysis with comparative methodologies, contributing to global understandings of Chinese legal and urban systems. He is also involved in digital initiatives such as databases on Qing legal cases and urban property contracts.