Martin Hofmann

Dr. Martin Hofmann is an Assistant Professor for Intellectual History at Heidelberg University, specializing in transcultural studies, Chinese history, and the history of science. He is affiliated with the Karl Jaspers Centre and has held visiting positions at institutions such as Academia Sinica (Taipei), Needham Research Institute (Cambridge), and Harvard University.

• Assistant Professor (2009–present), Heidelberg University
• Visiting Professor, Classical Sinology (2017), Heidelberg University
• Visiting Professor, Society and Culture of Modern China (2014–2016), Leipzig University

His research focuses on intellectual history, cartography, and knowledge systems in China and transcultural contexts. Key areas include:

• Cartographic Analysis: Comparative studies of Latin-Christian, Arabic-Islamic, and Chinese spatial ordering.
• Historical Epistemology: Debates on validity in late imperial China, such as the persuasive power of 'Tu' in classical texts.
• Cultural Dynamics: Adaptation of motifs and practices in transcultural Sinology.

Hofmann’s recent publications address topics like Southern Song spatial debates, Qing-era cartography, and the evolution of traditional Chinese craftsmanship. His work often bridges historical geography, manuscript studies, and epistemology.

Scientific awards include prestigious fellowships at Max-Planck-Institute, Harvard University, and Academia Sinica. He has collaborated on edited volumes such as Wissensorte in China and Powerful Arguments: Standards of Validity in Late Imperial China.

Hofmann has contributed to interdisciplinary projects under Heidelberg’s “Cultural Dynamics in Globalised Worlds” Field of Focus, though his primary affiliation remains within the humanities framework. He has not held formal advisory roles to students listed in the provided CV excerpt.