On-cho Ng

On-cho Ng is a Professor of History, Asian Studies, and Philosophy at Pennsylvania State University, affiliated with the College of the Liberal Arts. He holds a BA (1975), MPhil (1981) from the University of Hong Kong, and a PhD (1986) from the University of Hawaii. His research focuses on the intellectual history of Late Imperial China, Confucianism, and comparative hermeneutics. He authored Cheng-Zhu Confucianism in the Early Qing (2001) and Mirroring the Past (2005), and edited volumes on Chinese thought. Recent publications include works on Qing philosophy, Zhang Xucheng, and comparative hermeneutics.

Ng has held leadership roles, including founding Head of Penn State’s Asian Studies Department (2012–2021). He serves as co-editor of the ‘History of Chinese Thought’ series (National University of Taiwan Press), Associate Editor of Journal of Chinese Philosophy, and Vice-President of the International Association for Yijing Studies. His research explores Confucian exegetical traditions, blending classical scholarship with contemporary Western theories.

Ng’s awards include visiting fellowships at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (2006) and a Visiting Professorship at City University of Hong Kong (2005). He chairs Columbia University’s University Seminar on Neo-Confucian Studies. His work bridges historical analysis with philosophical inquiry, emphasizing intellectual continuity and rupture in Chinese thought.