Peng Liu

Peng Liu serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures within Rutgers University's School of Arts and Sciences. His scholarly work bridges Chinese literature, religious studies, and gender theory with focus on pre-modern Buddhist and Daoist traditions.

Dr. Liu holds dual doctoral credentials: a Ph.D. in Chinese Language and Literature from Fudan University (China) examining medieval Buddhist hagiographies, and a Ph.D. in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University investigating vernacular literature and religion in late imperial China. His academic foundation includes:

• Ph.D., East Asian Languages and Cultures, Columbia University
• M.Phil., East Asian Languages and Cultures, Columbia University
• Ph.D., Chinese Language and Literature, Fudan University
• M.A., Chinese Language and Literature, Soochow University
• B.A., Chinese Language and Literature, Soochow University

His research interrogates how religious traditions—particularly Daoist goddess cults and Buddhist practices—intersect with gender and literary representation across dynastic periods. Current projects analyze the popularization of marginalized Daoist traditions through fiction, emphasizing women's roles in religious transmission and the collective authorship dynamics in Buddhist texts.

Dr. Liu's publication trajectory (2004-2023) reveals evolving scholarly priorities: early work established foundations in Buddhist hagiography and Tang poetry, while recent contributions increasingly center gender perspectives in Daoist studies and critical engagement with Qing dynasty literary conventions. His interdisciplinary approach connects religious ritual, literary form, and sociohistorical context across medieval and late imperial periods.

Recognition for his scholarship includes:

• Open and Affordable Textbook Program Award (Rutgers University)
• L. Carrington Goodrich Fellowship (Columbia University)
• Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation Doctoral Fellowship
• Mellon Humanities International Travel Fellowship (Columbia University)

In pedagogy, Dr. Liu teaches courses including 'East Asian Buddhism,' 'The Fantastic in Pre-Modern China,' and Chinese literature surveys, emphasizing boundary-crossing interdisciplinary learning. His editorial leadership includes a 2023-2024 special issue of Religions on East Asian supernatural traditions, alongside scholarly translations from English to Chinese. While specific research grants beyond fellowships aren't detailed, his work demonstrates sustained engagement with core questions in Chinese religious and literary history.