Tristan G. Brown

Tristan G. Brown is a Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (MPIWG), specializing in the social and cultural history of late imperial and modern China. His work investigates intersections between law, science, environment, and religion during the Qing Dynasty (17th–early 20th centuries).

• Research Focus: Analysis of fengshui and fenye (correlative astrology) in state administration, particularly their roles in legal systems and local gazetteers.
• Collaborations: Partnered with the MPIWG's Local Gazetteers Working Group to study fenye in Chinese historical texts.

His forthcoming book, Laws of the Land: Fengshui and the State in Qing Dynasty China, explores how geomantic practices shaped Qing governance. He has presented at MPIWG workshops, including Empire under the Night Sky, which analyzed astrological knowledge in Qing political contexts.

• Honors:
  • John K. Fairbank Prize in East Asian History (awarded for Laws of the Land).