معرفی
Professor Xiaohuan Zhao is a distinguished Sinologist at the University of Sydney's School of Languages and Cultures, specializing in Chinese literature, theatre, and ritual studies. He holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh and previously taught at the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Otago, and New Zealand. His research focuses on Chinese ritual drama, temple theatre, and the interplay between religion, art, and performance in Chinese culture. Notable works include Chinese Theatre: An Illustrated History and Classical Chinese Supernatural Fiction, the latter earning the Adele Mellen Prize (2005). He leads the ARC-funded project ‘The Transformation of Chinese Temple Theatre Architecture’ and has held prestigious fellowships like the JSPS Senior Research Fellowship.
His research interests span Chinese art/archaeology, folk religion, temple theatre architecture, and comparative mythology. He supervises PhD students in Chinese literature, theatre, and ritual studies. Zhao has published over 90 works, including twelve books, and lectures globally at institutions like Oxford, Peking University, and Kyoto's Nichibunken. Recent awards include the 2022 ADSA Rob Jordan Prize for Chinese Theatre: An Illustrated History.
Education:
- PhD (Edinburgh)
- MA and BA (Central China Normal University)
Grants:
- ARC Discovery Project (DP250100454), 2025
- National Social Sciences Fund Projects (2023, 2021)
- Yangzhou University Postgraduate School Grant (2023)
Labs/Teams: Research Institute of Chinese Theatre and Theatrical Relics (Shanxi Normal University, Distinguished Overseas Professor role).
Publications Trends: Recent works emphasize temple theatre architecture, cross-cultural mythological origins (e.g., Chindian Myth of Mulian), and ritual-drama intersections. His scholarship bridges historical performance studies, anthropology, and comparative religion.
