Dr. Francesco Bianchini

Biography

Francesco Bianchini is a Research Fellow at King's College, University of Cambridge, specializing in the histories and cultures of the Silk Roads with a focus on Asian maritime realms from 400-1400 CE. He studied Sanskrit history in pre-Islamic South Asia at the University of Vienna and Classical Chinese Buddhist philology at the University of Oxford, where he obtained his DPhil in 2020. Currently, he explores interconnected cultural histories of medieval Asia, particularly investigating the historical aspects of medicine and communal care. His main research topic involves the study of ideas and practices of protection, including ritualistic magic, and their implications on well-being and health from social and political perspectives. Bianchini is also working on a monograph focused on the history of Asian hospices up to 1400 CE. He has taught various courses and lecture series at the University of Oxford and Heidelberg and served as a visiting lecturer at Mahidol University in Thailand during 2021-2022. His published works cover a range of topics including the history of Hinduism and Buddhism, health magic practices, manuscript studies, epigraphy, and digital humanities. Additionally, he co-teaches a special subject course titled 'Beyond Silk Roads.'

Research Interests

Experience