Dr. Jeffrey Moser

Biography

Professor Moser’s research broadly addresses conceptual material processes whereby past objects are made present, with particular attention to how these processes intersect with artistic practices and scholarly techne in medieval China. His recent book, 'Nominal Things: Bronzes Making Medieval China' (University of Chicago Press, 2023), examines the role of rediscovery and decipherment of ancient bronzes during the eleventh-century in restructuring medieval understandings of the relationship between words, images, and objects. His publications cover subjects such as ceramics, ink painting, antiquarianism, visual exegesis, and geography, all linked by a consistent interrogation of how new modes of attention to the material world can catalyze new understandings of the past. Professor Moser is currently engaged in a book project titled 'Moral Depths: Making Antiquity Medieval Chinese Cemetery,' which examines a discovered family cemetery of the Neo-Confucian philosopher Lü Dalin (1040–1093). In this research, he collaborates with scholars across various locations including Xian, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong, exploring an exhibition and scholarly catalogue of exquisite grave goods recovered from the site.

Research Interests

Experience