Dr. Juhn Ahn

Biography

Juhn Ahn is an Associate Professor specializing in Buddhist Korean Studies. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 2007. His current research focuses on the history of Buddhism in Korea, specifically examining mortuary customs and the elite identities of fourteenth-century Korea, and how these elements were influenced by Neo-Confucian ideologies. His book, "Buddha's Ancestors," published by the University of Washington Press in 2018, challenges common assumptions regarding the attribution of changes in mortuary customs to religious corruption and provides a broader perspective on the historical relegation of Buddhism to the margins of public authority in Korea. Additionally, Ahn has organized a conference on transgression in Korea, culminating in the edited volume "Transgression in Korea" published by the University of Michigan Press in 2018. His teaching interests include courses on premodern and modern Korean history, East Asian Buddhism, and various aspects of contemporary Korean culture. Currently, he is engaged in multiple research projects, including a book manuscript on reading habits in Song dynasty Chan Buddhism and a chapter on the economic history of the Koryŏ dynasty.

Research Interests