Dr. Yang Wen Zheng

Biography

Born and raised in China, Yang-Wen Zheng obtained a B.A. from Oberlin College in 1995, followed by an M.Phil (1997) and Ph.D. (2001) from the University of Cambridge's King's College. He has held positions at the University of Pennsylvania (2002-2004) and the National University of Singapore (2004-2006) before joining the University of Manchester in January 2007. His research focuses on economic history, particularly in relation to Ming-Qing maritime trade patterns and the cultural consumption of foreign goods in China. Moreover, he is interested in the dynamics of Sino-foreign interaction and the complex processes of indigenization, including how foreign cultural elements, such as ballet, became integrated into Chinese society. His time in Singapore has allowed for a diversified approach to research, including areas of body naming practices, China's relations with Southeast Asia, and the Asian Cold War. In addition to his research, Zheng serves as an editor (with Richard Madsen from UC San Diego) for the 'Alternative Sinology' series published by Manchester University Press. His expertise aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals established in 2015, where he contributes significantly to research in various interconnected fields, including those represented by the Manchester China Institute and Creative Manchester.

Research Interests

Experience