School of History, Religions and Philosophies
Xiao Lin
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Key information
Key information
- Qualifications
-
Beijing Dancing Academy – Beijing, China Bachelor of Arts in Danceology September 2007 – July 2011
The Chinese University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong Master of Arts in Journalism September 2017 – June 2018
SOAS University of London – London, UK Master of Arts in Comparative Literature September 2020 – June 2021 - Subject
- History
- Email address
- 685760@soas.ac.uk
- Thesis title
- Navigating Two Worlds: A Study of Political Perspectives Among Manchu Intellectuals Who Studied in Japan (1905–1945)
- Internal Supervisors
- Dr Lars Laamann & Dr Stefania Travagnin
Biography
Xiao Lin has been a doctoral researcher since 2022. Her research examines the political and intellectual transformation of Manchu elites during the late Qing and Republican periods, focusing on how Manchu intellectuals who studied in Japan engaged with constitutionalism, modern political thought, and shifting ideas of citizenship.
Drawing on multilingual archival materials collected in Beijing, Tokyo, and Taipei, her work explores the intersections between ethnicity, education, and modernity, and considers how Manchu reformers negotiated their position within China’s rapidly changing political landscape.Her research situates the Manchu experience within broader East Asian intellectual currents, highlighting the circulation of ideas across cultural and linguistic boundaries. By analyzing both printed and manuscript sources, she traces the evolving discourse of national identity and self-renewal among Manchu intellectuals.
Her project contributes to the growing field of transnational and minority studies in late imperial and modern Chinese history.In addition to her research, Xiao Lin teaches the Elementary Manchu language course at SOAS, where she designs original teaching materials and leads classes on Manchu script, grammar, and Qing historical sources. Her teaching emphasizes accessibility and historical context, helping students engage directly with primary documents from the Qing archives. She is also preparing a textbook on Manchu language pedagogy for university learners.Before pursuing her PhD in History, she earned an MA in Journalism from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and an MA in Comparative Literature from SOAS. Her academic background reflects a sustained commitment to interdisciplinary and cross-cultural approaches to modern East Asian studies.
Research interests
Late Qing and early Republican intellectual history Manchu studies Transnational education and Sino–Japanese intellectual exchange Constitutional reform and modern political thought in East Asia Historical memory and identity transformation among minority elites
