Ge Zhaoguang Wins 2026 Tang Prize for Redefining Chinese History

Ge’s intellectual journey began at Peking University in the late 1970s, where he moved beyond the elite texts of the past to examine the lived mental worlds of common people. His landmark work, An Intellectual History of China, shifted the discipline’s gaze toward ordinary beliefs and social margins. By integrating popular religion and everyday cultural practices, he effectively bridged the gap between intellectual, social, and cultural history.

In the last decade, Ge has focused on the historical construction of "China" itself. Through his influential trilogy—including Here in 'China' I Dwell—he utilizes a "view from the periphery" methodology. By analyzing Sinitic records from Joseon, Vietnam, and other neighboring states, he challenges conventional borders and offers a more nuanced understanding of how China evolved through its complex interactions with the outside world. His work, now translated into multiple languages including English, Japanese, and French, continues to influence global academia by encouraging scholars to move past rigid Western disciplinary boundaries in favor of an interdisciplinary approach.