USC.edu
Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures

Xuejing Sun

Ph.D. Student
Xuejing Sun
Email xuejings@usc.edu

Biography

I am interested in the intersection of religion, art, and environment. My research employs multidisciplinary approaches to material culture of pre-modern China, drawing on theories particularly from art history, religion, archaeology, and anthropology. My current dissertation project studies a range of arhat grottoes, i.e., natural caves carved with images of saintly Buddhist disciples, in the mountainous landscapes of the southern parts of China, and discusses their interrelationship with the Chan monasteries built nearby.

I also hold a certificate in Visual Anthropology, exploring how visual language of anthropological films facilitate scholarly research and address issues beyond written words.

 

Education

  • BA Peking University
  • M.A. Peking University

  • Research Keywords

    Material culture of pre-modern China (10th to 13th centuries);
    Buddhist art in landscapes of Asia;
    Religious art of East Asia;
    Cultural relics as modern heritage and tourist sites;
    Visual Anthropology as an academic practice