The Center for East Asian Studies
The Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) and its three Committees - The Committee on Japanese Studies, the Committee on Chinese Studies, and the Committee on Korean Studies - work to enhance opportunities available to scholars both in the United States and abroad, and to foster communication and inter-disciplinary collaboration among the community of professors and students at the University of Chicago and throughout the wider East Asian Studies community.
To these ends CEAS and its Committees sponsor a variety of activities including colloquia, workshops, conferences, public lectures, film series, cultural events, and other programs that promote understanding of the cultures and societies of China, Japan, and Korea. University of Chicago faculty and programs in East Asian studies regularly achieve the highest rankings among peer institutions in the United States, making East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago an invaluable national resource and a focal point for East Asian Studies in the Midwest.
History of the Center for East Asian Studies
The formal history of East Asian studies at the University of Chicago dates back to 1936, with the establishment of a Chinese studies program in the Department of Oriental Languages and Literatures. The 1950s were a period of major growth and innovation in East Asian studies at the University. In 1951, acknowledging the wide-ranging relevance of East Asia, the University established an interdisciplinary Committee on Far Eastern Studies. This program was later reorganized as the Center for Far Eastern Studies with the support of funds from the Ford Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education and other sources. Today it is known as the Center for East Asian Studies. Read more about the history of East Asian studies at University of Chicago in this article by Associate Director Theodore Foss.
The Director of the Center is a faculty member specializing in an area of East Asian studies, selected to serve for a number of years. The past directors of the Center are:
| Edward Kracke, Jr. | 1961-1964 |
| Edwin McClellan | 1964-1968 |
| Robert Denberger | 1968-1969 |
| David Roy | 1969-1971 |
| Edward Kracke, Jr. | 1971-1972 |
| Philip Kuhn, Jr. | 1972-1973 |
| David Roy | 1974 |
| Tetsuo Najita | 1974-1980 |
| William Parish | 1980-1987 |
| Leo Ou-Fan Lee | 1987-1990 |
| William Parish | 1990-1991 |
| Bernard Silberman | 1991-1992 |
| Mary Brinton | 1992-1993 |
| D. Gale Johnson | 1993-1998 |
| James Ketelaar | 1998-2005 |
| Donald Harper | 2005-2008 |
| Dali Yang | 2008-2010 |
| Donald Harper | Current |
Today, the Center plays a vital role on campus and in the community by connecting resources on East Asia to scholars, students, and the general public.
Supporting CEAS
To expand its activities and to make more resources available for students and faculty, CEAS seeks the support of individuals who believe in the importance of improving our understanding East Asia. Donations help support faculty research, graduate fellowships, library collections, academic conferences, and lecture series. CEAS welcomes support for capital projects. If you are interested in making a donation, please contact Associate Director Theodore Foss.
