Biography
Tony comes from Beijing and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Oxford, specializing in Middle Persian. In 2024, he graduated from Yale University with a double major in Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations and the History of Art. During his undergraduate studies, Tony was honored to receive six awards, including the "CMES Libby Rouse Prize Fellowship for Peace" and the "Conger-Goodyear Prize for Outstanding Senior Thesis." He was also named the sole "Henry Fellow" from Yale's Class of 2024, which provided him with a fully-funded scholarship to pursue graduate study in the UK.
Tony's academic passion lies in the history and archaeology of the Silk Roads. To deepen his research, he has studied Persian, Sanskrit, and several ancient languages, seeking to reconstruct the history of Central Asia through an interdisciplinary lens. He has presented his research at academic conferences both in China and internationally, and he has published four papers in Chinese and English, with another forthcoming. He also serves as a trilingual (Chinese, English, Persian) editor for the Journal of Ancient Iranian Studies. His professional experience includes working as a research assistant in the Yale History Department and at the World Art History Institute at Shanghai International Studies University. Additionally, he has worked as a docent at the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Capital Museum in Beijing, and the Tsinghua University Art Museum.
Outside of academia, Tony has spent his vacations exploring over 30 countries. His archaeological fieldwork and surveys in Silk Road countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan exposed him to the challenges of fragile educational systems and endangered cultural heritage. In response, he joined the "Guardians of Bamiyan" and "Guardians of Gandhara" initiatives, where he developed introductory labels of the historical sites and designed heritage preservation courses for children. These efforts aim to raise awareness of cultural preservation and improve the well-being of local communities.
Looking ahead, Tony plans to pursue research in archaeology at Oxford. His ultimate goal is to become a globally engaged researcher based in China, exploring the trajectories of cultural interactions and developments throughout history. He is committed to integrating archaeological research with public education, bringing the insights of archaeology to life and making them relevant to contemporary society.