Bio

Research Areas:
- Chinese Poetry
- Song dynasty Poetry and literati Culture
- The social and historical context of Song dynasty aesthetics

Academic Appointments

  • Professor, East Asian Languages and Cultures

Administrative Appointments

  • Confucius Institute Professor of Sinology, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Stanford University (2012 - Present)
  • Emeritus Professor of Chinese, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara (2012 - Present)
  • Professor of Chinese, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara (1993 - 2012)
  • Department Chair, Affiliated faculty, Program in Comparative Literature (1992 - 1997)
  • Founding chair, Affiliated faculty, Program in Comparative Literature (2002 - 2005)
  • Visiting Professor, Department of Chinese, Translation, and Linguistics, City University of Hong Kong (2001 - 2002)
  • Visiting Professor, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, UCLA, for one quarter annually (except 2001-02) (1997 - 2003)
  • Associate Professor of Chinese, University of California, Santa Barbara (1987 - 1993)
  • Assistant Professor of Chinese, University of California, Santa Barbara (1987 - 1988)
  • Visiting Associate Professor of Chinese, Department of Chinese, Wellesley College (1986 - 1987)
  • Associate Professor of Chinese, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University (1982 - 1984)
  • Assistant Professor of Chinese, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University (1977 - 1982)
  • Lecturer in Chinese, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University (1976 - 1977)
  • Fellowship (12 months), for Ouyang Xiu project, American Council of Learned Societies (1980 - 1981)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Executive Editor, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies (1983 - 1987)
  • Executive Editor, Harvard-Yenching Institute (1983 - 1987)
  • Executive Editor, Harvard University (1983 - 1987)
  • Scholarly Editor, East Asian Studies Publications (1984 - 1987)
  • Scholarly Editor, Council on East Asian Studies (1984 - 1987)
  • Scholarly Editor, Harvard University (1984 - 1987)
  • External reviewer, Department of Chinese, Translation, and Linguistics, City University of Hong Kong (2012 - 2012)
  • Reviewer, Humanities panel, for Hong Kong Ph.D. Scheme (2010 - 2010)
  • Reviewer, Research Grants Council, Hong Kong (2010 - 2010)
  • External review committee chair, East Asian Languages, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of California, Riverside (2008 - 2008)
  • External reviewer, Chinese Program, Department of Foreign Languages, Arizona State University (2006 - 2006)
  • President, American Oriental Society, Western Branch (2003 - 2005)
  • External assessor, Department of Chinese, Translation, and Linguistics, City University of Hong Kong (2005)
  • External reviewer, Department of East Asian Languages and Literature, University of Wisconsin, Madison (2001 - 2001)
  • Editorial Board member, Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (2001)
  • External Reviewer, Department of Classics and Oriental Languages, University of Notre Dame (1996 - 1996)
  • Referee, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies (1985)
  • Referee, Journal of the American Oriental Society (1985)
  • Referee, Asia Major (1985)
  • Referee, Bulletin of Sung-Yuan Studies (1985)
  • Referee, Princeton University Press
  • Referee, Stanford University Press
  • Referee, Harvard Council on East Asian Studies Publications
  • Referee, University of California Press
  • Referee, University of Hawaii Press
  • Referee, Fellowship applications submitted to American Council of Learned Societies
  • Referee, Fellowship applications submitted to the National Endowment for the Humanities

Program Affiliations

  • Center for East Asian Studies

Professional Education

  • Ph.D., Harvard University, Dept. of East Asian Languages and Civilizations (1976)
  • A.M., Harvard University, Dept. of East Asian Languages and Civilizations (1974)
  • B.A., University of Washington, Dept. of Far Eastern Languages and Literatures (1970)

Contact

  • Academic
    ronegan@stanford.edu
    University - Faculty Department: East Asian Languages and Cultures Position: The Stanford W. Ascherman, M.D. Professor

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 2000

Links

2024-25 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • The Interplay of Social and Literary History: Tea in the Poetry of the Middle Historical Period Scribes of Gastronomy: Representations of Food and Drink in Imperial Chinese Literature Egan, R. edited by Yue, I., Tang, S. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. 2013: 69–86
  • Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties Literature A Scholarly Review of Chinese Studies in North America Egan, R. edited by Zhang, H. 2013; E-book
  • Wealthy men and scam artists: urban dwellers outside the literati class in Song dynasty notebooks Guoxue xuekan Egan, R. 2013: 112-118
  • The Northern Song dynasty Jianqiao Zhongguo wenxue shi Egan, R. edited by Owen, S., Chang, K. S. Beijing: Sanlian chuju. 2013: 427–517
  • Anxiety over beauty: aesthetic thought and pursuits of Northern Song literati Egan, R. Shanghai: Shanghai guji chubanshe. 2013
  • Loss and accretion: the increase in the number of song lyrics attributed to Li Qingzhao in the Ming-Qing period Zhongguo yunwen xuekan Egan, R. 2012; 10: 40-46
  • Li Qingzhao’s biography: the Ming-Qing period Traditions of biography and modern trends in biography Egan, R. edited by xuehui, Z. z. Beijing: Zhongguo qingnian chubanshe. 2012: 266–279
  • To Count Grains of Sand on the Ocean Floor: Changing Perceptions of Books and Learning in Song Dynasty China Knowledge and Text Production in An Age of Print: China, 900-1400 Egan, R. edited by Chia, L., De Weerdt, H. Leiden: Brill. 2011: 33–62
  • Li Qingzhao’s biography: the Ming-Qing period Jingchu ligong xueyuan xuebao Egan, R. 2011: 5–12
  • Stealing away the embryo and changing the bones: the indebtedness of Guanzhui bian to Qing dynasty scholars and the ways it surpasses them Qian Zhongshu shiwen congshuo Egan, R. edited by Rongzu, W. Zhongli: National Central University Press. 2011: 211–226
  • Changing representations of the capital in Song dynasty sources Ducheng de fanhua Egan, R. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju. 2010: 93–109
  • Northern Song Dynasty Literature The Cambridge History of Chinese Literature Egan, R. 2010; 1: 381-464
  • Why Didn’t Zhao Mingcheng Send Letters to His Wife, Li Qingzhao, When He was Away? Hsiang Lectures on Chinese Poetry Egan, R. edited by Fong, G. 2010: 57–77
  • Qian Zhongshu’s motives and thinking behind Guanzhui bian Dongfang zaobao: Shanghai shuping Egan, R. 2010: 3-10
  • Song, Jin, and Yuan Dynasties Literature Beimei Zhongguo xue: yanjiu gaishu yu wenxian ziyuan Egan, R. edited by Haihui, Z. Beijing: Zhonghua shuju. 2010: 623–635
  • The Literary Works of Ou-yang Hsiu (1007-72) Egan, R. Cambridge University Press. 2009
  • Seduced By flowers: Ouyang Xiu’s Record of the Peonies of Luoyang Conference Volume of Essays from the International Conference Commemorating the Thousand Year Anniversary of the Birth of Ouyang Xiu Egan, R. 2009: 63–82
  • On the Circulation of Books During the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, and Reviews Egan, R. 2009; 30: 9- 17
  • The burden of female talent: Li Qingzhao’s “On Song lyrics” and early criticism on her, Part 2 Changjiang xueshu Egan, R. 2009; 4: 78-87
  • The burden of female talent: Li Qingzhao’s “On Song lyrics” and early criticism on her, Part 1 Changjiang xueshu Egan, R. 2009; 2: 23-29
  • When Zhao Mingcheng went on distant travels, why didn’t he write to his wife, Li Qingzhao? Zhongguo wenxue yanjiu Egan, R. 2008: 137–150
  • Song Dynasty Shi Poetry How to Read Chinese Poetry: A Guided Anthology Egan, R. edited by Cai, Z. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. 2008: 308–328
  • The state of Chinese studies in the USA today Zhongguo sixiang yu shehui yanjiu Egan, R. 2007: 21-25
  • Rethinking “traces” from the past: Ouyang Xiu on stone inscriptions Sixiangshi yanjiu Egan, R. Shanghai: Shanghai Renmen chubanshe. 2007: 48–87
  • The circulation of books and its influence upon Song literati thinking about texts Kanran Egan, R. 2007; 14: 272-300
  • Huizong's Palace Poems (Gong ci) Emperor Huizong and Late Northern Song China: The Politics of Culture and the Culture of Politics Egan, R. 2006: 361–394
  • Influences that the circulation of books had upon Song literati thinking about texts Songdai wenxue guoji yantao hui lunwenji Egan, R. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press,. 2006: 98–114
  • The Problem of Beauty: Aesthetic Thought and Pursuits in Northern Song Dynasty China Egan, R. Asia Center, Harvard University. 2006
  • Introduction Limited Views: Essays on Ideas and Letters by Qian Zhongshu Egan, R. 2005; 4: 52-64
  • The Emperor and the Ink Plum: Tracing a Lost Connection between Literati and Huizong's Court Rhetoric and the Discourses of Power in Court Culture: China, Europe, and Japan Egan, R. edited by Knechtges, D., Vance, E. Seattle: University of Washington Press. 2005: 117–148
  • Nature and Higher Ideals in Texts on Calligraphy, Music, and Painting Chinese Aesthetics: The Orderings of Literature, the Arts, and the Universe in the Six Dynasties Egan, R. edited by Cai, Z. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. 2004: 277–309
  • Court Cultures Viewed in a Comparative Perspective Ex/change Egan, R. 2004; 11: 14-17
  • Two ci by Huang Tingjian Renditions Golden Jubilee of Ci Poetry Egan, R. edited by Cheang, A. Hong Kong: Centre for Translation Studies, Chinese University Press. 2004: 148–151
  • “Preface,” to Bi Xiyan Creativity and Convention in Su Shi’s Literary Thought Egan, R. Lewiston, New York: The Edwin Mellen Press. 2003: xi-xii
  • Literary Aspects of the Calligraphy Couplets Double Beauty: Qing Dynasty Couplets from the Lechangzai Xuan Collection Egan, R. edited by Kuo, J. C., Sturman, P. C. 2003: 16–24
  • The Lion in Cultural Exchange Between China and the West Ex/Change: Newsletter of the Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies Egan, R. 2002; 4: 23-25
  • Poet, Mind, and World: A Reconsideration of the 'Shen si' Chapter of Wenxin diaolong Contemporary Perspectives on Wenxin diaolong Egan, R. edited by Cai, Z. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 2001: 101–126
  • Prose. The Columbia History of Traditional Chinese Literature Egan, R. edited by Mair, V. New York: Columbia University Press. 2001: 527–541
  • Reflections on Use of the Electronic Siku quanshu Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews Egan, R. 2001; 23: 103-113
  • Chinese Literatrure, Ancient and Classical Journal of the American Oriental Society Egan, R. 2001; 121 (4): 655-656
  • Red on Gold: Teaching Honglou meng in California Ex/Change: Newsletter of the Centre for Cross-Cultural Studies Egan, R. 2001
  • Entries on Fang Xuanling, Zhang Yue, and Ouyang Xiu Women Writers of Traditional China: An Anthology of Poetry and Criticism Egan, R. edited by Chang, K. S., Saussy, H. Stanford: Stanford University Press. 1999: 721–727
  • Productive Antipathies in Court Service and Painting in Northern Song Dynasty China Selected Essays on Court Culture in Cross-Cultural Perspective Egan, R. edited by Yaofu, L. 1999: 171–204
  • Qian Zhongshu's Reading of the Classics: An Analysis of the Underlying Principles of Guanzhui bian Egan, R. 1998
  • Limited Views: Essays on Ideas and Letters by Qian Zhongshu Egan, R. Asia Center, Harvard University. 1998
  • The controversy over music and 'sadness' and changing conceptions of the Qin in Middle-Period China + Classical aesthetics in Asian music HARVARD JOURNAL OF ASIATIC STUDIES EGAN, R. 1997; 57 (1): 5-66

    View details for Web of Science ID A1997XE17800001

  • The Waterfall - Fan Yu Taiwan Literature: English Translation Series Egan, R. 1996; 1: 51-57
  • A Traveler's Dream - Hsiang Yang Taiwan Literature: English Translation Series Egan, R. 1996; 1: 51-57
  • The Three Zithers The Columbia Anthology of Traditional Chinese Literature Egan, R. edited by Mair, V. Columbia University Press. 1994: 589–590
  • Word, Image, and Deed in the Life of Su Shi Egan, R. 1994
  • The Problem of the Repute of Ci During the Northern Song Dynasty Voices of the Song Lyric in China Egan, R. edited by Yu, P. R. University of California Press. 1994: 191–225
  • THE ROAD TO EAST SLOPE - THE DEVELOPMENT OF SU,SHI POETIC VOICE - FULLER,M (Book Review) HARVARD JOURNAL OF ASIATIC STUDIES Book Review Authored by: EGAN, R. 1992; 52 (1): 313-323

    View details for Web of Science ID A1992JC74200008

  • Five Hundred Years of Chinese Poetry Journal of Sung Yuan Studies Egan, R. 1992; 22: 197-200
  • Characteristics of Ouyang Xiu’s prose on daily life The Literary Works of Ou-yang Hsiu (1007-72)) Egan, R. 1991; 39: 99-109
  • SU,SHIH NOTES AS A HISTORICAL AND LITERARY SOURCE HARVARD JOURNAL OF ASIATIC STUDIES EGAN, R. C. 1990; 50 (2): 561-588

    View details for Web of Science ID A1990EN46800005

  • THE TSO-CHUAN - SELECTIONS FROM CHINA OLDEST NARRATIVE HISTORY - WATSON,B (Book Review) JOURNAL OF ASIAN STUDIES Book Review Authored by: EGAN, R. C. 1990; 49 (1): 144-145

    View details for Web of Science ID A1990CR00500045

  • A Guide to Oriental Classics Asian Thought and Society Egan, R. 1990; 15 (45): 319-320
  • OU-YANG,HSIU AND SU,SHIH ON CALLIGRAPHY HARVARD JOURNAL OF ASIATIC STUDIES EGAN, R. C. 1989; 49 (2): 365-419

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989CN51400002

  • The Literary Works of Ou-yang Hsiu (1007-72) Egan, R. Cambridge University Press. 1984
  • POEMS ON PAINTINGS, SU,SHIH AND HUANG,TING-CHIEN HARVARD JOURNAL OF ASIATIC STUDIES EGAN, R. C. 1983; 43 (2): 413-451

    View details for Web of Science ID A1983RZ37600002

  • Han Civilization Egan, R. edited by Chang, K. C. Yale University Press. 1982
  • PROSE STYLE OF FAN,YEH HARVARD JOURNAL OF ASIATIC STUDIES EGAN, R. C. 1979; 39 (2): 339-401

    View details for Web of Science ID A1979HU21300004

  • NARRATIVES IN 'TSO CHUAN' HARVARD JOURNAL OF ASIATIC STUDIES EGAN, R. C. 1977; 37 (2): 323-352

    View details for Web of Science ID A1977EM60600003

  • On the origin of the Yu hsien k'u Commentary Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies Egan, R. 1976; 36: 135-146