Michael Szonyi
Encyclopedia
Michael A. Szonyi is Professor of Chinese History at Harvard University
. His research focuses on the local history of southeast China
, especially in the Ming dynasty
, the history of Chinese popular religion, and Overseas Chinese
history. He is currently studying the social history of the Ming Dynasty military. Szonyi has traced local cults from the Ming Dynasty and has found that some of these cults continue to exist. He hopes that his research on these traditions can help historians better understand the role of religion in establishing local social orders.
and his D.Phil from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. After completing his doctorate, he worked at McGill University
, but soon returned to his hometown to get married and teach at the University of Toronto
, where he received tenure in 2002. Szonyi came to Harvard in 2005, and was named John L. Loeb
Associate Professor of the Humanities in 2007 and Professor of Chinese History in 2009. Today he splits his time between Cambridge and London, Ontario, where his wife, Francine McKenzie, is a professor of international relations at the University of Western Ontario
.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. His research focuses on the local history of southeast China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, especially in the Ming dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
, the history of Chinese popular religion, and Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
history. He is currently studying the social history of the Ming Dynasty military. Szonyi has traced local cults from the Ming Dynasty and has found that some of these cults continue to exist. He hopes that his research on these traditions can help historians better understand the role of religion in establishing local social orders.
Biography
Szonyi received his BA from the University of TorontoUniversity of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and his D.Phil from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. After completing his doctorate, he worked at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, but soon returned to his hometown to get married and teach at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, where he received tenure in 2002. Szonyi came to Harvard in 2005, and was named John L. Loeb
John Langeloth Loeb, Jr.
John L. Loeb Jr. is a businessman, philanthropist, art collector, and former United States Ambassador to Denmark and Delegate to the United Nations ....
Associate Professor of the Humanities in 2007 and Professor of Chinese History in 2009. Today he splits his time between Cambridge and London, Ontario, where his wife, Francine McKenzie, is a professor of international relations at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
.
Publications
- The Cold War in Asia: The Battle for Hearts and Minds. Brill, 2010. (Co-edited with Zheng Yangwen and Liu Hong)
- Cold War Island: Quemoy on the Front Line. Cambridge University Press, 2008.
- Ming-Qing Fujian Wudi xinyang ziliao huibian (Documents on the Cult of the Five Emperors in Fujian in Ming and Qing). Hong Kong University of Science and Technology South China Research Centre, 2006.
- Practicing Kinship: Lineage and Descent in Late Imperial China. Stanford University Press, 2002.
- Zheng Zhenman, Family and Lineage Organization and Social Change in Ming-Qing Fujian, translated and with an introduction by Michael Szonyi. University of Hawai'i Press, 2001.