Yuan-Chu Lam

Professor Emerita of Chinese

Interested in China's contemporary issues, especially those concerning the Mongols and the Tibetans.

The focus of my research has been the Mongol conquest of China in the 13th and the 14th century. It includes topics on the restoration of civil-service examination, and the study of individual scholars’ literary collections. In recent years, I also dealt with Central Asians who were born and educated in China under the Mongolian rule, and who had made significant scholarly contributions in the Yuan dynasty.

I have taught all levels of the Chinese language courses, including classical Chinese. I used to team-teach and compile textbook material with department colleagues. I am also looking forward to resuming the teaching of China’s minority peoples. Although the Mongols, the Tibetans and the Uyghur are small in population, the regions that have been designated to be autonomous for them to reside cover one third of the entire PRC’s territory. Their cultures have distinct features, with traditions as remarkable as the Chinese culture.

Staying in touch with the Yuan historians in Taiwan and Mainland China has given me many opportunities to travel and to attend conferences with them. I also invite scholars coming from abroad to make use of a special Chinese and Inner Asia collection in Gilford New Hampshire, where I cann play hostess for their visits.

Since the spring of 1993, yoga classes have been permanently on my weekly schedule, and they are essential for health and personal growth.