Cundao Li

Cundao Li is a PhD candidate in Chinese history (from October 2022), and a research associate on the project ‘Regionalizing Infrastructures in Chinese History’ at KU Leuven. His research interests include intellectual and political history in Song China and early modern Europe. He is also interested in Classical Chinese poetry and literature.

Cundao was born and grew up in China. He studied Asian Studies and early modern History in Muhlenberg College. His essay “The Creation of a Sage Ruler” about Tang Taizong was awarded High Honor by the History Department. After getting his Bachelor degree in 2020, Cundao studied comparative history and received his Master degree in May 2022. His MA thesis Utilitarian Thinkers in Two Worlds compared the political thoughts of Niccolò Machiavelli and Chen Liang. After receiving his MA degree, Cundao enrolled in the PhD program in KU Leuven. He will focus on the political thoughts of Ye Shi, a Chinese Confucian scholar who was known for his state activism.