About Us
Source: https://asianstudies.cornell.edu/about-us Parent: https://asianstudies.cornell.edu/honors-program-0
The home for instruction in the languages, literatures, religions, cultures, and intellectual histories of Asian societies
About Us
Our are a multi-disciplinary group in the humanities who conduct research and teach on topics arranged under our rubrics of "Literature & Linguistics," "Religion," and "Society & Culture," as well as offering instruction in 14 modern Asian languages, and the department also offers instruction in five classical Asian languages (Sanskrit, Pali, Literary Chinese, Literary Japanese and Literary Vietnamese).
The department works with Asian specialists of all disciplines across campus, who collectively comprise the East, South and Southeast Asia area studies programs.
Explore Our Community
Employment Opportunities Selden Memorial Prize Other Campus Resources Land Acknowledgement Statement
History of Asian Studies at Cornell
The Department of Asian Studies was initially organized in 1946 as the Department of Far Eastern Studies (changed to Asian Studies in 1962). It developed from a wartime program in the language, history, and culture of China that trained people for government service. The three Cornell Asian area programs for South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia subsequently developed within the department before assuming their separate existences in the 1970s. Initially, the Department was located in Franklin Hall (renamed Tjaden Hall in 1980).
As more positions were assigned to the Department, and with the growth of graduate programs that provided universities around the world with prominent scholars of Asia, the problem of space became chronic. In the early 1970s the Department shifted to Rockefeller Hall where it now occupies the third floor.
Click here to continue exploring the department's history.
Asian Studies News
Daniel Gold, professor of Asian studies emeritus, dies at 78
2/26/2026
Daniel Gold, a professor of Asian studies emeritus in the College of Arts and Sciences, died on Feb. 16 in Ithaca. He was 78.
Campana wins MLA’s Scaglione Prize for book on Japanese poetry
12/08/2025
“Expanding Verse: Japanese Poetry at the Edge of Media" is study of work by poets who push the genre in unexpected directions.
Cultural Significance of National Cuisines
11/21/2025
Joshua Kam, doctoral candidate in Asian studies, was quoted in Time Magazine on the cultural significance of national cuisines.\ \ Time Magazine, 11/21/25\ \ “Food often came before countries. The dishes that we share often moved with people who were moving about before there were borders, before there were passports.”\
Indonesian women created a political voice through gendered care work
10/29/2025
In "Domestic Nationalism," Chiara Formichi argues that during the 1920s to 1950s, Indonesian women’s domestic activities contributed to nation-building as a political project.
Einaudi welcomes SWANA Program
9/16/2025
The Einaudi Center welcomes the Southwest Asia and North Africa Program and four new program directors this fall.
New Faculty: Fangfang Li
9/01/2025
Fangfang Li, Asian Studies
2025 Nexus Scholars talk about academic growth, transformation
8/21/2025
Ten students who participated in this summer's Nexus Scholars Program share their stories..
From posters to precedent, humanities scholars showcase their research
6/03/2025
Projects spanned topics from Confederate cemeteries to Korean textiles.