My research investigates the political economy underlying people’s moral pursuits and state sociocultural engineering in contexts such as reading, language, and media; family, education, and religion; as well as grassroots moral activism and the revival of Confucianism in the Global Asian context.

I am also an avid teacher, poet, and learning journalist. I am deeply committed to employing creative forms of anthropological engagement to address social issues. Among my many initiatives, I co-founded and serve as editor of Tying Knots (结绳志), the most influential public anthropology platform in China.