Lang Chen

Dr. Lang Chen serves as a Research Fellow at the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan, bringing extensive expertise in Chinese religious studies and Buddhist history. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. in religious studies from Yale University, followed by positions as an assistant professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore. Her groundbreaking research focuses on the often-overlooked history of Tiantai Buddhism during the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly examining the networks surrounding the influential Tiantai monk Youxi Chuandeng. Her work challenges traditional perspectives by demonstrating how Tiantai Buddhism, rather than being confined to scholarly circles, was embraced by liberal literati as an accessible alternative to Chan Buddhism. Through her current book project and various publications, she explores the complex relationships between lay and clerical Buddhist communities, while her side projects investigate the enduring influence of Ming-Qing literati religious traditions on modern Chinese thought. Her research extends to contemporary applications, including analysis of writer Shi Tiesheng's religious philosophy, demonstrating the continuity of Chinese literati religious life from imperial times to the present day. At Michigan, she has notably contributed to understanding Gong Zizhen's unique approach to Buddhism and its relationship to modern religious studies.