Personal Profile:
DING Sixin丁四新 was born in Wuhan in 1969, and holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy. He is currently a professor in the Department of Philosophy, School of Humanities, Tsinghua University, a doctoral advisor, and the director of the Chinese Philosophy Discipline. He is also a Distinguished Professor under the Ministry of Education’s Major Talent Program and a recipient of the National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award. He also serves as Vice President of the Society for the History of Chinese Philosophy, Vice President of the Chinese Learned Society of Zhouyi, and Vice President of the Beijing Philosophical Society. He was formerly a Tier-2 professor at Wuhan University. His research focuses on Chinese philosophy, Chinese jingxue (classical canon studies), and Chinese classical studies. He has published over ten academic books and more than 180 research articles.
From 1989 to 1993, he studied in the Department of Philosophy, Xiamen University and received his bachelor’s degree in Philosophy. From 1993 to 1999, he pursued graduate studies in Chinese Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy, Wuhan University, earning his master’s and doctoral degrees. From 1999 to 2016, he taught in the Department of Philosophy, the School of Philosophy and the School of Chinese Classics at Wuhan University. Since 2016, he has been a faculty member at the Department of Philosophy, School of Humanities, Tsinghua University.
Contact Information:
Address: Department of Philosophy, School of Humanities, Meng Minwei Humanities Building, Tsinghua University, Haidian District, Beijing, PR. China
Postal Code: 100084
Email: dingsixin@tsinghua.edu.cn
I. Education
1989–1993: B.A. in Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Xiamen University.
1993–1996: M.A. in Philosophy, Department of Philosophy (now School of Philosophy), Wuhan University.
1996–1999: Ph.D. in Philosophy, Department of Philosophy (now School of Philosophy), Wuhan University.
II. Academic Position
1999–2016: Lecturer (1999), Associate Professor (2001), Professor (2006), Tier-3 Professor (2013), Tier-2 Professor (2015), Department of Philosophy (renamed School of Philosophy in 2003), Wuhan University. Appointed doctoral advisor in 2004. 2006–2015: Director, Chinese Philosophy Teaching and Research Office. 2007–2016: Chair, Department of Philosophy.
2001–2007: Advisor, Experimental Class in Chinese Classics, Wuhan University. 2007–2010: Graduate advisor, M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Chinese Classics, Wuhan University; 2010–2016: Ph.D. and M.A. advisor, the School of Chinese Classics, Wuhan University. 2014–2016: Associate Dean, the School of Chinese Classics.
2016–present: Professor, Tier-2 Professor, and Ph.D. advisor, Department of Philosophy, School of Humanities, Tsinghua University. 2017–present: Director of the Chinese Philosophy Discipline. 2019–2021: Party Branch Secretary of the Department of Philosophy.
III. Academic Service
President, Hubei Province Zhouyi Society (2010–2021).
Vice President, Chinese Learned Society of Zhouyi (2016–2021, 2021–2026).
Vice President, Society for the History of Chinese Philosophy (2022–2026).
Vice President, Beijing Philosophical Society (2017–2024, 2024–2028).
Adjunct Professor, East China Normal University (2020–2022).
Specially Appointed Academic Mentor and Teaching Supervisor for the Philosophy Program of the Strengthening Basic Disciplines Plan, Sichuan University (2020–2024).
Adjunct Research Fellow, Center of Traditional Chinese Cultural Studies, Wuhan University (2021–2025).
Academic Committee Member, Center for Zhouyi & Ancient Chinese Philosophy, Shandong University (2022–2027).
Member of editorial boards for: International Studies on Confucianism, History of Chinese Philosophy, Academic Journal of Zhongzhou, Social Science Front, Social Sciences in Guangxi, Culture and Communication, Chinese Philosophy (Information Center for Social Sciences, RUC).
Editor-in-Chief of Jianbo sixiang yanjiu.
IV. Awards and Honors
1. Selected for the Ministry of Education’s New Century Excellent Talents in University Support Program (2004).
2. Appointed Distinguished Professor under the Ministry of Education’s Major Talent Program (2013, 2014).
3. Selected for Wuhan University’s “351 Talent Program” as a Luojia Distinguished Professor (2011–2014).
4. “A Study of Thought in the Guodian Chu Slips” 郭店楚墓竹简思想研究, National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Award (2001).
5. Collation and Commentary on the Laozi from the Guodian Chu Bamboo Manuscripts郭店楚竹书《老子》校注, Wuhan University 12th Outstanding Humanities and Social Sciences Achievement Award (2012), Third Prize, 6th Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement Awards (Humanities and Social Sciences) (2013), Nomination Award, the Book Award of the Third China Government Publishing Award (2013).
6. Collation and Commentary on the Zhouyi from the Chu Bamboo and Han Silk Manuscripts楚竹书与汉帛书《周易》校注, First Prize, 9th Hubei Provincial Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award (2015),Third Prize, 7th Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement Awards (Humanities and Social Sciences) (2015),3rd Global Sinology Achievement Award (2018).
7. Tracing the Origins of the Zhouyi and Early Zhouyi Studies周易溯源与早期易学考论, Second Prize, 15th Beijing Philosophy and Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Award (2019), Third Prize, 8th Higher Education Outstanding Scientific Research Achievement Awards (Humanities and Social Sciences) (2020).
8. “The Origin, Formation, and Deviation of the Theory of the Three Cardinal Guides” 三纲说的来源、形成与异化, 2020–2022 Honorary Award for “Excellent Papers” in Outstanding Journals of Hebei Province (2023).
9. 6th “Outstanding Young Scholar of Wuhan University” (2004)
10. Wuhan University 2012–2013 “Youth May Fourth Medal” (2013).
V. International Academic Experience
Visiting Scholar (2002–2003), Harvard-Yenching Institute, Harvard University.
VI. Research Interests
Pre-Qin philosophy, Qin and Han philosophy, Confucian philosophy, Daoist philosophy, and the philosophy of other early Chinese philosophical schools;
Zhouyi classic studies, Shangshu classic studies, Confucian classics in the Han dynasty, and the philosophy of Confucian classics studies;
Bamboo and silk manuscript thought, and excavated texts.
VII. Publications
1. A Study of Thought in the Guodian Chu Tomb Bamboo Manuscripts 郭店楚墓竹简思想研究, Dongfang Chubanshe, 2000.
2. Selected Academic Papers of Sixin Ding玄圃畜艾——丁四新学术论文选集, Zhonghua Shuju, 2009.
3. Collation and Commentary on the Laozi from the Guodian Chu Bamboo Manuscripts郭店楚竹书《老子》校注, Wuhan Daxue Chubanshe, 2010.
4. Collation and Commentary on the Zhouyi from the Chu Bamboo and Han Silk Manuscripts楚竹书与汉帛书《周易》校注, Shanghai Guji Chubanshe, 2011.
5. Explorations in Pre-Qin Philosophy先秦哲学探索, Shangwu Yinshuguan, 2015.
6. Tracing the Origins of the Zhouyi and Early Zhouyi Studies周易溯源与早期易学考论, Zhonguo Renmin Daxue Chubanshe, 2017.
7. Studies of Early Chinese Philosophy in the English-speaking World英语世界的早期中国哲学研究, Zhejiang Daxue Chubanshe, 2017.
8. A General History of Chinese Philosophy: Qin and Han Volume中国哲学通史·秦汉卷, Jiangsu Renmin Chubanshe, 2021.
9. Seeking Common Ground while Respecting Differences求同存异和而不同, Renmin Chubanshe, 2022.
10. The Great Meaning of the Hongfan and the Way of Loyalty and Forgiveness洪范大义与忠恕之道, Shangwu Yinshuguan, 2022.
11. A Study of Philosophical Texts in the Shanghai Museum Chu Bamboo Manuscripts上博楚竹书哲学文献研究, Hebei Jiaoyu Chubanshe, 2022.
12. A Study of Philosophical Thought in the Guodian Chu Bamboo Manuscripts郭店楚竹书哲学思想研究, Zhongguo Renmin Daxue Chubanshe, 2024.
13. Excavated Manuscripts and Early Daoism出土文献与早期道家, Zhongguo Renmin Daxue Chubanshe, 2024.
14. Distant Shadows in the Azure Sky: A Personal Anthology远影碧空集, Hubei Jiaoyu Chubanshe, 2024.
15. Studies on Zhu Xi’s Philosophy from the Perspective of Confucian Classics Studies经学视域下的朱子学研究, Editor-in-Chief, Shehui Kexue Wenxian Chubanshe, 2020.
VIII. Selected Journal Articles
(a) In Chinese:
For a full list of Chinese-language publications, please refer to CNKI (www.cnki.net) and search for author “Ding Sixin”.
(b) In English:
1. A Study on the Dating of the Mozi Dialogues and the Mohist View of Ghosts and Spirits, Contemporary Chinese Thought, 42:4 (2011), 39-87. (A&HCI)
2. A Study of the Key Concepts “Heng” and “Hengxian” in the Hengxian on Chu Bamboo Slips Housed at the Shanghai Museum, Frontiers of Philosophy in China, 11:2 (2016), 206-221.
3. The Section Division of the Laozi and its Examination，Contemporary Chinese Thought, 48:3 (2017), 159-179.
4. “Huo”或 in “Heng Xian” of Shanghai Museum Edition of Chu Bamboo Slips, Journal of Chinese Philosophy, 46:3-4 (2019), 182-190.
5. The Debate Surrounding “Dismiss the Hundred Schools of Thought and Revere Only the Confucian Arts” and a Refutation of the Theory of the Autocracy of Han Dynasty Confucian Thought, Contemporary Chinese Thought, 51:2 (2020), 96-122.
6. Interpretations of Mohism’s “Impartial Love” in the Republic of China: A Comparative Approach to Confucianism and Mohism (DING Sixin, WU Xiaoxin), Journal of Chinese Humanities, 7(2021), 29-57.
7. The Shengsheng Philosophy of the Book of Changes and Its Interpretation: With Reference to the Commentaries on the Book of Changes and the Threefold Meaning of Yi (DING Sixin, FEI Chunhao). Translated by Wang Xiaonong. Confucian Academy: Chinese Thought and Culture Review, 8:4 (2021), 178-189.
8. The Search for Subjectivity: Chinese Philosophical Studies in the Last Hundred Years and Its Contemporary Orientation, Frontiers of Philosophy in China-Selected Publications from Chinese Universities 18:2 (2023), 148-174.
9. Mencius’s Philosophy as a Deepening and Development of Zisi’s Philosophy, and the Relationship of Zisi’s Philosophy with Shendu and Confucius. Translated by Zhu Yuan. Confucian Academy: Chinese Thought and Culture Review, 10:2 (2023), 36-45.
10. Recently Excavated Confucian Bamboo Manuscripts and Related Research (DING Sixin, Zhao Qiannan). Translated by Kelvin J. Turner. Asian Studies, 12:1 (2024), 115-139.
IX. Major Research Projects
1. “Study of Thought in the Excavated Bamboo and Silk Manuscripts from Chu Region”, Ministry of Education’s 21st Century Education Action Revitalization Plan (National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation Grant), Project No.: 200101.
2. “A Study of Philosophical Texts of Confucianism and Daoism in the Shanghai Museum Chu Bamboo Manuscripts”, Major Project of Key Humanities and Social Science Research Bases of Ministry of Education, Project No.: 12JJD750003.
3. “Comprehensive Study of the Four Excavated Versions of the Laozi”, Major Project of the National Social Science Fund of China, Project No.: 15ZDB006.
4. A General History of Chinese Philosophy: Qin and Han Volume中国哲学通史·秦汉卷, Funded by the National Publication Fund, 2016.
5. A Study of Philosophical Texts in the Shanghai Museum Chu Bamboo Manuscripts上博楚竹书哲学文献研究, Funded by the National Publication Fund, 2022.
6. Excavated Manuscripts and Early Daoism出土文献与早期道家, Funded by the National Publication Fund, 2022.
7. “Zhouyi and Excavated Confucian Classics: An Academic Symposium”, “Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up” Program Sponsored by the Publicity Department of Hubei Provincial Committee of the CPC, 2009.
8. “Studies of Early Chinese Philosophy in the English-speaking World”, Wuhan University Independent Research Project (Humanities and Social Sciences), Funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, 2016.
9. “The Great Meaning of Hongfan and the Way of Loyalty and Forgiveness”, Tsinghua University Independent Research Program – Humanities Special Project Fund: Post-Stage Funding for Basic Research under the Humanities Revitalization Fund (W01-Post-Stage), Project No.: 2021THZWHQ06.
