In the seventeenth century, Japanese popular prose flourished as waves of newly literate readers gained access to the printed word. Commercial publishers released vast numbers of titles in response to readers’ hunger for books that promised them potent knowledge.
News
03 November 2026
Prof Christine van Ruymbeke appointed Francesco De Dombrowski Visiting Professor at I Tatti, The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies (Nov-Dec 2025)
07 November 2025
Dr Amira K. Bennison has won the Al-Masāq: Journal of the Medieval Mediterranean Prize for the best article published in the journal in 2023 and 2024 for her article, ‘Sainthood and Social Boundary Crossing in medieval North Africa’, Al-Masāq 36:2 (2024): 176-93.
05 November 2025
On October 16, Dr Noga Ganany gave a lecture in the University of Oxford's China Studies Seminar Series on her recent project on a Ming-dynasty illustrated hagiography of the Buddha and its impact on Chinese book culture.
04 November 2025
Dr Paul Anderson was interviewed on his research on China-Middle East trade networks by Dr Safa Joudeh at the University of Exeter. A podcast of the full interview is available.
03 November 2025
The Documentary is available as a podcast as part of the BBC's 'Heart and Soul' series.
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