Professor ZHANG Yi has been teaching in the school of humanities of SJTU since 2006, when he gained his Ph.D. in history from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His central research area is the social history of China from the Ming to Qing dynasties, and he has an intense interest in cultural history and historiography. He has published a book about the local history of Huizhou prefecture in Eastern China, focusing on the dissemination of Neo-Confucianism and the making of social order from the twelfth to the fifteenth century. His recent project is to explore micro-history by using local archives. 

Neo-Confucianism, Gentry, and Lineage: The Culture and Society in Huizhou from Song to Ming Times, Enlarged edition. Hangzhou: Zhejiang University Press, 2017; First edition. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press, 2013.

 Journal Papers (peer-reviewed)

1. “Development and Transformation of Huizhou Tea Merchants in Late Qing Times：A Study Based on Donation Records of Sigong Hall Published in Shanghai,” Journal of Anhui University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) [CSSCI], Vol. 48, No. 6 (2024), pp.1-9. [first author]

2. “Early Origin and Development of Huizhou Genealogies in the Ming Dynasty: A Study Based on Chongxiu Wangshi Jiacheng of Wuyuan County Published in the Zhengde Reign,” Historical Research in Anhui [CSSCI], No. 6 (2024), pp. 112–119.

3. “Microhistory of An Immigrant Community in Late Imperial China: A Study Based on Local Archives in Southern Zhejiang Province,” Cahiers d’Extrême-Asie, Vol.31 (August 2023), pp.93-128.

4. “Seasonal and Transregional Operation of Domestic Tea Merchants in the Late Qing Dynasty: A Study Based on Account Books of Taichangfa Firm,” Historical Review [CSSCI], No. 1 (2022), pp. 91–102. [first author]

5. “Serving in the Imperial Court or Returning to the Countryside: Political Choice of Confucian Wang Rui in the Yuan-Ming Transition Period,” Historical Research in Anhui [CSSCI], No. 6 (2021), pp. 100–107.

6. “Confucian Mentalities in A Commercial Village in Mid-Qing Times: A Study Based on Rural Archives of Panxi Village in Huizhou Prefecture,” Huixue, Vol. 13 (2020), pp. 90–119. [second author]

7. “Regulations and Traditions: Transformation of King Wang Temple on Fushan Mountain in the Yuan Dynasty,” Journal of Anhui University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) [CSSCI], Vol. 42, No. 6 (2018), pp.1–8.

8. “Hometowns Afar: Migrants’ Local Identities in the Upper Valley of Ou River in Qing Times,” Journal of Social Science [CSSCI], No. 12 (2017), pp. 156–165.

9. “Local and Subsequent National Worship of King Wang in the Huizhou Area during the Song and Yuan Dynasties,” Journal of Anhui University (Philosophy and Social Sciences) [CSSCI], Vol. 41, No.5 (2017), pp.1–10.

10. “Disruption and Continuation: The Official Families in Huizhou Circuit in the Yuan Dynasty,” Chinese Social History Review, Vol. 17–1 (2016), pp.36–47.

11. “A Philological Study of Xin’an Zhonglie Miaoshen Jishi: One of the Earliest Local Histories of Huizhou Prefecture in Imperial China,” Historical Research in Anhui [CSSCI], No.6 (2016), pp.126–131, 164. 

12. “From the Territory of Han People to the Township of She Minorities: A History of Banqiao Village in Southern Zhejiang Province from the Ming to Qing Dynasties,” Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Philosophy and Social Science) [CSSCI], Vol.24, No.2 (2016), pp.96–105. [first author]

13. “Daoism, Buddhism, and Neo-Confucianism: Transformation of Local Culture in Huizhou Prefecture from Song to Yuan Times,” Journal of Anhui Normal University (Philosophy and Social Science), Vol.43, No.5 (2015), pp. 631–638. 

14. “A Study of a Rare Genealogy Wangshi yuan-yuan lu in the Yuan Dynasty,” Journal of Chinese Studies [THCI], Vol. 61 (2015), pp.157–170.

15. “Military Families of Huizhou Circuit in the Yuan Dynasty,” Historical Research in Anhui [CSSCI], No. 3 (2015), pp.129–134.

16. “Marketizing Limited: A Study of Wugu (the five kinds of cereal) Society in Southern Zhejiang Province in Early Modern China,” Journal of Social Science [CSSCI], No. 9 (2013), pp.138–148. [first author]

17. “Pursuit of Communality: Land Contracts and Local Societies in Shicang Villages in Southern Zhejiang Province in the Qing Dynasty,” Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Philosophy and Social Science) [CSSCI], Vol. 19, No. 6 (2011), pp.77–85. [first author]

18. “Worshiping Buddha and Borrowing Money: A Study of Local Community for Worshiping the Dipankara Buddha in Southern Zhejiang Province in the Qing Dynasty,” Historical Review [CSSCI], No. 6 (2011), pp.66–77.

19. “Confucians’ Political Choices in the Yuan-Ming Transition Period: The Comparative Study of Zhao Pang, Zhu Sheng and Tang Guifang,” Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 51 (2010), pp.51–66.

20. “Nationalization and Localization: Temples and Migrants in Southern Zhejiang Province in the Qing Dynasty,” Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Philosophy and Social Science) [CSSCI], Vol. 17, No. 3 (2009), pp.80-88.

21. “The Worship of Cheng Lingxi in Huizhou from the Song to Ming Dynasties,” Historical Research in Anhui [CSSCI], No. 4 (2009), pp.109-115.

22. “A Philological Study of Chapter 18 of the ‘Ziyi’ (The Black Clothes) Section of Liji (The book of rites),” Chinese Cultural Quarterly, Vol. 6, No. 3 (2008), pp. 218-232.

23. “Socialization of Neo-Confucianism and Development of the Idea of Lineage in Huizhou in the Yuan Dynasty,” Chinese Social History Review, Vol. 9 (2008), pp. 103-123.

24. “The Confucian Transformation of Local Cults in Huizhou Prefecture in the Yuan-Ming Transition Period: A Case Study of Zhiben Hall,” Journal of Chinese Studies, Vol. 47 (2007), pp.51-71.

25. “Migration and Nationalization: Xin’an Mingzu Zhi and the Interpretation of Genealogies in the Ming Dynasty,” in Tian Shu, etc. eds., The Collected Papers of the 11th International Conference on Ming Studies, Tianjin: Tianjin Classics Publishing, 2008, pp.519-530.

26. “Ming Genealogical Records and Social History,” Chinese Cultural Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 4 (2006), pp.224-249.

27. “Miscellaneous Research Notes of Liji (The book of rites),” Wen Shi [Literature and History], Vol. 2 (2002), Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company, 2002, pp. 265-268.

Essays & Reviews

1. “New Sources and Methods of Historical Research,” Xuezhe Bitan [Collection of Essays about Scholars’ Research Experiences in SJTU], Vol. 15, Shanghai: Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press, 2013, pp. 17-24.

2. “Philip Kuhn, Soulstealers: The Chinese Sorcery Scare of 1768,” Readings, Vol. 5 (2001), pp.101-103.

3. “Robert Bellah, Tokugawa Religion: The Cultural Roots of Modern Japan,” China Scholarship, Vol.2, No.3 (2001), Beijing: The Commercial Press, pp.277-280.

4. “Philip Huang, Civil Justice in China: Representation and Practice in the Qing,” Readings, Vol. 10 (2000), pp.132-134.

2017 Distinguished Teaching Awards of Shanghai Jiao Tong University 

2011 CUHK Young Scholars Dissertation Awards 2006 

2009 Distinguished Teaching Awards of Shanghai Jiao Tong University

2006 Shanghai Book Awards (as editor)

1. “Study of Newly Collected Huizhou Archives of Tea Merchants, 1608-1919,” Granted by the National Social Science Fund of China (2023-2026). [Proceeding]

2. “Study of Huizhou Society and Institutional Transformation in Imperial China from Song to Ming Times,” Granted by Humanities and Social Sciences Research Foundation of the Ministry of Education of PRC (2018-2021). [Completed]

3. “Study of New Collection of Huizhou Archives and Commercial Lineages in Ming-Qing Times,” Granted by Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (2014-2017). [Completed]

4.  “Mentalities and Organizations of Sojourners’ Society in the Qing Dynasty: A Study Based on Local Archives Discovered in Shicang Area in Southern Zhejiang Province,” Granted by Humanities and Social Sciences Research Foundation of the Ministry of Education of PRC (2009-2014). [Completed]

5. “Mentalities and Organizations of Sojourners’ Society in the Qing Dynasty: A Study Based on Local Archives Discovered in Shicang Area in Southern Zhejiang Province,” Granted by Shanghai Pujiang Program (2008-2013).[Completed]