Elif Yildirim

I have always been interested in understanding the role of cultural practices in shaping one’s personhood and emotional experiences. Studying anthropology provided me the tools to ponder critically on these issues through reading ethnographies of different cultural practices and engaging with anthropological theories. I became immensely interested in the region of China and Chinese language because learning its distinct history, societal organization, language system and philosophical traditions made me question some concepts that I took for granted until then. During my master’s program, I had the opportunity to delve into these issues more by studying the unique epistemological paradigm of Chinese philosophy which subverts the common perceptions and dualistic assumptions of human nature.

 

My current research interest is applying my prior anthropological questions on personhood and emotions to the interpretation of Chinese philosophical traditions in the pre-Qin period (221 BC). How do Daoist and Ruist traditions perceive personhood and one’s place in the society? What do they think about the role of ritual in shaping and channeling emotional experience? I believe that their philosophical discussions are highly relevant to contemporary studies on personhood and emotions. Asian Languages and Cultures department at University of Michigan offers me a great opportunity to pursue my research interest from an interdisciplinary perspective with its strong faculty members in Chinese philosophy, religion, history, and literature.