Chinese language and culture at Stockholm University

Photo: Mostphotos

Chinese Studies at Stockholm University was established when Göran Malmqvist became “Professor of Sinology, and in particular of modern Chinese” in 1965. Previously, Professor Bernhard Karlgren, Director of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities, had taught Chinese since the 1940s.

Under the direction of Göran Malmqvist as Professor for 25 years the teaching and research of Chinese expanded greatly. The teaching, which in Professor Karlgren’s time had mainly dealt with the classical written Chinese language, now focused primarily on modern Chinese; the research, too, dealt more and more with themes connected with modern Chinese culture. During the quarter of a century that Professor Malmqvist was Head of the Department, 13 students presented their doctoral theses in Sinology.

When Göran Malmqvist retired, the Department’s new Chair was renamed “The Language and Culture of China” and its first Professor was Torbjörn Lodén, who took up his post in 1990. During the 1990s and in the first decade of the 21st century the Department continued to expand and 15 students took their doctorates in Sinology. Marja Kaikkonen and Irmy Schweiger were both appointed professors in Sinology in 2016.

In October 2020, Monika Gänssbauer was promoted to Professor in Chinese language and culture at Stockholm University. As of August 2020 Monika Gänssbauer is also Head of the Department of Asian, Middle Eastern and Turkish Studies.

Chinese Studies today

Chinese Studies at Stockholm University has three branches: first, second and third cycle courses. Researcher education and Research. The Foundation courses aim to teach the students to speak, understand read and write modern Chinese and to acquire a basic and outline understanding of Chinese culture in historical and modern times. Researcher education aims to train researchers in the study of Chinese language and culture.

At present our research is focused on sinophone literature, translation studies, memory culture and religious studies.

Present staff

The staff of the Chinese Language and Culture section today consists of two Professors in Chinese Language and Cultures Monika Gänssbauer and Irmy Schweiger, one Senior lecturer Jens Karlsson, two language teachers Hailin Wang and Ingela Jin and one PhD candidate Kim Jarle Wroldsen.