BA, University of Virginia; MA University of Chicago; PhD, University of Wisconsin at Madison

MB 217, x1498

Dr. Davidson's primary research interest is in the intellectual history of China's Han Dynasty (202 BC-220AD), especially the development of imperial Confucianism, including the relation between pre-Qin cosmology and classical Confucian moral and political ideas. He has been examining the relation between these philosophical notions and the textual traditions of different Confucian interpretive communities, the recruitment of some members of the imperial officialdom on the basis of their mastery of elements of the Confucian curriculum, and these officials' promotion of certain state policies based on their Confucian understanding.

Dr. Davidson's publications include "The Ch'un-ch'u fan-lu" (with Michael Lowe) in Early Chinese Texts: A Bibliographical Guide (1993); "Han Calendrical Traditions in Tung Chung-shu's Thought" presented at the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for Asian Studies (1987); "Benjamin Schwartz's Treatment of Chinese Correlative Anthropocosmology and Transcultural Discourse" presented at the Annual Meetingof the Association for Asian Studies (1987); "Cosmic Patterns, Historical Precedent, and Political Legitimacy in Early Han Confucianism" presented at the Intellectual History Workship at the University of Wisconsin (1983); and "Calendars, Cosmology, and Early Imperial Confucianism," presented at the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Michigan (1982). Currently Dr. Davidson is working on a manuscript entitled "The Authority of Order: Tung Chung-shu and Early Imperial Confucianism. Dr. Davidson has received numerous awards including a Fullbright Fellowship, a Cullen Faculty Development Grant, a Brown Fellowship, two Ford Fellowships, and a Oesau Fellowship. In addition to his academic work, Dr. Davidson has served on numerous university committees including the International Studies Committee, and the Faculty Affairs Council. Dr. Davidson is currently chair of the International Studies Program.

World Civilizations I and II, Historiography, Ancient China, Imperial China, Twentieth Century Chinese History, Japanese Civilization, Modern Japanese History, Research Seminar: Utopias

davidsos@southwestern.edu

CONTACT:
Department of History
Daniel Castro, Jr., Chair
Southwestern University
P.O. Box 770
Georgetown, TX 78627