Skip to main content

Chih Hui Tsai

Biographical Details
I went to elementary, junior and senior high school in Tainan City, which is located in the southern part of Taiwan. Afterwards, I went to National Chung Hsing University in Taichung to study in the Department of History. At that time, I was interested in Western History, especially in European Intellectual History. After I got my BA, I went to Fu-Jen Catholic University in Taipei to study for an MA degree. After graduating, I got a job teaching Modern Chinese History in Chung-Hwa Medical Technology University in Tainan County. After several year of teaching, I decided to go to the United States to study for another MA in teaching English as a Second Language. When I returned I taught both English and Modern Chinese History. I came to Belfast in July 2007 and enrolled in the school of History and Anthropology for a PhD in February 2008.

Research Topic and Interests
My research topic is the relationship between Sir Robert Hart and the late Ch’ing bureaucrats, especially Prince Kung and Wen Hsiang. I am very curious about how a foreigner could be so successful in Modern Chinese History. Was it because of his extraordinary personality, his British citizenship or his Chinese official position? Did he create history or merely participate in it? Did his contributions precipitate the modernization of the Ch’ing dynasty or prevent the modernization of China? Since Sir Robert Hart stayed in China for 54 years (1854- 1908), this period almost covered the most era of Modern Chinese History, I would like to investigate what role he played in this important period. If possible, I would like to see it be filmed when I finish my dissertation.

Supervisors
First Supervisor:  Professor Keith Jeffery
Second Supervisor: Doctor Emma Reisz

Contact Details
My e-mail address: ctsai04@qub.ac.uk