Phillip Grimberg

I am a cultural historian interested in the interplay of material culture, collecting, and elite cultures as well as antiquarianism and early practices of archaeology in Late Imperial (11th-19th century) China. My current research focusses on the private art collections of the Qing-Emperor Yongzheng (1723-1735) and their use as tools for cultural and political propaganda. In addition, I work on the role of cultural heritage and cultural diplomacy in modern and contemporary China as well as on the influence of climate change on heritage protection and policymaking.

Currently, I am the Principal Investigator of the research project “Guwantu – Die ‘Illustrationen antiker Kuriosa’ des Yongzheng-Kaisers (1723-1735). Ein Beispiel höfischer Sammlungspraxis und -dokumentation in der Qing-Zeit“ at the University of Heidelberg as well as Associate Professor of Chinese Studies at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg. 

The intellectual freedoms and possibilities for personal and professional growth count among the biggest benefits afforded by a membership in AGYA. 

AGYA’s inherent interdisciplinarity and collaborative structure allow me to interact with scholars from diverse backgrounds on an equal footing and to think outside of the box. 

Academic career