Nataly Shahaf

Modern Chinese History; Buddhist Studies; Visual and Material Culture; Cultural and Intellectual History; History of Science and Technology; Modern Japanese History

Nataly Shahaf is a historian specializing in modern China, with a particular emphasis on the intricate interplay between religion and science within the context of modern Chinese cultural and intellectual history. Her current manuscript project, titled "Multiple Exposures: Ghosts, Buddhism, and Visual Heritage in Early Twentieth-Century China," investigates the innovative utilization of mass-media forms and technologies in early 20th-century China to preserve, reproduce, and disseminate Chinese heritage, offering a unique perspective on this transformative period. It focuses on art and Buddhist publishers, highlights the significance of visual media in shaping political and social attitudes, and emphasizes the importance of authentic preservation in establishing a common Chinese culture during the early twentieth century. Her study also explores the lives of lay Buddhists, providing insights into their experiences and perspectives, including their dreams, personal conversations and arguments, and engagements with gods, ghosts, and spirits. In particular, it demonstrates what it meant to be lay Buddhist in early 20th-century China and goes well beyond doctrine and monasteries to investigate this question.

In 2023, Nataly Shahaf completed her PhD at Columbia University's Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. Her research has been supported by major grants and awards, including the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation in Buddhist Studies, the Dan David Prize, the Henry Luce ACLS Program in China Studies, as well as the Institute for Religion, Culture, and Public Life and the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University.