Department of Asian Languages and Literature

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. 

Come curious. Leave inspired. The UW offers an exciting lineup of in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University. Sign up to receive a monthly notice when the ArtSci Roundup has been published. ArtSci On Your Own Time or From Your Own Home Video | Katz Distinguished Lectures Playlist (Simpson Center for the Humanities) From Mourning across...

Recent books from University of Washington faculty and staff include those from legal studies at UW Tacoma, international studies, political science, history and Asian languages and literature.

The benefits of learning more languages go far beyond the positive classroom experience; there are substantial advantages in your career and personal life. Previous scholarship has demonstrated that bilingual job candidates have up to a 35% increase in job opportunities.

Even as foreign textbooks are banned and news broadcasts portray Western societies as gun-toting hellscapes, Chinese universities are hiring Greco-Roman classicists. The reason for the classics fervor varies depending on whom you ask, but most scholars agree that Chinese officials tend to see the Western classics as a complement to their politics. Christopher Waldo, assistant professor of classics at the UW, is quoted.

Malay and Indian households are increasingly embracing the festivities, tossing "yusheng" and giving hongbao to show "unity in diversity." Nazry Bahrawi, assistant professor of Asian languages and literature, is quoted.

While February might be just 28 days, the UW College of Arts & Sciences offers an exciting lineup of more than 40 in-person and online events. From thought-provoking art and music to conversations on culture, history, and science, the UW community invites you to explore, learn, and connect across disciplines throughout the University.

Sixty years after one of the 20th centurys worst atrocities, three scholars gathered at the UW to confront a question that is still connected to Indonesia: What does it mean to commemorate a genocide? Nazry Bahrawi, assistant professor of Asian languages & literature at the UW, is quoted.

In the College of Arts & Sciences, we are proud to celebrate our first-generation community through a collection of stories! We honor our faculty and staff, and their many contributions to our university community and beyond.

Welcome to our second Halloween installment, where we ask movie buffs Champ Ensminger and Ungsan Kim what movies they recommend if you like a scary fix for the holiday. Kim, assistant professor of Asian cinema at the UW, is interviewed.

Are Asian horror films scarier than their American counterparts? What makes them so chilling? And which ones should you check out this year and every year? Ungsan Kim, assistant professor of Asian cinema at the UW, is quoted.

Several Asian countries adapted the Chinese writing system—the oldest writing system still in use—for their own languages. In a new book, Professor Zev Handel shares how that happened.

A new book by Ping Wang, University of Washington professor of Asian languages and literature, is bringing fresh attention to one of the most influential poets in Chinese literary history, Xie Lingyun.

New faculty books from the University of Washington include those from Asian languages and literature, applied mathematics and the Jackson School of International Studies.

Meet the four graduating students selected by the College of Arts & Sciences as 2025 Graduate Medalists for their accomplishments.