Overview
- Urs Matthias Zachmann
- Handa Chair in Japanese-Chinese Relations
- Asian StudiesThe University of Edinburgh
- 8, Buccleuch Place
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9LW
- Office hours: Tuesday 11am-1pm or by appointment
- Work: +44 (0)131 650 4225
- Fax: +44 (0)131 651 1258
- Email:
- U.Zachmann@ed.ac.uk
Biography
Urs Matthias Zachmann received his MA (2000) and PhD (2006) in Japanese Studies from the University of Heidelberg. In 2010, he completed his Habilitation in Japanese Studies at the University of Munich. For his theses, he conducted extensive research at Waseda University, Harvard University, the University of Tokyo and Seikei University. He is also qualified as an advocate in Germany (first and second legal state exam, 1998 and 2002).
In 2006, Zachmann became Assistant Professor at the Japan Center of Munich University, followed by an appointment in October 2010 as Acting Full Professor at the Institute of Japanese Studies of Heidelberg University. He assumed his position as Handa Chair in Japanese-Chinese Relations in October 2011.
Roles
- Head of Asian Studies
- LLC Research Committee representative (Research Officer) for Asian Studies
- Programme Director for the MSc in Japanese Society and Culture
- Programme Director for the MSc in East Asian Relations
Teaching
I currently teach the following half-year courses at Edinburgh University:
- Politics and the Economy of Japan (ASST08041)
- Japanese-Chinese Relations: History and Contemporary Issues (ASST10120)
- The Development of Social and Political Thought in Modern Japan (ASST10119)
- The Rule of Law and Human Rights in East Asia (ASST11085)
Research
Prof Zachmann's fields of specialisation are the history of Northeast Asia's international and transcultural relations, with a special focus on Japanese-Chinese relations, the history of political ideas and the history of law in this region.
He has published an award-winning monograph on Sino-Japanese relations in the late Meiji/Qing period (Routledge, 2009, paperback 2011). His second book on the development of international legal discourse in 20th century Japan is forthcoming this year.
He is currently working on a book entitled "Paradigms of Power: Concepts of Region, Space and Sovereignty in Northeast Asia, 1922-1960" which seeks to illuminate the processes of adoption, adaptation and transmission of political thought between Japan, China, Korea and the Soviet Union.
Areas of Research Supervision
I am interested in proposals both in the subject areas of Japanese Studies and Chinese Studies especially in the fields of my specialisation, i.e. the history of Northeast Asia's international and transcultural relations, the history of political ideas, intellectual history and the history of law in this region.
Proposals for joint supervision on comparative or interdisciplinary topics are also welcome.
If you are interested in pursuing research in any of these areas, please read our information on research degrees in Japanese Studies at Edinburgh University before submitting an application.
This article was published on Apr 23, 2013