Dr. Liu Zelan received his Ph.D. in the History of Chinese Art from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He previously earned a B.A. in History from Tianjin Normal University and an M.A. in Cultural Heritage and Museology from Sun Yat-sen University.

As an art historian working at the intersections of material culture, archaeology, and museum studies, Dr. Liu’s research centers on Chinese Buddhist art, the artistic traditions of pre-modern China, and cross-cultural exchanges between pan-Asian regions and the West along the Silk Roads. His methodology combines close object-based analysis with archival and archaeological evidence, together with museum collections, to reassess issues of attribution, dating, workshop practice, and heritage value.

Dedicated to research-led teaching, Dr. Liu has previously taught as a Part-time Lecturer at both CUHK and HSU, offering courses on Chinese Buddhist art, ancient bronzes, and cultural heritage management. He also brings extensive curatorial and museum experience: he served as co-curator of Cast for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection (Art Museum, CUHK, Aug–Dec 2023), and as researcher for the digital exhibition series Traversing the Forbidden City, produced in collaboration with the Palace Museum and the Art Promotion Office, HKSAR.

His scholarship has appeared in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences, supported by a number of fellowships and awards, including the Madeleine Tang Friends Research and Education Fund Award, the S. Lee Award, the CUHK Postgraduate Scholarship, and the National Scholarship for Graduate Students (PRC).

Beyond academia, Dr. Liu maintains a wide engagement with the arts. He is a practitioner of multiple traditional Chinese musical instruments with stage experience, as well as a dedicated calligrapher and seal engraver. He is also an experienced connoisseur of Chinese artifacts, with particular expertise in bronzes, ranging from ritual vessels to ancient coinage.

• Buddhist art

• Chinese artistic traditions, art communication of silk road

• tangible cultural heritage

• museum studies

• musical heritage

• Selected Journal Articles
  

  •        Liu, Z.
  (forthcoming). Reconsidering the so-called Liu Song Buddhist images from the
  former site of Wanfosi, Chengdu. Sichuan Cultural Relics (PKU-core).
  (forthcoming). Reconsidering the so-called Liu Song Buddhist images from the
  former site of Wanfosi, Chengdu. Sichuan Cultural Relics (PKU-core).
  (forthcoming). Reconsidering the so-called Liu Song Buddhist images from the
  former site of Wanfosi, Chengdu. Sichuan Cultural Relics (PKU-core).
  (forthcoming). Reconsidering the so-called Liu Song Buddhist images from the
  former site of Wanfosi, Chengdu. Sichuan Cultural Relics (PKU-core).
  •        Liu, Z.
  (2023). Two uncertain-dated Buddhist images of Southern Liang in Baoguang
  Monastery of Xindu. Journal of Nanjing Academy of Arts (CSSCI,
  PKU-core), 168–173.
  (2023). Two uncertain-dated Buddhist images of Southern Liang in Baoguang
  Monastery of Xindu. Journal of Nanjing Academy of Arts (CSSCI,
  PKU-core), 168–173.
  (2023). Two uncertain-dated Buddhist images of Southern Liang in Baoguang
  Monastery of Xindu. Journal of Nanjing Academy of Arts (CSSCI,
  PKU-core), 168–173.
  (2023). Two uncertain-dated Buddhist images of Southern Liang in Baoguang
  Monastery of Xindu. Journal of Nanjing Academy of Arts (CSSCI,
  PKU-core), 168–173.
  •        Liu, Z.
  (2023). On the etched glass of the Eight Views of Ram City in the Qinghui
  Garden of Shunde: Version, production period, and craftsmanship. Art and
  Design Research (CSSCI, PKU-core), 20–27.
  (2023). On the etched glass of the Eight Views of Ram City in the Qinghui
  Garden of Shunde: Version, production period, and craftsmanship. Art and
  Design Research
  Design Research (CSSCI, PKU-core), 20–27.
  (2023). On the etched glass of the Eight Views of Ram City in the Qinghui
  Garden of Shunde: Version, production period, and craftsmanship. Art and
  Design Research
  Design Research
  Design Research (CSSCI, PKU-core), 20–27.
  (2023). On the etched glass of the Eight Views of Ram City in the Qinghui
  Garden of Shunde: Version, production period, and craftsmanship. Art and
  Design Research
  Design Research
  Design Research
  Design Research (CSSCI, PKU-core), 20–27.
  •        Liu, Z.
  (2023). Reconstructing the archaeological context of free-standing Buddhist
  images: Considerations of the Wanfosi hoard in Chengdu (Sichuan). Religions
  (AHCI), 14(6), 759, 1–25.
  (2023). Reconstructing the archaeological context of free-standing Buddhist
  images: Considerations of the Wanfosi hoard in Chengdu (Sichuan). Religions
  (AHCI), 14(6), 759, 1–25.
  (2023). Reconstructing the archaeological context of free-standing Buddhist
  images: Considerations of the Wanfosi hoard in Chengdu (Sichuan). Religions
  (AHCI), 14(6), 759, 1–25.
  (2023). Reconstructing the archaeological context of free-standing Buddhist
  images: Considerations of the Wanfosi hoard in Chengdu (Sichuan). Religions
  (AHCI), 14(6), 759, 1–25.
  •        Liu, Z.
  (2023). Belt hooks of the Eastern Zhou: Types and regional characteristics. In Cast
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection (pp.
  59–97). Hong Kong: CUHK Press.
  (2023). Belt hooks of the Eastern Zhou: Types and regional characteristics. In Cast
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection (pp.
  59–97). Hong Kong: CUHK Press.
  (2023). Belt hooks of the Eastern Zhou: Types and regional characteristics. In Cast
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection (pp.
  59–97). Hong Kong: CUHK Press.
  (2023). Belt hooks of the Eastern Zhou: Types and regional characteristics. In Cast
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection
  for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection (pp.
  59–97). Hong Kong: CUHK Press.
  •        Liu, Z.
  (2018). Preliminary study on the Ming funerary golden and silver coins. Chinese
  Numismatic, 20–29.
  (2018). Preliminary study on the Ming funerary golden and silver coins. Chinese
  Numismatic
  Numismatic, 20–29.
  (2018). Preliminary study on the Ming funerary golden and silver coins. Chinese
  Numismatic
  Numismatic
  Numismatic, 20–29.
  (2018). Preliminary study on the Ming funerary golden and silver coins. Chinese
  Numismatic
  Numismatic
  Numismatic
  Numismatic, 20–29.
   
  Edited Book
   
  •        (Catalogue essay, entries, and proof-reading) Cast for Dignity:
  Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection, Art Museum, CUHK
  (Hong Kong: CUHK Press, 2023).
  Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection, Art Museum, CUHK
  (Hong Kong: CUHK Press, 2023).
  Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection, Art Museum, CUHK
  (Hong Kong: CUHK Press, 2023).
  Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection, Art Museum, CUHK
  (Hong Kong: CUHK Press, 2023).

•         Co-curator, Art Museum (CUHK), “Cast for Dignity: Early Chinese Belt Hooks from the De-Neng-Tang Collection” (25 August–3 December, 2023).

•         Curator, Art Promotion Office, Leisure and Cultural Service Department, Government of HKSAR. “Life of Fusion behind the Vermilion Walls” from the “Traversing the Forbidden City” online exhibition series. 

• •         CUHK Outstanding Students Awards (2024)

  •         Madeleine Tang Friends Research and Education Fund Award, The Art Museum, CUHK (2024)

  •         S. Lee Award, CUHK (2023)

  •         Ph.D. Support Scheme, Faculty of Arts, CUHK (2023)

  •         Mr. Lam On Hang Memorial Scholarship, CUHK (2022)

  •         Friends of the Art Museum Research Grant, The Art Museum, CUHK (2022)

  •         Postgraduate Studentship, CUHK (2019–2022)

  •         National Scholarship for Graduate Students, Ministry of Education of the PRC (2018)

Undergraduate:
BA in Art and Design (BA-AD)

• AD2001 Studio II: Objects, Products and Machines
• AD2003 Technology II: Digital
• AD3001 Studio III: Interior, Architecture and Urban Design
• AD4001 Studio IV: Thesis