# The third presentation of CBDB Visiting Scholars (2023-2024) Starting this year, visiting scholars of the China Biographical Database Project give three presentations during their one-year period. The first presentation focuses on how they extract data. The second presentation covers 30% data mining work and 70% their research and research plans. The third presentation is entirely about their research. This is the third presentations of our 2023-2024 visiting scholars. The first half happened on October 24th, the presentations are: The Bridge of Policy: The Appointment of Local Fiscal Officials in the Southern Song Dynasty FAN, Yingyuan Studying local fiscal officials can outline the trends in fiscal policy changes. This research primarily utilizes existing data from the China Biographical Database as well as data from the Song Huiyao Jigao宋會要輯稿 that has not yet been included in the database. It will statistically analyze the number, frequency, and geographical distribution of the appointments of local fiscal officials in the Southern Song Dynasty, providing a basis for the periodization of fiscal policy studies. Additionally, it will group and examine the backgrounds of these officials to evaluate the association between the appointment of fiscal officials and adjustments in policy and military conditions during the Southern Song Dynasty. ![Fan Yingyaun](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-03/Fan%20Yingyuan.jpg) Research on the Construction of the Chinese Traditional Patterns Ontology LI, Shaojian Chinese traditional patterns are a representation of the rich traditional culture of China, with significant historical, cultural, and artistic value. Traditional scholars in the humanities primarily focus on the historical evolution, symbolic meaning, techniques, craftsmanship, cross-cultural exchanges and influences, as well as modern applications and innovations of Chinese traditional patterns. However, in the context of digital humanities, the research perspective of scholars has gradually shifted towards data-driven studies, with linked data becoming a trending topic. A well-defined, standardized ontology that represents comprehensive domain knowledge is crucial for connecting data on Chinese traditional patterns. Unfortunately, most existing ontologies are either unable to represent the fine-grained knowledge related to Chinese traditional patterns or are too rigid to capture partial knowledge of these patterns. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to propose a fine-grained ontology for Chinese traditional patterns to represent this knowledge, which can also serve as a valuable resource for a bilingual terminology dictionary. ![Li Shaojian](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-02/li_shaojian.jpg) Similarities and Differences in Candidates' Backgrounds and Response Strategies After the Imperial Examination Reforms During the Guangxu Reign YUAN,Jinshan In the late Guangxu Reign, reforms to the imperial examination system moved beyond the traditional evaluation of the "eight-legged essay." The new system placed particular emphasis on topics such as military logistics, finance, water conservancy, agriculture, commerce, and global governance, resembling the policy discussion section of today’s civil service exams. These reforms were one of the most progressive and remarkable developments in the late Qing dynasty's examination system. By analyzing data from the “Qing Zhujuan” , including candidates' regional, social, and academic backgrounds, we can observe the connections between the exam topics and the examination context. ![Yuan Jinshan](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-02/yuan_jinshan.jpg) The second half happened on November 27th. The presentations are: Soil, Branches, and Fruits: Experiments in Prosopography of Women in the Ming and Qing Dynasties HAO, Yajie This study focuses on a series of prosopographical experiments on the data of all female characters from the Ming and Qing dynasties in the CBDB. It examines the distinctions in the social spaces available for women's interactions across these two periods, analyzing these differences in the context of social norms imposed on women and themes surrounding women's expressions. ![Hao Yajie](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-02/hao_yajie.jpg) Fluid Spaces: A Study on the Cultural Influence of Song, Liao, and Jin Envoys HE, Xi This study primarily focuses on data related to envoys between the Song, Liao, and Jin dynasties as documented in the CBDB database. First, it visually presents and analyzes the interactions of all envoys among these three dynasties. Secondly, it explores the influence of these envoys on areas such as education, literature, and political decision-making. ![He Xi](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-02/he_xi.jpg) A Study on the Interactions Between Ming Dynasty Officials' Positions and Regional Relations: An Analysis Based on "Biography of Eminent Persons from the Ming Dynasty Divided by Province LIU, Lingsong The Ming Dynasty marked the maturation of the imperial Chinese bureaucratic system. The origins of officials, the distribution of official positions, and their occupational mobility reflected the political ecology of the time and characterized the social structure and regional culture. By analyzing detailed data on more than 5,000 officials from the 'Biography of Eminent Persons from the Ming Dynasty Divided by Province,' it is possible to explore in depth the influence of regional factors on officials' career paths, as well as the patterns of their career development. This analysis is of great significance in enriching the study of the political and social history of the Ming Dynasty. ![Liu Lingsong](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-02/liu_lingsong.jpg) An Exploration of the Gong'an School's Discourse on "Chu Culture" and Its Reformative Significance ZHAO, Ling This study explores the Gong'an School's social interactions to uncover the relationship between their locations and personal experiences, thereby examining their theory of "Chu Culture" and its reformative significance. Using social network and geographic information analysis, the research focuses on interactions involving the Three Yuan Brothers, particularly between scholars from the Wu and Chu regions, to reveal regional cultural exchange patterns. By categorizing individuals based on geographic data, the study evaluates the impact of these factors on literary interactions. The findings show that the Yuan Brothers mainly engaged with people from southern regions, especially Chu, linked to their Chu heritage. This indicates the Gong'an School leveraged Chu Culture to establish their literary identity, emphasizing authenticity and unrestrained expression to transcend imitation. The reformative role of "Chu Culture" was a reaction against formalism dominating the literary scene, becoming a banner for late Ming literati. This movement propagated "Chu Culture" as a symbol of literary innovation, profoundly affecting late Ming creative thought and leading to its evolution into a lasting literary style and philosophical pursuit. ![Zhao Ling](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-02/zhao_ling.jpg) Professor Peter Bol, Dr. Kwok-Leong Tang, and Ph.D. candidate Liyuan Yan participated in the discussion during the presentation. ![Peter Bol](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-02/peter_bol_202411.jpg) ![Kwok Leong Tang](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-02/kwok-leong_tang_202411.jpg) ![Yan Liyuan](/sites/g/files/omnuum3101/files/2026-03/Yan%20Liyuan.JPG)