I am a PhD candidate at Leiden University supported by a CSC scholarship, working on an individual research project in Buddhist art history. My work explores the sensory history of Buddhist art with particular attention to affect theory, visual and narrative rhetorics, and the localisation of iconography. I study how medieval Buddhist art is represented in contemporary museums, how Asian religious heritage has been framed through Orientalist perspectives, and how indigenous visual traditions (especially from the Ba–Shu region), can challenge epistemological and symbolic fragmentations in the field. My broader research interests include religious heritage studies, comparative museology, and critical heritage studies.

More information about Xinyu Dong

Fields of interest

Buddhist Art History; Sensory History; Affect Theory; Visual Rhetorics; Narrative Rhetorics; Religious Heritage Studies; Critical Heritage Studies; Comparative Museology.

Research

My work engages with Buddhist art history, with particular attention to visual and narrative rhetorics, the localisation of iconography, contemporary and modern museum representations of medieval Buddhist art, Asian religious heritage under Orientalist frameworks, and the representation of folk culture within Buddhist visual traditions.

Grants and awards

China Scholarship Council Doctoral Fellowship (2025–2029).
University of Groningen CRASIS Research Institute – Individual Event Organisation Fund (2025).
University of Groningen Diversity Office Grassroots Initiative Grant (2024).
University of Amsterdam Honours Association Board Grant (2022).
CCTV English Oral Speaking Competition – 1st Place (Chongqing District) and National Finalist, Beijing (2018).

Curriculum vitae

Education
Leiden University – PhD Candidate, Area Studies (2025–2029), CSC Doctoral Fellowship.
University of Groningen – Research Master in Art and Culture (2023–2025).
University of Groningen – Master’s in Philosophy (2023–2024).
University of Amsterdam – BA (Hons) in Literary and Cultural Analysis (2019–2022).

Research and Academic Experience
Secretary, CRASIS, University of Groningen (2024–2025) – Organized seminars and annual conference; managed financial administration, communication, and outreach.
Research Assistant, Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture (2022–2023).
Undergraduate Research Assistant, University of Amsterdam (2021–2022) – Assisted Prof. Dr. C.-M. Lerm-Hayes on publications and editorial projects.
Research Assistant, Chongqing University (2020–2021) – Government-funded project on translation and Eurocentrism.
Intern, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute (2020–2021) – Editorial assistant for contemporary art magazine.
Academic Involvement and Leadership
Board Member, Extensus Honours Association, UvA (2020–2022).
International Student Ambassador, UvA (2020–2021).
Public Relations Officer, Extensus Honours Association (2022–2023).

Selected publications

Mager, Tino; Dong, Xinyu (Maya). “Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Meaning: Charles Jencks’ Critique of Postmodern Semiotics.” Groninger Museum Magazine 9(3): 39–49, March 2025. (First Author: Tino Mager).
Zhang, Xiaoying; Dong, Xinyu (Maya). “Diversity and Inclusion — The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.” Contemporary Artists 2021(2): 82–85, February 2021. (Second Author: Xinyu Dong).