Xiaoyu Zhang

Please tell us about your research project.

The debates surrounding vegetarianism and the prohibition of killing animals have persisted in China for over two millennia, with opponents constantly shifting. In Republican China (1912-1949), the adoption of Western vegetarianism—a movement that emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century in Britain and France—introduced new scientific perspectives into these discussions on appropriate diets. In the pursuit of building a modern nation, the elites intended to detach religious connotations from vegetarianism, as part of broader modernization efforts. Nevertheless, ritual fasting practices—particularly the periodic type associated with specific deities—remained vibrantly active. Individuals voluntarily observed the fasting periods dedicated to specific gods, aimed to establish intimate divine connections and seek personal and national salvation. 

My research explores how spiritual dimensions of individual dietary ethics in China evolved during the first half of twentieth century, amid the global vegetarianism trend. On the one hand, it reveals how ordinary people perceived divine presence and communicated with it amid expanding secularization. On the other hand, by mapping the social networks that linked key political figures and religious actors, it uncovers how moralized dietary practices were reshaped and how modern notions of morality circulated and were reinterpreted across national borders.

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?

I am a third-year PhD student in Religions and Thought Systems, at the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE-PSL) in Paris, supervised by Professor Vincent Goossaert. Thanks to the exchange program between EPHE and the Maison Française d’Oxford, I am staying at the MFO from January to mars 2026. During this period, I intend to make full use of the extensive resources available in the University of Oxford’s libraries and take an active part in interdisciplinary exchanges through the workshops and lectures.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?

It is my first visit to Oxford, and I am truly captivated by its magnificent historical architecture and lively atmosphere. The city possesses a distinctly British charm while standing as a world-leading center of academic excellence. The University’s libraries and archives provide an extraordinary wealth of resources. Oxford is genuinely an ideal environment for research, inspiration, and intellectual exchange. In addition, my stay at the Maison Française has been exceptional. The staff are consistently warm, friendly, and supportive; the facilities and surroundings are wonderfully comfortable; and the scholarly community is both stimulating and welcoming.