NTU Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences

The IHS Research Platform on Inter-Asian Mobilities and Affective Practices examines cross-border movement within Asia and the emotional lives it sets in motion. Cross-border marriage, lifestyle migration, the recent waves of emigration from Hong Kong, and the diasporic experiences recorded in literature all unfold across the region's multiple geopolitical, institutional, and cultural boundaries rather than within any single national frame. Taking "inter-Asia" rather than the nation as our scale of analysis opens a wider space for comparison and dialogue."Affective practices" names the deeper common ground of our research. The lyrical tradition and diasporic writing in literature are affective practices; so are the emotional scripts through which families negotiate gender roles on the move and decide whether to leave or stay; so is the pursuit of intimacy and quality of life that drives cross-border marriage and lifestyle migration. Across texts, families, and everyday life, we ask the same question: how do people find a place for their emotions in movement, and how do emotions in turn drive movement? Drawing on Chinese literature, sociology, and human geography, the platform fosters comparative, inter-Asian dialogue through workshops, collaborative research, and international partnerships.

Crossings: Postwar Taiwan and Cross-Strait Cultural Interflow takes postwar Taiwan as its focal point, exploring cultural formation and transregional connections through the historical experience of sea crossings and the broader perspective of “crossings.” As an island, Taiwan has long been shaped by the movement of people, texts, knowledge, and cultures across the sea. In particular, the political transitions and large-scale migrations around 1945 and 1949 profoundly reshaped its social and cultural landscape. Such crossings, however, were never simply one-way transfers, but dynamic processes of encounter, negotiation, translation, and transformation across regions, generations, languages, and cultures.
The platform approaches sea crossing not only as a historical phenomenon but also as a critical framework. “Crossings” further encompasses the movement of people across seas and borders, as well as the translation and regeneration of texts, languages, memories, knowledge, and cultural identities. Bringing together scholars in literature, history, thought, art, film, translation, and religion, the platform seeks to move beyond conventional national, regional, and disciplinary boundaries, situating Taiwan within the cultural networks of East Asia and the wider world. From Taiwan’s experience, it aims to open new perspectives on postwar cultural and knowledge formation.

IHS Research Platform on Cultural Exchange in East Asia promotes research on intellectual and cultural interactions across East Asia. Building upon the academic legacy of the former "Center for the Study of East Asian Civilizations," and the interdisciplinary experience of the previous "Platform for Japan and Korea Studies," this platform creates a space for scholarly exchange.
Grounded in East Asia's shared cultural heritage—such as Chinese characters and the traditions of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism—the platform regularly hosts international academic conferences, lectures, workshops, and collaborative projects to explore the exchange and transformation of East Asian cultures. Cultivating the next generation of researchers is another core objective. Through scholarly resources and international exchange mechanisms, we provide the younger generation with a global perspective, driving the further development of East Asian humanities research.