Li, Shoukui, Professor(Tenured), Ph.D. Supervisor, Department of Chinese Language and Literature, School of Humanities, Tsinghua University, and a professor at the Tsinghua Center for Study and Conservation of Excavated Manuscripts. Chief Scientist  for Study on Warring States Inscriptions of the Study Center for Excavated Manuscripts of the National '2011 Plan' and the Study of Ancient Chinese Civilization, and a council member of the Chinese Character Society.

Education Background: Master's degree in Literature, the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, Northeast Normal University, 1993. Ph.D. in History, the Institute of Ancient Books, Jilin University, 1997.

Chinese Linguistics and Philology, Ancient Chinese Philology, Historical Philology, and Bamboo and Silk Manuscript Studies.

Author of 9 academic books and over 60 articles published in peer-reviewed journals and top-tier conferences, Some of these articles have been published in authoritative publications such as Qiushi, People's Daily, and Guangming Daily.

Major projects include the compilation and study of Chu scripts, ancient history exploration based on Tsinghua Bamboo Slips, Chu script lexicography, paleography, and character hermeneutics, funded by NSSF, MOE, and universities, with a focus on Chu culture and ancient Chinese characters.

1. Major Project of the National Social Science Fund: " Systematic Compilation and Study of Chu Characters" (18ZDA304), Principal Investigator, Ongoing.

2. Major Project of the National Social Science Fund: "The Tsinghua Bamboo Slips 'Xi nian' and New Explorations in History of Ancient China" (10ZD&091), Principal Investigator, Completed.

3. General Project of the National Social Science Fund: "A Comprehensive Study of Chu Characters" (04BYY014), Principal Investigator, Completed.

4. Major Special Project of Philosophy and Social Science Research of the Ministry of Education: " The Systemic Evolution of Ancient Chinese Character Structures: Research and Digital Archiving " (2024JZDZ048).

5. Fund Project for Outstanding Talents in the New Century of the Ministry of Education: "Lexical Study of Excavated Chu Manuscripts";

6. Planning Fund Project for Humanities and Social Sciences Research of the Ministry of Education: "A Comprehensive Study of Chu Characters";

7. Sub-project of "Commentaries Compendium on Chu Characters" funded by the University of Hong Kong: "Commentaries Compendium on Chu Seal Characters";

8. Innovative Team Construction Project for the Prosperity and Development of Philosophy and Social Sciences at Jilin University: "Chinese Characters and Ancient Chinese Culture";

9. Revitalization Fund Project for Humanities and Social Sciences at Tsinghua University: "Paleographic Study of the Baoshan Chu Bamboo Slips";

10. Priority Guiding Special Project of Independent Scientific Research at Tsinghua University (WO5): "Comprehensive Compilation and Research on Chu Characters" (2015THZWYX07);

11.Special Project for Liberal Arts in the Independent Scientific Research Plan at Tsinghua University: "Chinese Character Hermeneutics: Explorations and Theoretical Foundations".

1. Li, Shoukui. Overview of Chinese Character Theory and Interpretation. Shaanxi: Shaanxi Normal University General Publishing House, 2024.

2. Li, Shoukui. Twelve Lectures on Chinese Character Interpretation. Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House Co., Ltd, 2023.

3. Li, Shoukui. 150 Lectures on Chinese Character Interpretation. Shaanxi: Shaanxi Normal University Publishing House, 2021.

4. Li, Shoukui. Why Are Chinese Characters So Beautiful. Shaanxi: Shaanxi Normal University Publishing House, 2019.

5. Li, Shoukui. Essays on Chinese Character Studies. Beijing: People's Fine Arts Publishing House, 2016.

6. Li, Shoukui, and Xiao, Pan. The Paleographic Interpretation and Structure Research on Characters of Tsinghua Bamboo Slips “Xi nian”. Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2015.

7. Li, Shoukui. Ancient Chinese Characters and Historical Inquiry: Compilation and Research on the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips. Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2015.

8. Li, Shoukui, Jia, Lianxiang, and Ma,Nan. Complete Compilation of Chracters from the Baoshan Chu Tombs. Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House Co., Ltd, 2012.

9. Li, Shoukui, Qu,Bing, and Sun,Weilong. Compilation of Chracters from the Shanghai Museum Collection of Warring States Period Chu Bamboo Slips (Vol. 1–5). Beijing: The Writers Publishing House, 2007.

10. Li, Shoukui. Compilation of Chu Chracters. Shanghai: East China Normal University Press, 2003.

11.Co-published academic works: The Tsinghua University Collection of Warring States Bamboo Slips (Volumes 1-10). Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2010-2020. Chinese Character Etymology. Book Management Department of Tianjin： Tianjin Ancient Books Publishing House & Shenyang: Liaoning People's Publishing House, 2012.

  1. Li, Shoukui. “Chinese Characters and the Transmission of Chinese Civilization.” Qiu Shi. 2024 - Issue 3,71-76. Reprinted in full in Marxism Digest (a publication of Renmin University of China's reprinted materials), 2024, Issue 2.

2. Li, Shoukui. “From Ancient Scripts to the Evolutionary History of Chinese Characters.” Journal of Chinese Characters, Volume 14, 2016: 26-36.

3. Li, Shoukui. “Chinese Civilization Encoded in Square Characters: An Appreciation of The World of Chinese Script.” Guangming Daily, 13 July 2024, p. 12.

4. Li, Shoukui. “A Clear and Coherent Written Announcement of King Kang of the Western Zhou Dynasty: Re-interpretating the Inscription on the Dayu-Ding.” Journal of Sun Yat-sen University (Social Science Edition), Volume 64, 2024-Issue 5, 51-60. Reprinted in full in Linguistics and Philology (a publication of Renmin University of China's reprinted materials), 2025-Issue 3.

5. Li, Shoukui, and Hu Lin. “Visual-Textual Structure and Mythological Narrative of the Chu Silk Manuscripts.” Jilin University Journal (Social Sciences Edition), Volume 64, 2024-Issue 6, 5-18.

6. Li, Shoukui. “Textual Recovery and Recognition of ChapterⅡin Chu Silk Manuscrip.” Jilin University Journal (Social Sciences Edition), Volume 63, 2023-Issue 2, 149-163. Reproduced in China University Academic Abstracts, Volume 40, 2023-Issue 3, 223-223.

7. Li, Shoukui. “On the Positioning and Theoretical Signiicance of Symbolic Characters in Chinese Characters.” The Study of Chinese Characters and Language, Volume 23, 2023-Issue 3, 3-23.

8. Li, Shoukui. “Inheritance and Innovation of Chinese Character Interpretation.” The Study of Chinese Characters and Language, Volume 19, 2022-Issue 3, 3-16. Reproduced in Chinese Social Science Digest. 2023-Issue 2, 73-74.

9. Li, Shoukui. “New Understanding of Xu Shen's Outlook on Development of Characters and the Value of Shuowen Jiezi.” Journal of Comprehensive Studies on Excavated Texts, Volume 15, 2022, 1-20.

10. Li, Shoukui. “The Interpretation of Chinese Characters and the Popularization of Chinese Character Culture——Taking Fu (福) as an Example.” The Study of Chinese Characters and Language, Volume 14, 2021-Issue 2, 11-29.

11. Li, Shoukui. “Formation of ‘也’ and Two Approaches of Interpreting Chinese Characters: Starting from Concept or from Linguistic Data.” Jilin University Journal (Social Sciences Edition), Volume 61, 2021-Issue 6, 5-22. Reproduced in China University Academic Abstracts, 2022-Issue 2, 136-137. Reprinted in full in Linguistics and Philology (a publication of Renmin University of China's reprinted materials), 2023-Issue 3, 61-77.

12. Li, Shoukui. “Comprehensive Compilation and the Construction of Chu Character Studies.” China Social Sciences Today, 31 December 2021, p. 5.

13. Li, Shoukui. “On ‘Ye’ and ‘Jian’. The Chinese Characters.” The Chinese Characters, Changzhou: Wanjuanlou Book Company, Summer 2019 Issue, 115-122.

14. Li, Shoukui. “Some Issues on the Governance Idea and Text Shown in the Book ‘Zhi Zheng zhi Dao’ in the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips.” Relics, 2019, Issue 9, 44-49.

15. Li, Shoukui. “A Study on the Textual Division and Variant Inscriptions of the Gan Bo Musical Instrument and the Gan Bells.” Bronze Vessels and Inscriptions, Volume 2. Shanghai: Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House Co., Ltd, 2018: 233-243.

16. Li, Shoukui. “The Previous Explanation of Guoyu (《国语》) and Ancient Philology.” The Study of Chinese Characters and Language, Volume 2, 2018, 92–102.

17. Li, Shoukui. “Historical Facts and Narrative Transmission: The Conquest of Wu by Goujian in ‘Yue Gong Qi Shi’.” Relics, 2017-Issue 6, 75-80.

18. Li, Shoukui. “Study on Chu Characters and Construction of Chu Character Studies,” in Retrospection and Prospect of Study on Warring States Characters, Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2017, 26-37.

19. Li, Shoukui. “The Interpretation of the Chu Script ‘Gui’ - and of the‘Zhi’as the Semantographic Protoform of the Gui.” Fudan Journal (Social Sciences Edication), 2017 Issue 3, 80-86.

20. Li, Shoukui.“Unearthing New Insights Through Ancient Chronicles.”The supplementary section of People's Daily, 24 January 2016, p.12.

21. Li, Shoukui.“The Language of Mourning and Ritual Practices in‘Zheng Wu Fu Ren Gui Ruzi’.”Journal of Chinese Historical Studies, 2016-Issue 1, 1-18.

22. Li, Shoukui.“Han Dynasty Scholarship on Textual Compilation and Script Analysis: The Background and Feature of Emergence of the Shuowen Jiezi.” China Cultural Forum, 2016, Vol. 15, 165-175.

23. Li, Shoukui. “The Tsinghua Bamboo Slips‘Xi nian’and New Explorations in History of Ancient China.” Guangming Daily, 10 Deptemper 2015, p. 16.

24. Li, Shoukui. “Categorizing Yi Yin Literature during Han Dynasty and the Feature of Yi Yin Materials in the Tsinghua Bamboo Manuscripts.” Journal of Shenzhen University (Humanities & Social Sciences Edication), 2015 Issue 3, 41-49.

25. Li, Shoukui. “A Systematic Approach to Identifying and Interpreting Chinese Characters and Its Application of Studying Chinese Ancient Scripts 厂 and石.” Jilin University Journal (Social Sciences Edition), Volume 55, 2015 Issue 4, 225-241.

26. Li, Shoukui. “Education Information in Chu Manuscripts and Preliminary Study on Feature of Tsinghua Bamboo Slips ‘Xi nian’.” Study of Excavated Documents and Old Chinese Characters, Volume 16, Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House Co., Ltd, 2015, 291-320.

27. Li, Shoukui. “On ‘Fang’ in the Inscription on Weapon Accessory and Chu Silk Manuscription.” Chinese Phololigy Study, Volume 1, Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House Co., Ltd, 2015, 119-124.

28. Li, Shoukui. “On ‘Shi’ and the Guwen of ‘Xi’.” Excavated Documents, Volume 1, Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2015, 154-162.

29. Li, Shoukui. “On the Pre-Qin Literatures of Qin(琴) & Se(瑟) and the Written Time of ‘Zhougong zhi Qin wu’.” Jilin University Journal (Social Sciences Edition), Volume 54, 2014 Issue 1,11-19.

30. Li, Shoukui. “A Concise Account of the Script and Textual Characteristics of the Tsinghua Bamboo Manuscript ‘Shifa’.” Journal of Shenzhen University (Humanities & Social Sciences), Volume 31, 2014 Issue 1, 58-62.

31. Li, Shoukui. “On ‘Mo ao yang wei’ in Tsinghua Bamboo Slips ‘Xi nian’.” The Central Plains Culture Research, 2014 Issue 2, 55-54.

32. Li, Shoukui. “Study on the usage of ‘ye’ in Tsinghua Bamboo Slips ‘Xi nian’ with Interpretation of the King Gongwu Guang Sword and Luanshu Water Vessel.” Old Chinese Character Study, Volume 30, Beijing: Zhonghua Book Campany, 2014, 374-380.

33. Li, Shoukui. “An Interpretation of the Character ‘反’ in the Xiao chen Dan zhi小臣单觯Bronze Inscription and the Character ‘鈑’in the Baoshan包山Manuscripts, Based on the Phrase ‘Ke fan yi Shang克反邑商’ in the ‘Xi nian系年’ Bamboo-strip Manuscript from the Tsinghua University Collection.” Bamboo and Silk, Volume 9, Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House Co., Ltd, 2014, 129-136+531.

34. Li, Shoukui. “On the Decorative Stroke ‘一’ in the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips ‘Xi nian’.” Excavated Document Study, Volume 13, Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2014, 34-46.

35. Li, Shoukui. “Poems in Tsinghua Bamboo Slips and New Perspectives on Study of The Book of Songs.” Social Sciences in Chinese Higher Education Institutions, 2013 Issue 3, 85-90.

36. Li, Shoukui. “The Character ‘’ in the Xi Nian(系年) of Tsinghua Bamboo Slips and the Noble Family Chen.” The Study of Chinese Characters, Volume 18, Shanghai: Shanghai: Shanghai Bookshop Publishing House, 2013, 22-26.

37. Li, Shoukui. “On the Usage of ‘Qian’ in Excavated Documents and Supplementary Notes on the ‘Qianzhan’ in the Inscription of the He Zun Vessel.” Excavated Document Study, Volume 4, Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2013, 121-129.

38. Li, Shoukui. “Chinese Philology in the Time of Globalization.” Jilin University Journal (Social Sciences Edition), Volume 52, 2012-Issue 2,109-116.

39. Li, Shoukui. “On ‘’ in Chu Characters.” Excavated Document Study, Volume 3, Shanghai: Zhongxi Book Company, 2012, 169-175.

40. Li, Shoukui. “Interpretation on ‘Fan’ in ‘Chuju’ and the Usage in Excavated Documents.” Relics, 2011 Issue 3, 75-78.

41. Li, Shoukui. “The Traits of the Tales About Jilian and Yuxiong in ‘Chuju’.” Journal of Tsinghua University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), Volume 26, 2011 Issue 4, 33-39. Reprinted in full in Linguistics and Philology (a publication of Renmin University of China's reprinted materials), 2012 Issue 1, 13-19.

42. Li, Shoukui. “The Chu Ancestors and the Clan Names of the Chu People in the ‘Chu Ju’.” Excavated Document Study, Volume 10, Beijing: Zhonghua Book Campany, 2011, 14-22.

43. Li, Shoukui. “Interpretation on Usage of Name in Baoshan Chu Bamboo Slips.” Bamboo and Silk, Volume 6, Shanghai: Shanghai Chinese Classics Publishing House Co., Ltd, 2011, 220-227.

44. Li, Shoukui. “New Interpretation on Wu People’s Attack to the Capital Ying with Tsinghua Bamboo Slips ‘Xi nian’.” The China Social Sciences Today, 24 November, 2011, p. 5.

45. Li, Shoukui. “Retrospection and Prospect of Compilation of Old Chinese Characters.” Jilin University Journal (Social Sciences Edition), Volume 48, 2008-Issue 1, 123–129.

46. Li, Shoukui. “Classification and Basic Writing Conditions of the Calligraphic Features of the Baoshan Divination Texts.” The Study of Chinese Characters, Volume 1, Elephant Press, 2007, 63-67.

47. Li, Shoukui. “On ‘Peng’ in Baoshan Chu Bamboo Slips.” Bamboo and Silk, Volume 1, 2006, 25-35.

48. Li, Shoukui. “Six Pieces of Notes on Chu Seal Inscription.” Old Chinese Character Study, Volume 25, Beijing: Zhonghua Book Campany, 2004, 401-405.

49. Li, Shoukui. “Supplementary Explanation of Characters with the Component of ‘Shui水’ in Bamboo Slips from the Tomb of Marquis Yi of Zeng.” Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium on Chinese Paleography, Department of Chinese Language and Literature, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003: 505-516.

50. Li, Shoukui. “A Survey of Research on the Characters of Excavated Chu Manuscripts.” Journal of Ancient Books Collation and Studies, 2003 Issue 1, 9-17.

51. Li, Shoukui. “Three Examples of Mutual Interpretation on the Guwen and Chu Characters.” Old Chinese Character Study, Volume 24, Beijing: Zhonghua Book Campany, 2002, 468-472.

52. Li, Shoukui. “An Examination of ‘Xuan’ and ‘Yuan xuan’ in Excavated Bamboo Slips.” Old Chinese Character Study, Volume 22, Beijing: Zhonghua Book Campany, 2000, 195-199.

53. Li, Shoukui. “Three Pieces of Notes on Chu CharacterS.” Study on Bamboo and Silk, Volume 3, Guangxi: Guangxi Education Publishing House, 1998, 23-29.

54. Li, Shoukui. “Four Notes on the Interpretation of the Bamboo Slips from Tomb No. 56 at Jiudian, Jiangling.” Jianghan Archaeology, 1997 Issue 4, 67-69.

The monograph, 150 Lectures on Chinese Characters Explanations (co-authored with Wang Yongchang, Prof. LI Shoukui as the first author), has received the following awards:

• Awarded National Outstanding Popular Science Works 2023 by the Ministry of Science and Technology (2024)；

• Outstanding Author of 2022 by Shaanxi Normal University General Publishing House (2023)；

• Shaanxi Provincial Outstanding Popular Science Works Award 2023 (2023).

The monograph, The Paleographic Interpretation and Structural Research on Characters of Tsinghua Bamboo Slips “Xi Nian” (co-authored with Xiao Pan, Prof. LI Shoukui as the first author), has received the following awards:

• 2nd Prize in the 8th Outstanding Research Achievement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences of Chinese Colleges and Universities (2020).

The monograph, Complete Compilation of Characters from the Baoshan Chu Tombs (co-authored with Jia Lianxiang and Ma Nan, Prof. LI Shoukui as the first author), has received the following awards:

• 2nd Prize in the 7th Outstanding Research Achievement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences of Chinese Colleges and Universities by the Ministry of Education (2015)；

• 2nd Prize in the National Outstanding Ancient Books Publication Award (2013).

The monograph, Compilation of Chu Characters, has received the following awards:

l 2nd Prize in the 4th Outstanding Research Achievement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences of Chinese Colleges and Universities by the Ministry of Education (2006)；

l 1st Prize in the 6th Jilin Provincial Social Sciences Outstanding Achievement Awards (2004).

The monograph, The Tsinghua University Collection of Warring States Bamboo Slips (as a principal editor), has received the following awards:

l 1st Prize in the 7th Outstanding Research Achievement Award in Humanities and Social Sciences of Chinese Colleges and Universities by the Ministry of Education (2015)；

l Sole 1st Prize in the 5th Guo Moruo Chinese History Award (2019).

  1. Delivered an opening speech at the "International Symposium on Excavated Texts" held by Kokugakuin University (July 15, 2023).

2. Presented a paper titled "From Ancient Scripts to the Evolutionary History of Chinese Characters" at the "International U.U.R.R. Symposium" held by Iwate University (July 14, 2023).

3. Provided an introduction and interpretation of "Tang zai chi men" at the international symposium“Human Nature,Morality,and Fate in the Tsinghua University Bamboo Manuscripts, Tang chu yu Tangqiu汤处于汤丘，Tang zai Chi men汤在啻门,and Yin Gaozong wen yu san shou殷高宗问于三寿” held by Erlangen-Nuremberg University in Germany(May 10-12, 2016).

4. Presented a paper titled "The Interpretation of the Chu Script ‘Gui’ - and of the ‘Zhi’ as the Semantographic Protoform of the Gui" at the "International Symposium on Excavated Texts and Pre-Qin Classics and History" hosted by the School of Chinese, University of Hong Kong (October 16-17, 2015).

5. Presented a paper titled "On the Pre-Qin Literatures of Qin (琴) & Se (瑟) and the Written Time of ‘Zhougong zhi Qin wu’" at the "Tsinghua Bamboo Slips and the Book of Songs" International Symposium held by the Jao Tsung-i Academy of Sinology at Hong Kong Baptist University (October 31 to November 4, 2013).

6. Led a reading of "Zhougong's Qin (琴) & Wu (舞)" and presented a paper titled "An Interpretation of the Character ‘反’ in the Xiao chen Dan zhi 小臣单觯Bronze Inscription and the Character ‘鈑’ in the Baoshan 包山 Manuscripts, Based on the Phrase ‘Ke fan yi Shang’ 克反邑商 in the ‘Xi nian’ 系年 Bamboo-strip Manuscript from the Tsinghua University Collection" at the "Dartmouth-Tsinghua 'Tsinghua Bamboo Slips' International Symposium: The Fourth International Symposium on Newly Discovered Manuscripts" held by Dartmouth University (August 30 to September 1, 2013).

7. Presented a paper titled "The Physical Format and Content of the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips" at the "European Symposium on the Study of Excavated Chinese Manuscripts" held by the Collège de France in Paris, France (July 3-6, 2012)

8. Invited to participate in events such as the opening ceremony of the "Centenary of Epigraphy and Seal Carving: Exhibition of Works by Past Presidents of Xiling Seal Art Society" held by the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Government of the Macao Special Administrative Region (November 30 to December 2, 2013).

9. On February 6, 2021, as a guest on CCTV-1's "Kai Jiang La" program,Sharing the magical charm of old Chinese characters. On December 24, 2021, participated in the recording of CCTV-10's "Exploration and Discovery" program "The Story of the Ancient Sword (Part 2)," discussing content from the Tsinghua Bamboo Slips "Yue Gong Qi Shi."