About

The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University brings together a global community of world-leading academics and practitioners to advance scholarship in all fields of China Studies.

History of the Center

The Fairbank Center was founded in 1955 by Professor John King Fairbank, a leading scholar in modern and contemporary China studies.

History of China at Harvard

Harvard University has promoted the study of China since the appointment of our first Chinese-language instructor in 1879.

Harvard Tercentenary Stele

This slender marble slab, or stele, was presented to Harvard in 1936 as a gift from Chinese alumni on the occasion of the University’s tercentenary, and stands to the side of Widener Library.

Our Community Policies

The Fairbank Center is unambiguously committed to maintaining a safe and healthy educational and work environment for our community.

The Fairbank Center stands in solidarity with our Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander Communities.