Alumna Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow Yiwen Li (Department "Artifacts, Action, Knowledge") has received an honorable mention by the Joseph Levenson Prize (China, Pre 1900) of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS). It was awarded for her book Networks of Faith and Profit: Monks, Merchants, and Exchanges between China and Japan, 839-1403 CE.

In the book, Yiwen examines diplomatic relations between China and Japan from 839 to 1403 CE. She challenges the assumption that there was limited interaction between these two countries during this period, revealing instead the emergence of a thriving Sino-Japanese trade network. Buddhist monks and merchants played pivotal roles in fostering connections across maritime East Asia, offering a new perspective on the intertwined relationship between Buddhism and commerce.

The Joseph Levenson Prize (Pre-1900) is funded by the Merlin Foundation and is awarded to English-language books that contribute to our understanding of the history, culture, society, politics, or economy of China.