Yuchen Liu received his BA (2023) and MA (2026) in Art History from the University of Tokyo. He first entered the field with a strong interest in arms and armour, particularly Japanese swords (katana). His undergraduate thesis presented a comparative study of the ancient swords in Nara Period Japan and Tang China. His research has then expanded to the study of metalwork more broadly, as well as the networks of cultural exchange linking ancient East Asia with Central and West Asia. His MA thesis focused on the Sassanian-style ewer, with emphasis on the Dragon-headed Ewer in Hōryūji Treasures, examining the object's function and shifting meanings across East Asia within local socio-political and cultural contexts.
Alongside his academic activities, Yuchen has worked as a professional knife sharpener at a Japanese kitchen knife store and has received training in metalworking techniques, including hammering, chasing, and gilding. These experiences have enabled him to approach research objects from a practical perspective.
At ISAW, Yuchen will continue his studies on metalwork, artisans, and craft technologies, with a question of how imported and exotic objects were adopted and reinterpreted in different cultural contexts during the sixth to eighth centuries. Although his previous research has primarily focused on East Asia, he intends to broaden the geographical scope to Eurasia as a whole. He also hopes to engage more extensively in archaeological fieldwork, while incorporating transdisciplinary approaches from materials science, anthropology, and linguistics. Furthermore, he seeks to contribute to the study and preservation of cultural heritage.