Chengdu Research Trip
Langqiong is a great friend of my family. He was the first student to receive a doctorate from his hometown, Seda, which is known for its nomadic tradition and a lack of access to education. With him as my guide during my Tibetan study trip, I was able to visit many famous scholars and learn how hard it is for a Tibetan child to fight his way up to becoming a PhD student.
During this trip, I interviewed Professor Thubbstan Phun Tshogs, a renowned scholar on China, Tibet, and Inner Asian history. As we discussed the spread of the Epic of King Gesar, he inspired me to look into the history of cultural exchanges that happened during that era, which then led me to the research I wrote for the Concord Review.