Erik Zürcher

Erik Zürcher (13 September 1928, in Utrecht – 7 February 2008, in Warmond) was a Dutch Sinologist. From 1962 to 1993, Zürcher was a professor of history of East Asia at Leiden University. He was also Director of the Sinological Institute, between 1975 and 1990. His Chinese name was Xǔ Lǐhe (许理和).

Biography He studied Sinology, Buddhism, specializing in Chinese religions. In 1959, his PhD was over The Buddhist Conquest of China. In 1962 he became professor of history of East Asia, with particular focus on Chinese Buddhism, Chinese reactions to Christianity and early relations between China and the outside world.

He was a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences since 1975 and an Associate of the Academie des Belles Lettres et des Incriptions of the Institut de France. He was also awarded the Medal of Honor for Art and Science in the Order of the House of Orange and made a Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

His son Erik-Jan Zürcher (born 1953) is a professor of Turkish languages and cultures at the University of Leiden and former director of the International Institute of Social History.