Kim Hunter Gordon
Assistant Professor of Chinese and Performance Studies at Duke Kunshan University
Kim Hunter Gordon is Assistant Professor of Chinese and Performance Studies at Duke Kunshan University, where he teaches performance studies, translation and late imperial Chinese history. Earning his PhD at Royal Holloway, University of London in 2017, he studied the sheng role under Qian Zhenrong at the Jiangsu Kunju Theatre and qu singing practice with Xie Yufeng at Nanjing University. He is the current translator for the Jiangsu troupe and regularly sings on the avocational kunqu circuit in China and beyond. His research examines the historiography of kunqu and the dynamics of embodied practice and archival culture. Prior to his doctorate, he worked as a newspaper journalist at The Observer and The Scotsman before spending a number of years in China working in online financial media and writing historical guidebooks.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
- Assistant Professor of Chinese and Performance Studies at Duke Kunshan University, DKU Faculty, Duke Kunshan University 2019
- Assistant Professor of the Practice, DKU Visiting Faculty, Duke University 2021
Contact Information
- Background
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Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of London (United Kingdom) 2017
- Recognition
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In the News
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DEC 8, 2018 China Daily -
JUL 12, 2015 China Daily Europe
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- Expertise
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Subject Headings
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Global Scholarship
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Expertise
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Research
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Teaching
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- Research
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Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants
- CIAC Small Grants awarded by China and Inner Asia Council, Association of Asian Studies 2018
- IPS Fellowship awarded by Arts & Humanities Research Council of Great Britain (AHRC) 2017
- Joint PhD Fellowship awarded by Confucius Institute, Nanjing University 2014 - 2016
- Katherine Whitaker Award awarded by Sino-British Fellowship Trust 2013
- UCCL Travel Grant awarded by Universities' China Committee in London 2013
- Publications & Artistic Works
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Selected Publications
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Books
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. Breaking God's Flail: Chan Sculpture and the Death of a Great Khan in Song Dynasty Hechuan. 中国原子能出版社, 2012.Link to Item
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Academic Articles
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. “Kunqu baizhong, Dashi shuoxi (One hundred pieces of Kunqu, Master performers talk about their scenes): A Review Essay.” Chinoperl 35, no. 2 (July 2, 2016): 143–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/01937774.2016.1242835.Full Text Open Access Copy
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Xie, Yufeng. “A Preliminary Discussion of Kunqu as a Form of Literary Culture.” Translated by Kim Hunter Gordon and Edward Allen. Chinese Theatre Arts 2 (n.d.).
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Book Sections
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. “Cai Zhengren, “Instating the Statue, Lamenting the Statue” (“Yingxiang Kuxiang” 迎像哭像) from The Palace of Lasting Life (Changsheng Dian 長生殿).” In Kunqu Masters on Chinese Theatrical Performance, edited by Josh Stenberg. Anthem, 2022.Link to Item
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. “Cai Zhengren, “Instating the Statue, Lamenting the Statue” (“Yingxiang Kuxiang” 迎像哭像) from The Palace of Lasting Life (Changsheng Dian 長生殿).” In Kunqu Masters on Chinese Theatrical Performance, edited by Josh Stenberg. Anthem, 2022.Link to Item
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. “Ji Zhenhua, “Playing the Ballad” (“Tanci” 彈詞) from The Palace of Lasting Life (Changsheng Dian 長生殿).” In Kunqu Masters on Chinese Theatrical Performance, edited by Josh Stenberg. Anthem, 2022.
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. “Ji Zhenhua, “Playing the Ballad” (“Tanci” 彈詞) from The Palace of Lasting Life (Changsheng Dian 長生殿).” In Kunqu Masters on Chinese Theatrical Performance, edited by Josh Stenberg. Anthem, 2022.
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. “Fan Jixin, “Writing the Accusation” (“Xie Zhuang” 寫狀) from Tale of the Mermaid Silk Handkerchief (Jiaoxiao Ji鮫綃記).” In Kunqu Masters on Chinese Theatrical Performance, edited by Josh Stenberg. Anthem, 2022.
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. “Fan Jixin, “Writing the Accusation” (“Xie Zhuang” 寫狀) from Tale of the Mermaid Silk Handkerchief (Jiaoxiao Ji鮫綃記).” In Kunqu Masters on Chinese Theatrical Performance, edited by Josh Stenberg. Anthem, 2022.
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Hunter Gordon, Kim. “Yue Meiti, “The Inn on the Lake” (“Hu Lou” 湖樓) from To Win a Peerless Beauty (Zhan Huakui 占花魁).” In Kunqu Masters on Chinese Theatrical Performance, edited by Josh Stenberg. Anthem, 2022.
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Other Articles
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Su, Tong. “Rising Dragon Temple.” Translated by Kim Hunter Gordon. Chinese Arts & Letters. Basildon, UK: Xanadu Publishing Ltd., March 28, 2014.
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Book Reviews
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Gordon, Kim Hunter. “Xing Fan. Staging Revolution: Artistry and Aesthetics in Model Beijing Opera during the Cultural Revolution.” Modern Drama. University of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress), April 1, 2019. https://doi.org/10.3138/md.62.2.br3.Full Text
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Artistic Works & Non-Print Media
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Theatrical Productions
- The Small Banquet 小宴 | Hunan Road Kunqu Society 20th Anniversary Performance . Actor, Vocalist. 2019
- Six Records of a Floating Life 浮生六記 | Canglang Pavilion Garden, Suzhou. Producer. 2018
- Ladies of the Fan 女·扇 | Rising Artists’ Works (R.A.W.!), China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Actor, Vocalist. 2017
- A Shakesperean Handan Dream | The Actors' Church, Covent Garden, London. Producer. 2016
- Peony Pavilion 牡丹亭, City of London Festival . Actor, Vocalist. 2015
- Startled from the Dream 驚夢 | "Brave New Theatres: 1616 in China and England" conference, SOAS University of London. Actor, Vocalist. 2014
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- Teaching & Mentoring
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Recent Courses
- K_CAPST 495: Signature Work Capstone I 2022
- K_CAPST 496: Signature Work Capstone II 2022
- K_INDSTU 391: Independent Study 2022
- K_LIT 219: Stage Translation for Kunqu 2022
- K_LIT 310: TRANSLATING LITERARY KUNQU 2022
- K_MEDART 101: Introduction to Media Studies and the Arts 2022
- K_MEDART 216: Performance, Embodiment and Cultural Memory 2022
- K_CAPST 495: Signature Work Capstone I 2021
- K_MEDART 101: Introduction to Media Studies and the Arts 2021
- K_MEDART 108: Love and Dreams on the Chinese Stage 2021
- Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
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Presentations & Appearances
- Competing Authenticities in Kunqu Singing. Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Making: The Case of Kunqu. Modern Languages Association Convention. January 8, 2021 2021
- Between Literariness and Melodrama; Tensions in Kunqu Singing. Contrasts in Chinese Music. European Foundation for Chinese Music Research (CHIME). September 19, 2019 - September 22, 2019 2019
- Heritage Squared; Finding a Stage for the Intangible. Annual Conference. International Foundation for Theatre Research (IFTR). August 2019 - August 2019 2019
- Regional Lion Dances in Mainland China and the Diaspora. Liberal Arts Symposium: Asian Lion Dances - Performance and Participation. Saitema University. June 2019 2019
- Performance expression in fixed routines—how video streaming influences the choreography and interpretation of two repertoire kunqu playlets from Mudanting. Asian Studies Association of Australia. University of Sydney. August 2018 2018
- Tang/Sha: ‘Transnational Performances for a Fortuitous Anniversary’. Association for Asian Studies (in Asia) Conference. Korea University. August 24, 2017 2017
- Xiqu Physicality on the Political Stage: Striking a Pose in the Early Communist Period. Constructing New Communist Culture: Aesthetics and Cultural Politics in 1950s China. Association for Asian Studies (AAS). March 18, 2017 2017
- Choreographic Precision and the Changing Tradition in Kunqu Performance. European Association for Chinese Studies. St. Petersburg State University. August 26, 2016 2016
- Xiqu in London; A Cross Cultural Performer’s Perspective. Xiqu at the Margin: How “Chinese” is “Chinese Opera”?. Association of Asian Studies (AAS). March 31, 2016 2016
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Outreach & Engaged Scholarship
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Qu Qiubai 瞿秋白. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. June 2021 2021
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Eight Immortals Ride the Sea 八仙過海 . Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. May 2021 2021
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Hu Family Village 盧家莊. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. May 2021 2021
- Stage Translator (subtitles). ‘Stealing the Elixir' 盜草 from Leifeng Pagoda 雷峰塔. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. May 2021 2021
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Embrace of the River City 眷江城. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. 2020 2020
- Stage Translator (subtitles). The Prime of Mei Lanfang 當年梅郎. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. 2020 2020
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Capturing Luo Genyuan 活捉罗裉元. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. December 26, 2019 2019
- Stage Translator (subtitles). 'Stealing the Silver’ 盜庫銀 from Leifeng Pagoda 雷峰塔. Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Theatre. August 23, 2019 2019
- Stage Translator (subtitles). ‘Killing Yan Xijiao’ 殺惜 from The Water Margin 水滸記. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. August 14, 2019 2019
- Director. China Storytelling Festival. Yu Theatre Workshop. December 2018 2018
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Six Records of a Floating Life 浮生六記. HDZ Productions. March 2018 - October 2018 2018
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Gu Yanwu 顧炎武. Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Theatre. 2018 2018
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Rain on the Wutong Tree 梧桐雨. Kunshan Contemporary Kunqu Theatre. 2018 2018
- Stage Translator (subtitles). The Inner Quarters 幽閨記. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. 2018 2018
- Stage Translator (subtitles). A Shakesperean Handan Dream. Yu Theatre Workshop. September 2016 2016
- Consultant. Turandot Reimagined. Tête à Tête Opera Festival. July 30, 2015 - July 31, 2015 2015
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Blossom on a Spring Moonlit Night 春江花月夜. Shanghai Zhang Jun Kunqu Centre. 2015 2015
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Dream Under the Southern Bough 南柯夢. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. 2015 2015
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Wei Liangfu: The Sage of Verse 曲聖魏良輔. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. 2015 2015
- Stage Translator (subtitles). Peach Blossom Fan 桃花扇. Jiangsu Kunqu Theatre. 2014 2014
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Service to the Profession
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Service to Duke
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