Ruixue “Rui” Zhou (周芮雪) is a PhD student in the Department of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She studies medieval East Eurasia—China, Inner Asia, and Korea—and has broader interests in comparative perspectives on empire, nation state, and political thought. Her tentative dissertation plan is to examine the medieval East Eurasian world order through the perspectives of Koryŏ (918–1392) and Tangut Xia (1038–1227) kingdoms, focusing on historical narratives, ideologies and institutions around universal rulership. Political elites of Koryŏ and Tangut Xia inserted themselves into the Sinitic All-under-Heaven (Tianxia 天下) through relations with rulers of the land of China: Kitan Liao (916–1125), Song (960–1279), and Jurchen Jin (1115–1234). Her dissertation seeks to show how Koryŏ and Tangut elites were not just vassal rulers and tributary subjects, but actively negotiated diplomatic norms and terms of imperial authority. In her MA project, she seeks to trace imperial lineages, surname alterations, and legitimation in early medieval North China and Inner Asia.

Teaching Assistant:

• Medieval and Early Modern Europe (HIST 4B) – Winter 2025; Fall 2025
• Chinese Civilization (HIST 80) – Fall 2024; Winter 2025
• Twentieth Century U.S. History (HIST 17C) – Spring 2025; Spring 2026
• Global Development (GLOBL 130) – Spring 2024
• Introduction to Asian American Studies (ASAM 1) – Winter 2024
• Global Political Economy (GLOBL 2) – Fall 2023