The Forking Paths of Digital Humanities in Asian Studies

Abstract This article responds to the “Digital Humanities in/and Asian Studies” forum, situating it within broader genealogies of Asian digital humanities and arguing for a multilayered approach to understanding its histories, networks, and organizations. We offer two complementary trajectories: first, tracing the historical intersections of Asian studies and computing—from early initiatives such as the Munkwa Project and the China Biographical Database to the development of regional collaborations and digital centers—and second, examining the institutional and organizational infrastructures that have shaped digital humanities communities across Asia. Moving beyond project- and tool-based analysis, we call for recognition of Asian digital humanities as a deeply interconnected, globally significant field that both challenges and extends Euro-American frameworks. Our reflections highlight the importance of historically informed, relational, and inclusive approaches to studying the evolving landscape of digital scholarship in and about Asia.