Professor Dame Jessica Rawson has been awarded the 2026 Wenjin Book Award

Professor Dame Jessica Rawson has been awarded the 2026 Wenjin Book Award (Nomination Award) for her book Life and Afterlife in Ancient China, which was released in Chinese translation in 2025.

The Wenjin Book Award 文津图书奖 is China's most significant literary honour, presented annually by the National Library since 2004. The prize is named after Wenjinge 文津阁, the Qing Dynasty’s Imperial Library built in 1774, which contributed to the foundation of the National Library of China. Now in its 21^st year, the Wenjin Book Award recognises outstanding works that combine rigorous research with accessibility for the general public. For 2026 there are no other translated books in the social science group, thus Life and Afterlife in Ancient China is ranked 1^st in the nomination award.