Agenda

Centres

Bangkok

On 4 March, Louis Gabaude will receive the Prix du Rayonnement Français en Thaïlande (French Influence Award in Thailand), the Thai edition of the Grand Prix du Rayonnement Français 2026. This prize, awarded by the Association pour le Rayonnement Français (now chaired by Princess Yasmine Murat and under the high patronage of the Presidency of the Republic), rewards French or foreign personalities who, through their careers, achievements and projects, work to promote France's influence around the world.

On 18 March, the EFEO will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Siam Society Under Royal Patronage (TSS) via its Bangkok Centre. Founded in 1904, the Siam Society is a Thai cultural institution whose mission is to promote knowledge of the culture, history, arts and natural sciences of Thailand and neighbouring countries. This agreement aims to formalise the links that have existed for over a century between the two institutions (George Cœdès was president of the Siam Society from 1925 to 1930) and to strengthen their scientific cooperation (exchange of sources and publications, organisation of colloquiums, exhibitions and study days, etc.). The signing of this memorandum of understanding will take place in the presence of H.E. Jean-Claude Poimbœuf, French Ambassador to Thailand.

Chiang Mai

From 9 to 20 March, Phongsathorn Buakhaphanh is on assignment in Vientiane to work with Michel Lorrillard on editing epigraphic sources.

Jakarta

From 1 to 14 March, Tim Lubin (Washington and Lee University), historian of religions and law in South and Southeast Asia, will visit the Centre to work with Arlo Griffiths.

Pondicherry

Activities of the Centre's researchers:

In March, Anjaneya Sarma, S.L.P., will participate in several academic activities in India. He will speak at the symposium "Vyakaraṇaśāstre Bhūṣaṇasāragranthāt bhāvapratyayārthavicāraḥ", organised by the Brahmaśrī Maṇikyāśāstri Smāraka Sabhā in Vijayawada, from 2 to 4 March. He will also be an examiner and will prepare three sets of topics (written and oral exams) for the Śrī Veṅkaṭeśvara Veda Śāstra Āgama Vidvat Sadas, organised by the TTD management, to be held at the S.V. Veda Vijñāna Pīṭham, Dharmagiri, Tirumala, from 8 to 13 March. Finally, he will give a lecture entitled ‘āṅo yamahanaḥ [Pāṇinisūtra 1.3.28] iti pāṇinisūtravicāraḥ’ at the Śrī Śrī Śrī Jayendra Sarasvatī Svāmināma Smaraṇa (Dhaniṣṭhā Nakṣatra) Sabhā, organised by the Vedāntaśāstra Sabhā of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, in Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu), on 16 March.

During the second week of March, S.A.S. Sarma will visit the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune to consult specific Vedic manuscripts related to his research. He will also hold scholarly discussions with Shrikant Bahulkar on certain rituals pertaining to the traditions of the Atharvaveda.

Will be present at the Centre:

In March, Julie Marquet will be conducting research at the Centre for her project entitled "French colonisation in India: monuments and statues", which focuses on the study of statues erected in Pondicherry from the 19th century to the present day. This visit will enable her to establish scientific contacts and consult existing archival documentation, particularly at the Lawspet National Archives, with a view to further work.

Shanghai

Éléonore Caro, who holds a doctorate from EHESS and a postdoctoral contract at EFEO, is beginning a four-and-a-half-month study period at the Shanghai Centre. On 10 March, she will present her work at a conference in Chinese entitled "The circulation of medical knowledge in ancient China: what can we learn from unearthed sources?" hosted by the History Department.

Taipei

The Centre welcomes Simon Astrup-Gay, recipient of an EFEO field grant, for a research stay from 23 February to 30 April 2026. Simon Astrup-Gay is a Master's student at EHESS and is conducting research in Taiwan on "Imperial Geographies of Forest and Wind: The Environmental Fabric of Qing Imperialism in Taiwan (17th–18th centuries)".

Vientiane

On 23 March, Michel Lorrillard welcomed Michael Buehler, professor at SOAS University, and eight of his students on an internship to the Centre in Vientiane to present the EFEO's activities in Laos and give them a lecture on the country's ancient history.

Researchers

Éric Bourdonneau

On 19 March, Éric Bourdonneau presented the following two papers at the 11th Plenary Session of CIC-Preah Vihear: "The Restoration of the Koh Ker Dancing Shiva Statue at the Angkor Conservation: Main Phases, Completion, and Future Perspectives" (with Benoît Lafay) and "Beyond Intervention: Issues, Discussions, and Lessons Learned from a Unique Restoration Project".

Michela Bussotti

On 27 March, Michela Bussotti will participate in a morning seminar on Chinese stampings organised by Lia Wei (Inalco) and Béatrice Quette (MAD, Asian collections) at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, as part of the exhibition "Le langage des murs, estampages de la Chine à Notre-Dame" (more information on the museum's website).

Élisabeth Chabanol

Luca Gabbiani

From 6 to 13 February, Luca Gabbiani will be travelling to Taiwan to attend the annual CRISOLIC programme meeting. This meeting will be held from 9 to 11 February at the Institute of Modern History of Academia Sinica. It will bring together researchers from the programme as well as the team of statisticians and IT technicians.

Arlo Griffiths

From 22 March to 6 April, Arlo Griffiths is on a mission in Vietnam. On 22 March, he will give a presentation at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU in Hanoi on the progress of the DHARMA project. Then, from 23 March to 5 April, he will carry out epigraphic documentation and photographic/photogrammetric coverage of Champa inscriptions as part of the ERC DHARMA project. He will be accompanied by Nguyễn Văn Quảng (Huế University), Adeline Levivier (visual documentation expert), William Southworth (curator at the Rijksmuseum), Trần Kỳ Phương (independent researcher) and Federico Barocco (independent researcher). The team will visit various sites and museums in Hue, Đà Nẵng, Mỹ Sơn, Xã Lăng, Pleiku, Tuy Hòa, Nha Trang and Phan Rang.

Benoît Jacquet

Fabienne Jagou

Fabienne Jagou will give a presentation entitled "Maintaining Lineage and Leadership: Case Studies of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in Taiwan" as part of the conference Religious Succession in Asia, organised by the Danish LEAD project at Aarhus University on 5 and 6 March.

François Lachaud

From 11 to 13 March, François Lachaud will participate in the international symposium Le théâtre comme refuge ? Une utopie hospitalière organised by the University of Strasbourg (ACCRA/GEO) in partnership with Waseda University in Tokyo, with the support of the TnS. On 13 March, he will give a presentation entitled: "Mort et transfiguration : l’ultime refuge de l'impératrice Kenreimon-in (1155-1214)".

François Lachaud travelled to Finland (Helsinki, Oulu) and Sweden (Uppsala, Stockholm) as part of his research project on illustrated ethnographies of the indigenous peoples of the North (1650-1850) and the preparation of a symposium on "Comparative Perspectives on Japanese Folklore".

Pierre-Yves Manguin

Pierre-Yves Manguin is a member of the jury for Agni Sesaria Mochtar's (BRIN, Indonesia) doctoral thesis, entitled "A reassessment of contemporary and ancient Southeast Asian lashed-lug watercraft: new evidence and perspectives", which will be defended on 26 March at the Dipartimento Asia Africa e Mediterraneo, Università di Napoli l’Orientale.

Christophe Marquet

On 25 and 26 March, Christophe Marquet travelled to Kagoshima (Kyūshū) to study Satsuma-yaki ceramic production at the workshop of Chin Jukan, the 15th generation of a lineage dating back to the arrival of Korean potters in the Satsuma domain at the end of the 16th century.

Martin Nogueira Ramos

From 11 to 21 March, Martin Nogueira Ramos is on a mission to Japan to consult documents on Catholicism in Kyoto during the Meiji era at the National Diet Library (Tokyo), the Katorikku Bunko (Catholic collection) at Nanzan University (Nagoya) and the archives of Inabata & Co., Ltd (Osaka). During his mission, he will present a paper on 13 March and organise a study day on 14 March.

Christophe Pottier

From 25 February to 10 April, Christophe Pottier will travel to Siem Reap several times to monitor the MAFKATA mission's excavation campaign, which is continuing in Roluos with Laura Docquier (Lettres Sorbonne Université) and Clémence Le Meur (Österreichisches Archäologisches Institut).

Christophe Pottier will be in Laos from 28 February to 12 March to participate in the AFD follow-up mission in Savannakhet and Champassak for the CHAMPA project.

Catherine Scheer

On 9 March, Catherine Scheer will speak at the core seminar for the Master's in Asian Studies (EHESS-EPHE-EFEO) organised by Raphaël Louvet (EHESS, CCJ). Her presentation is entitled "Indigenous ethnic minorities in struggle: identity politics in the face of disruptive development in Cambodia" and will take place in the auditorium of MSH Paris Nord, Campus Condorcet.

Saarthak Singh

On 28 March, Saarthak Singh will present a paper entitled "Jain temple patronage and religious processions under the sultans of Malwa" at the 27th Jain Studies Workshop organised by Peter Flügel at SOAS, University of London.

Olivier Tessier

Olivier Tessier is participating in the workshop "Capacity Building for Vietnamese Translators in the Humanities and Social Sciences" (a project of the "Fonds Équipe France" programme, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs), which will be held from 9 to 13 March at Cân Tho University (Mekong Delta). At the end of the workshop, he will present a paper entitled "The first steps of ethnology in Vietnam: the leading role of the École française d'Extrême-Orient during the first half of the 20th century".

Projects

CHAMPA Project

As part of the NATURAL_FORESTORE project, a collaboration between The National Biobank of Thailand (NBT), the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), IRD and EFEO, a team of researchers has been continuing to set up and conduct a detailed survey of tree species in around 15 areas, each covering one hectare, since 9 February and will continue until May 2026.

Nicolas Nauleau is continuing the archaeological study programme in the ancient city from 2 March to 11 April, at the Phon That sites as part of the CHAMPA project to develop the site.

The annual steering committees for the CHAMPA project, in Savannakhet and Champassak, will take place from 2 to 7 March. David Bazin, Vissa Chanthaphasouk, Nicolas Nauleau, Christophe Pottier and Bertrand Porte will participate.

Bertrand Porte will be at Vat Phu from 3 March onwards to continue inventorying, collating and repackaging items, working with the museum team to prepare and define the contents of the future museum. He is also supervising restoration work on three bai sema temporarily transferred from Vat Ho Phra Kaeo in Vientiane, as part of a collaboration with Michel Lorrillard's FEF-R project. The bai sema will be returned there after restoration.

LiDAR surveys in the field are continuing and expanding towards the south of Champassak Province. Mapping of an area north of the Vat Phou site, including numerous traces of development around Tham In Seua, will be carried out in March, based on data collected in the field.

Prior to the structural restoration work on Vat Taleo Kao as part of the CHAMPA project, the mission to consolidate and protect the wall paintings will continue until 13 March. The team of conservators led by Marie Parant includes Agnés Roze, Soria Sum, Maud Pouliot, Sarah Albrand, Thitipan Thongchay, Chalermpol Arthitsam and three representatives from the Savannakhet Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT). Vissa Chanthaphasouk (EFEO doctoral student) and David Bazin will join the mission for the last two days (12 and 13 March) to mark its conclusion.

On 11 March, the new French Ambassador to Laos, Ms Bénédicte Deschamps, will visit Champassak and Vat Phou. The visit will include a presentation of the ongoing excavations and the EFEO's geomatics laboratory at the WHSO.

ChEDiL Project

On 9 March, Michela Bussotti will present the ChEDiL project as part of the seminar "Sciences et savoirs de l'Asie orientale dans la mondialisation (XVIe-XXIe siècle)" by Catherine Jami, Zhao Bing and Wu Huiyi (CNRS) at EHESS - Condorcet.

On 26 March, Michela Bussotti will speak on the theme "Des missionnaires aux premiers sinologues : les dictionnaires plurilingues (chinois/langues européennes), XVIIe-XIXe siècles" as part of Rahul Markovits' seminar "Le contact des langues à l’époque moderne" at the ENS in Paris.

DiPiKA Project - Thrissur

From 2 to 4 March, Devahar Vijayan will travel to Pondicherry to participate in the symposium "Tuning-up VOICES: Hints. Probes. Directions" organised at the Pondicherry Centre as part of the ERC VOICES - Voices from the Deep South project, which brings together the EFEO and the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He will present a paper entitled "Kaṇṇer Pāṭṭŭ in Performance: Field Observations from Puṭayūr Mana, Kannur District".

On 5 March, Ushus K. Unnikrishnan presented a paper entitled "Management and Preservation of Rare Manuscript Collection in a Repository in Kerala" at a symposium on codicology jointly organised by the Sanskrit University of Karnataka, Chamarajpete, Bengaluru, and the Prof. M.P.L. Sastry Centre for Vedic Studies, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru.

FEF-R project

As part of the FEF-R project (funded by the French Embassy in Laos) to promote the collections of the Vat Ho Phra Kaeo Museum, Catherine Raymond, art historian and former professor at Northern Illinois University, is on a mission in Vientiane from 4 to 24 March to continue her work on the pieces selected for the exhibition.

As part of the FEF-R project to showcase the collections of the Vat Ho Phra Kaeo Museum, Phongsathorn Buakamphan, research assistant at the Chiang Mai centre, is on assignment in Vientiane from 9 to 20 March to continue the epigraphic study of several inscribed pieces found during the inventory operations.

LANGAU Research Programme

On the recommendation of the Advisory Committee for Archaeological Research Abroad, the 2026-2027 archaeological label of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres has been awarded to the LANGAU archaeological mission, led by Brice Vincent.

Lectures

Alain Arrault & Michela Bussotti
- EHESS seminar in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Histoire culturelle de la Chine impériale tardive : textes techniques et prescriptions du quotidien

Éric Bourdonneau
- Seminar, "Depuis la marge". Étude des images et écriture de l’histoire du Cambodge ancien, Phnom Penh Faculty of Archaeology

Hugo David
EPHE seminar ("Philosophie et Philologie sanskrite") in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies,  Autour de l'énonciation : linguistique et métaphysique (introduction à la philosophie linguistique de Bhartrhari 2)

- Université Sorbonne Nouvelle – Paris 3 Seminar as part of the Bachelor's Degree in Indian Studies, Lecture de textes philosophiques sanskrits : introduction à la lecture du "Pātañjalayogaśāstra" ("Yogasūtra" de Patañjali et leur [auto-]commentaire)

Véronique Degroot
- EHESS seminar in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Introduction à l'histoire de l'art et à l'archéologie de l'Indonésie occidentale: protohistoire et période hindo-bouddhique

Valérie Gillet et Saarthak Singh
- EPHE seminar ("Histoire et enjeux de l'Inde pré-coloniale") in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Histoire de l'Inde précoloniale : enjeux et sources. La gestion de l'eau : aménagements hydrauliques, enjeux politiques, programme

Andrew Hardy
- EHESS seminar in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Histoire de la colonisation du Vietnam : approches micro-biographiques ?

Benoît Jacquet
- Master 2 Seminar, Les enseignements de l’espace au Japon, École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Paris-La Villette and of Paris-Val de Seine

On 17 March, Sébastien Renauld & Mélanie Heresbach (Atelier 2m26, Kyoto), "Vers une architecture vivante"

On 24 March, Thomas Swierzinski (Tokyo Metropolitan University), "Définir l’espace de la voie du thé : le pavillon de thé dans la pensée des architectes"

On 31 March, Davisi Boontharm, (University of Ljubljana, Keio University), "Tokyo requalified / Tokyo requalifié"

- Master 2 Seminar, Paysages : architectures, villes et territoires en transition (PFE), École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Paris-La Villette

Fabienne Jagou
- EHESS seminar in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Le nationalisme tibétain à partir du début du XXe siècle

François Lachaud
- EPHE seminar ("Bouddhisme et civilisation japonaise") in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, La Guerre et ses fantômes: les pièces à Asura (shuramono) dans le théâtre nō [Le Heike monogatari et ses héritages 1]

- EPHE seminar ("Bouddhisme et civilisation japonaise") in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Le prélat et les guerriers : lectures du Gukanshō (Mes Vues sur l'Histoire) [Penser la guerre au moyen âge I]

Martin Nogueira Ramos
- EPHE seminar ("Histoire du fait religieux dans le Japon prémoderne et moderne (XVIe-XIXe s.") in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Sources et histoire du catholicisme japonais moderne (XIXe siècle)

Christophe Pottier
- Master's seminar at Sorbonne University, Actualités et pratiques de l'archéologie en Extrême-Orient

Catherine Scheer
EHESS seminar in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Faire de la recherche sur le terrain : contraintes, contournements, engagements en Asie du Sud-Est

On 5 March, Aymeric Mariette (Paris Cité, CESSMA & CASE), "Enquêter sur les lieux symboliques de la présence chinoise en Asie du Sud-Est : contraintes, stratégies et identités"

On 19 March, Julien Le Hoangan (Cermes 3), "Conduire une enquête sur le vieillissement au Vietnam: entre familles, État, et le marché"

- EHESS seminar in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Anthropologie comparée de l'Asie du Sud-Est. Marges et pouvoirs locaux : ethnographies et histoire régionale

On 5 March, Vanina Bouté (EHESS, CASE), Yves Goudineau (EFEO, CASE) et Catherine Scheer (EFEO, CASE), "Séance introductive, présentation de la thématique annuelle"

On 19 March, Alexandra de Mersan (Inalco, CASE), "Le sanctuaire Buddermokan (Arakan/Birmanie) : évolution du rituel dans la décennie de réformes (2012-2019)"

Charlotte Schmid & Saarthak Singh
EPHE seminar ("Épigraphie et iconographie du monde indien") in the framework of the Master's degree in Asian Studies, Écrire, inscrire et mettre en scène : la culture matérielle des textes dans le monde indien

Publications

The articles collected here illustrate the work of the distinguished researcher Professor G. Vijayavenugopal, whose scientific activity has focused on epigraphy since his arrival at the EFEO Centre in Pondicherry in 1997. They highlight the versatility of his scholarship and the influence he has had on their authors, presenting three sections: Tamil literature, epigraphy and linguistics. These sections echo his research career, evoking his work on Caṅkam and Bhakti literature, then his role as co-founder of the epigraphy journal Āvaṇam, and as editor and translator of Tamil inscriptions. The last section highlights his interest in linguistics: the language of inscriptions and philology complete the circle of a life dedicated to research.

All EFEO publications are available on the publications website.

Researchers' publications

Valérie Gillet, "Ambasamudram in the Ninth and the Tenth Centuries: An Influential Religious Center of the Pāṇḍya Kingdom (Tamil Nadu)", Journal of the American Oriental Society 146.1 (2026), pages 37–85.

Catherine Scheer, "Review: Development in Spirit: Religious Transformation and Everyday Politics in Vietnam’s Highlands, by Seb Rumsby", Journal of Vietnamese Studies 21, n° 1 (2026), pages 161–64.

Research Services

Recipients of allocation on mission

- Simon Astrup-Gay is based at the Taipei centre for a study on the "Géographies impériales de la forêt et du vent : La fabrique environnementale de l’impérialisme Qing à Taiwan (XVIIe–XVIIIe s.)"

- Mathilde Badey is based at the Bangkok centre for a study on "Les pratiques funéraires bouddhiques au Siam d'après les voyageurs européens du XVIIe s."

- Marvin Freyne is based at the Ho Chi Minh-City centre for a study on "Un nouveau militantisme ? Les descendant·es de l'agent orange et l'engagement associatif au Viêt Nam et en France"

- Agathe Grosbeau is based at the Beijing centre for a study on the "Histoire sociale du vêtement féminin dans la Chine des Tang"

- Lieu Dien Vi is based at the Ho Chi Minh-City centre for a study on "Participer à l’avenir : enquête ethnographique sur les pratiques de divination à Hồ Chí Minh-Ville auprès des praticiens rituels"

- Elichéva Ma Juster is based at the Hanoi centre for a study on "Kiều/Qiao翹, miroir du féminin : de la légende chinoise aux pratiques vietnamiennes"

- Lucie Mizzi is based at the Kyoto centre for a study on the "Commerce ambulant, une marginalité sociale en question au Japon. Passé, présent et devenir de la corporation des vendeurs de rue tekiya"

- Abhirami Prakasan is based at the Pondicherry centre for a study on the "Scribal hands and Textual transmission: A Paleographical study of Malayalam manuscripts of the Tantrasārasaṅgraha"

- Yunheng Xu is based at the Pondicherry centre for a study on "The Ulakaḷanta Perumāḷ Temple through its Inscriptions and its Legends".

Library

From 12 to 15 March, archivist Sovannara Mey will travel to Vancouver, Canada, to represent the EFEO at the annual conference of the Association for Asian Studies, which will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Photo Library

Of particular note

Réseau des Écoles françaises à l'Étranger

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