Javier Cha
@javiercha.bsky.social
Canadian in Hong Kong.
Work: digital historian @ HKU.
Research: medieval Korea, Neo-Confucianism, historical networks, data centres, infrastructure studies, and historical applications of AI.
Team: Big Data Studies Lab https://bigdatastudies.net/
Work: digital historian @ HKU.
Research: medieval Korea, Neo-Confucianism, historical networks, data centres, infrastructure studies, and historical applications of AI.
Team: Big Data Studies Lab https://bigdatastudies.net/
Is anybody interested in alpha testing Nabi X? You can: (1) upload your own documents and interact with them; or (2) you can have conversations with existing digital humanities and premodern Korean history materials. Let me know via a reply or PM.
More on Nabi X: bigdatastudies.net/nabi-x/
More on Nabi X: bigdatastudies.net/nabi-x/
October 21, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Is anybody interested in alpha testing Nabi X? You can: (1) upload your own documents and interact with them; or (2) you can have conversations with existing digital humanities and premodern Korean history materials. Let me know via a reply or PM.
More on Nabi X: bigdatastudies.net/nabi-x/
More on Nabi X: bigdatastudies.net/nabi-x/
I'm relieved that I have a decent understanding of Rosenzweig, but I admit that Nabi X is good at helping me catch some of my blind spots.
October 3, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I'm relieved that I have a decent understanding of Rosenzweig, but I admit that Nabi X is good at helping me catch some of my blind spots.
TFW a kernel of an idea from 18 months ago becomes reality. I'm so thankful to the magicians in my team.
We have begun to roll out Nabi X in my two courses this semester!
We have begun to roll out Nabi X in my two courses this semester!
October 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
TFW a kernel of an idea from 18 months ago becomes reality. I'm so thankful to the magicians in my team.
We have begun to roll out Nabi X in my two courses this semester!
We have begun to roll out Nabi X in my two courses this semester!
Despite a few errors here and there, this ChatGPT 5 translation is quite readable. Wow, I can assign Yi Taejin's classic article of land reclamation in the 16th century to undergrad students.
September 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Despite a few errors here and there, this ChatGPT 5 translation is quite readable. Wow, I can assign Yi Taejin's classic article of land reclamation in the 16th century to undergrad students.
Is this potentially a game changer? This semester, I'm assigning readings in both English and Korean and teaching students how to read primary sources in classical Chinese via AI translators (with caveats).
GPT-5's English translation of Lee Ikjoo's study of the Chosŏn founding is quite decent:
GPT-5's English translation of Lee Ikjoo's study of the Chosŏn founding is quite decent:
August 31, 2025 at 7:26 AM
Is this potentially a game changer? This semester, I'm assigning readings in both English and Korean and teaching students how to read primary sources in classical Chinese via AI translators (with caveats).
GPT-5's English translation of Lee Ikjoo's study of the Chosŏn founding is quite decent:
GPT-5's English translation of Lee Ikjoo's study of the Chosŏn founding is quite decent:
I have two events coming up at Leuven, after @jing-hu.bsky.social's highly anticipated PhD defense.
Monday, 1 September: a workshop with Jing on how I processed the Andong Kwŏn Genealogy of 1476 so that it can be "digitally (re)read" via Neo4j queries.
GitHub page: github.com/javiercha/an...
Monday, 1 September: a workshop with Jing on how I processed the Andong Kwŏn Genealogy of 1476 so that it can be "digitally (re)read" via Neo4j queries.
GitHub page: github.com/javiercha/an...
August 25, 2025 at 2:12 PM
I have two events coming up at Leuven, after @jing-hu.bsky.social's highly anticipated PhD defense.
Monday, 1 September: a workshop with Jing on how I processed the Andong Kwŏn Genealogy of 1476 so that it can be "digitally (re)read" via Neo4j queries.
GitHub page: github.com/javiercha/an...
Monday, 1 September: a workshop with Jing on how I processed the Andong Kwŏn Genealogy of 1476 so that it can be "digitally (re)read" via Neo4j queries.
GitHub page: github.com/javiercha/an...
My job is safe. For now.
August 9, 2025 at 3:04 AM
My job is safe. For now.
And we caught a glimpse of the lads as they checked into their hotel. Here's Gyökeres. 🫱🏻😶🫲🏻
Dude is a monster. Pure muscle and determination. I can't wait for this season to start.
Dude is a monster. Pure muscle and determination. I can't wait for this season to start.
July 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
And we caught a glimpse of the lads as they checked into their hotel. Here's Gyökeres. 🫱🏻😶🫲🏻
Dude is a monster. Pure muscle and determination. I can't wait for this season to start.
Dude is a monster. Pure muscle and determination. I can't wait for this season to start.
Palestinian/Lebanese
July 19, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Palestinian/Lebanese
Argentinian, aka childhood memories
July 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Argentinian, aka childhood memories
Sichuanese run by a northern Chinese family (hence my order)
July 19, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Sichuanese run by a northern Chinese family (hence my order)
CFP: #HKADH2026 will be hosted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (23-25 January 2026).
Keynote speakers: Lauren Tilton @nolauren.bsky.social and Andrew Piper @andrewpiper.bsky.social.
Submission deadline: 31 August.
2026.hkadh.org/callforpapers/
#HKADH
Keynote speakers: Lauren Tilton @nolauren.bsky.social and Andrew Piper @andrewpiper.bsky.social.
Submission deadline: 31 August.
2026.hkadh.org/callforpapers/
#HKADH
July 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
CFP: #HKADH2026 will be hosted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (23-25 January 2026).
Keynote speakers: Lauren Tilton @nolauren.bsky.social and Andrew Piper @andrewpiper.bsky.social.
Submission deadline: 31 August.
2026.hkadh.org/callforpapers/
#HKADH
Keynote speakers: Lauren Tilton @nolauren.bsky.social and Andrew Piper @andrewpiper.bsky.social.
Submission deadline: 31 August.
2026.hkadh.org/callforpapers/
#HKADH
I've figured out how to extract all 67 relinking loops (pending final verification, so this number might change slightly) from the Andong Kwŏn genealogy. Here's loop #3.
When I was working on my dissertation, I could only dream that this kind of exploration might one day be possible.
When I was working on my dissertation, I could only dream that this kind of exploration might one day be possible.
June 25, 2025 at 12:47 AM
I've figured out how to extract all 67 relinking loops (pending final verification, so this number might change slightly) from the Andong Kwŏn genealogy. Here's loop #3.
When I was working on my dissertation, I could only dream that this kind of exploration might one day be possible.
When I was working on my dissertation, I could only dream that this kind of exploration might one day be possible.
Evidential learning and LLMs: Mingru xue'an will be converted into a knowledge base for AI-augmented East Asian intellectual history.
I added those bookmarks twenty years ago. Even though I was still quite the techie back then, little did I know what would be eventually possible in the 2020s.
I added those bookmarks twenty years ago. Even though I was still quite the techie back then, little did I know what would be eventually possible in the 2020s.
June 13, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Evidential learning and LLMs: Mingru xue'an will be converted into a knowledge base for AI-augmented East Asian intellectual history.
I added those bookmarks twenty years ago. Even though I was still quite the techie back then, little did I know what would be eventually possible in the 2020s.
I added those bookmarks twenty years ago. Even though I was still quite the techie back then, little did I know what would be eventually possible in the 2020s.
I love how BDSL's basic infrastructure is finally taking shape. I use VS Code at home on my MacBook Pro (now called Dinraal) with the Jupyter Server running on one of our HKU servers. I run my queries on a Neo4j database hosted in a Mac Mini server (Zora) sitting in my uni office.
June 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
I love how BDSL's basic infrastructure is finally taking shape. I use VS Code at home on my MacBook Pro (now called Dinraal) with the Jupyter Server running on one of our HKU servers. I run my queries on a Neo4j database hosted in a Mac Mini server (Zora) sitting in my uni office.
Today, BDSL's Mac Mini servers went live! The servers are tethered in Thunderbolt 5 for distributed LLM inferencing, should such a need arise.
Fun fact: I name my servers using Legend of Zelda references, as a diehard fan of the series for 35 years (and counting).
Fun fact: I name my servers using Legend of Zelda references, as a diehard fan of the series for 35 years (and counting).
June 12, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Today, BDSL's Mac Mini servers went live! The servers are tethered in Thunderbolt 5 for distributed LLM inferencing, should such a need arise.
Fun fact: I name my servers using Legend of Zelda references, as a diehard fan of the series for 35 years (and counting).
Fun fact: I name my servers using Legend of Zelda references, as a diehard fan of the series for 35 years (and counting).
The first iteration of DeepPast's modular AI architecture for digital humanities research (developed with Donghyeok Choi, Eric Chow, Michael Chung, Chi Man Kwong, Yumeng Hou, and Miguel Escobar Varela).
To be unveiled at the World Congress on Sinology 2025 closing keynote in Shenzhen this afternoon.
To be unveiled at the World Congress on Sinology 2025 closing keynote in Shenzhen this afternoon.
June 7, 2025 at 3:22 AM
The first iteration of DeepPast's modular AI architecture for digital humanities research (developed with Donghyeok Choi, Eric Chow, Michael Chung, Chi Man Kwong, Yumeng Hou, and Miguel Escobar Varela).
To be unveiled at the World Congress on Sinology 2025 closing keynote in Shenzhen this afternoon.
To be unveiled at the World Congress on Sinology 2025 closing keynote in Shenzhen this afternoon.