The Tang Center for Early China is dedicated to the advancement of the understanding of the richness and importance of early Chinese civilization as a part of a broader common human heritage. It is committed to doing so through both solid scholarship and broad public outreach.

The Tang Center is interested in supporting the study of newly discovered paleographic and textual material as well as artifacts. The Tang Center is especially interested in promoting the role of archaeology as a path to understand the past and it offers a critical window for introducing new archaeological discoveries in China to Western audiences.

As a part of the broader intellectual community of Columbia University and New York City, the Tang Center also offers public membership and sponsors public-oriented events aimed at spreading both knowledge of and interest in Early China.