Yanming An earned his Ph.D. in Asian Languages and Cultures from the University of Michigan in 1997, and his B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy from Fudan University, China, respectively in 1982 and 1985. Before starting his journey in the U.S. in 1991, he had served as a deputy director of a research section at the Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, specializing in the philosophy of history, and the philosophical movement from Phenomenology to Hermeneutics.
An joined the faculty at Clemson University to start its Chinese program and East Asian Studies Program in 1999 after two years service as Lecturer of Chinese Language and Culture in the University of Michigan (1997) and Princeton University (1998). At Clemson University, he has taught Philosophy in Ancient China, Philosophy in Modern China, Buddhism in China, Introduction to China, Daoism and Zen Buddhism, Comparative Studies of Chinese and Western Philosophies (with Professor Todd May), and modern Chinese at all levels.
An has published extensively both in Chinese and English on Chinese philosophy and religion, German philosophy, and comparative philosophy. Among his recent publications is a monograph The Idea of Cheng (Sincerity/Reality) in the History of Chinese Philosophy (2006). In addition, he has served as the President of The Association of the Chinese Philosophers in North America since 2005, a visiting chair professor at Dalian University of Technology since 2005, and an editorial member of three journals. Also, he established and directed the first Clemson summer program to China in 2001, and has co-directed the Clemson summer program to China since 2002.