Upon graduation in 1962, he pursued his master's degree at Nanjing University under the supervision of Chen Zhongfan (陈中凡), and expert in classical Chinese theatre.
He served as Chair of the Chinese Department from 1986 to 1988, Vice President of Nanjing University from 1988 to 1993, President of the Institute of Theatre, Film, and Television Research from 1993 to 2012, and Director of the China New Literature Research Centre from 2005 to 2011.
[1][2] Dong published numerous works on theatre history and theory, as well as contemporary literature of China.
One of his most important works is A Draft History of Modern Chinese Theatre (中国现代戏剧史稿), co-authored with the renowned playwright Chen Baichen.
[1] He also published a comprehensive study of Chen Baichen's works, Biography of Tian Han, and A New Draft History of Contemporary Chinese Literature (中国当代文学史新稿).