East Asian Languages and Societies Commons^™

Collaborative Teaching To Impact: Embedding Wikipedia Editing In An Asian Studies Curriculum, Angie Chau, Ying Liu

Journal of East Asian Libraries

The use of A.I. tools in learning and research introduces significant challenges to conventional essay assignments in Humanities, necessitating the exploration of alternative teaching and evaluation methods.

In many academic libraries, subject Librarians are often invited by instructors to teach one-shot library research skills workshops as guest speakers. The one-shot library instruction model is “not sufficient to convey the depth and breadth of information literacy concepts to students”, however, it remains in use “in part because of the sheer practicum of the model.”

In response to the identified need for change, the instructor and the librarian undertook a case study …

Journey Of Resilience: A Review Of Asian Canadian Voices: Facets Of Diversity, Veronica Fu

Journal of East Asian Libraries

Asian Canadian Voices: Facets of Diversity is a compelling anthology that celebrates the contributions of Asian Canadians over two centuries. Edited by Hana Kim and presented by the Cheng Yu Tung East Asian Library, the book weaves together diverse stories, exploring themes of resilience, cultural pride, and evolving identity. Structured into ten chapters, it addresses critical issues like diversity, diaspora, and acculturation. Beyond its celebration of achievements, the anthology reflects on anti-Asian racism during COVID-19 and broader racial challenges. A visually striking cover and global significance make it a commendable contribution to literature, fostering understanding and appreciation for the diverse …

The 2023 Japanese Rare Book Workshop On Edo Printed Books: A Report, Toshie Marra, Setsuko Noguchi

Journal of East Asian Libraries

The report on the Japanese Rare Book Workshop on Edo Printed Books which was held at the Library of Congress (LC) in Washington DC from August 9 to 11, 2023. This three-day workshop was organized by the Subcommittee on Japanese Rare Books, Committee on Japanese Materials (CJM) within the Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL) in collaboration with LC’s Asian Division and NMAA and its Library, and Professor Takahiro Sasaki of Shido Bunko, Keio University, as the instructor. The focus of the 2023 workshop remained centered on printed books from the Edo-period, as most Japanese rare materials held by North …

Mrs. Anne Swann Goodrich And The Chinese Paper Gods Collection At Columbia University, Mingjie Li

Journal of East Asian Libraries

The Chinese Paper Gods Collection at Columbia University, New York, was donated by Mrs. Anne Swann Goodrich and is currently unstudied by the academic community. This article presents a profile of the donor, details the types of items in the collection and discusses their potential scholarly value.

Full Issue

BYU Asian Studies Journal

No abstract provided.

How The West Is Represented In Modern Fictional Chinese Dramas, Natalie Lyman Shields

BYU Asian Studies Journal

Lois Tyson once said, “Neither human events (in the political or personal domain) nor human productions (from nuclear submarines to television shows) can be understood without understanding the specific historical circumstances in which those events and productions occur” (Tyson 2006, 54). To parrot Lois Tyson, in order to understand human productions such as modern Chinese dramas, one must understand the specific historical circumstances set around those story plots. This paper will dive into how the West is represented in modern fictional Chinese dramas. In order to do this, this paper will explore the cultural and political circumstances at the time …

When Big Brother Blinks, Josh Eyre

BYU Asian Studies Journal

When discussing modern Japanese literature, works of the late 1930s and early 1940s are largely left out of the discussion. Stories written during this time are ignored by scholars, forgotten by readers, and at times even excluded from an author’s “complete works” by publishers (Keene 1987, 906–907). These works are often thought to be devoid of literary merit or not worth studying due to the high levels of scrutiny and censorship that Japanese authors were subjected to by the far right and intensely nationalistic Japanese government of the time. I would argue, however, that the near total dismissal of Japanese …

The Complications Of People In Diplomacy, Kiner Kwok

BYU Asian Studies Journal

In the late 18th century and early 19th century, European embassies eagerly interacted with Qing China (1644–1912). In 1792, Lord George Macartney (1737–1806) led the first British mission to Qing China. During this mission, even though Lord Macartney met with the Qianlong emperor (r. 1735–1796), his goal of establishing free trade and diplomatic relations with the Qing court was rejected. A few years later, in 1795, a mission, sent out by the Dutch East India Company (VOC), arrived at the Qing court to congratulate the Qianlong emperor’s 60th anniversary of his governance. Then again, in 1805, a Russian mission, led …

Christianity On Home Brew, Brayden Lane

BYU Asian Studies Journal

In 1659, after enduring three years of torture and refusing to renounce his teachings, a Christian priest was executed in Nagasaki by decapitation under order by local officials. This man, who had taken the name of Bastian at his baptism, had spent the previous several years leading and teaching his fellow Christians in the villages near Nagasaki. He did this in secrecy, for in those days, professing belief as a Christian had been declared illegal by the Japanese government under penalty of death. In the course of his ministry, he saw many of his brethren meet their deaths for their …

दहेज: Dowry And Its Repercussions On Indian Society, Lindy Miller

BYU Asian Studies Journal

I n Dudu, a small village in the Indian state of Rajasthan, the bodies of three sisters and their children were found at the bottom of a well in the spring of 2022. Kalu, Kamlesh, and Mamta Meena stated in their suicide letter, “We don’t wish to die but death is better than their abuse. Our in-laws are the reason behind our deaths. We are dying together because it’s better than dying every day” (CBS 2022).

Asian American Identity And Museum Collections, Natasha Wang

BYU Asian Studies Journal

In June of 2022, the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act was passed in Congress (Commision to Study 2022, 117-140):

As part of the report, the Commission will need to address: (A) The availability and cost of collections to be acquired and housed in the Museum (B) The impact of the Museum on existing Asian Pacific American history-related museums. (Hirono 2022)

The Function Of Sound Symbolism In The Japanese Language, Madison Buckles

BYU Asian Studies Journal

his paper examines sound symbolism in the Japanese language, primarily its role in linguistic qualities of onomatopoeia, and why it occurs in relation to language theory. Several reasons for the occurrence of sound symbolism are discussed, namely vowel and consonant associations; context of a speaker’s language; and the development, significance, and necessity of these words. The paper concludes by arguing that the lack of research in the field of sound symbolism, despite its prominent role against the prevailing theory of language (which states that words are arbitrary in conjunction with their meaning), is another example of the Western world’s tendency …

Yingyin's Vow, Jackson Keys

BYU Asian Studies Journal

Romantic fiction of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) often contains a scene that reads as such: Two lovers, usually a young scholar and a beautiful young woman, cast their fate towards heaven as they decide to make vows of devotion, promising each other that they will marry none but the other. This couple will then go through challenges and setbacks, and although it seems there is no possible way for them to be together, their devotion to one another allows them to ultimately overcome all obstacles and live happily together. This structure, with roots dating back to the Tang (618–907) chuanqi …

A Reflection On The Challenges And Collaborative Potential In Working With Buddhist Studies Materials In East Asian Librarianship, Matthew Hayes

Journal of East Asian Libraries

This article explores a set of shared challenges that tend to emerge for East Asian Librarians in working with Buddhist studies materials. It outlines how Buddhist linguistic conventions can give rise to an unpredictability in reference work, how its historical textual practices can complicate collections development, and how Buddhist temple archive management can make traditional approaches to research advising unreliable. It also proposes that these challenges provide distinct opportunities for collaboration across Chinese, Japanese, and Korean areas of bibliographic coverage. These challenges offer a chance for librarians to work together and develop a standard, field-wide toolset for working with these …

Book Censorship In Post-Tiananmen China (1989-2019), Yuwu Song

Journal of East Asian Libraries

Abstract: Censorship has become more prevalent in Chinese cultural and social life since the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. Modern commentary on Chinese censorship focuses on news media and Internet, but neglects print books, which is part of a broader crackdown on dissent. To fill this gap, the project aims to map the contours of book censorship in China during the past 30 years. The emphasis is on the Chinese authorities’ increasing attempts to dominate people’s minds under Xi Jinping, who ascended to power as the leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2012. The project reveals different levels of …

Full Issue

BYU Asian Studies Journal

No abstract provided.

What In Chinese Culture And Political Philosophy Makes It Difficult To Share Power At The Top?, Natalie Lyman Shields

BYU Asian Studies Journal

天高皇帝远, Tiān gāo, huángdì yuan, is an ancient Chinese proverb that translates to “Heaven is high and the emperor is far away.” Starting anciently in the Shang Dynasty, China typically had an emperor who ruled over his subjects, yet in a far away manner: “For two thousand years China had an emperor figure who was state power and spiritual authority rolled into one” (Wild Swans, 261–262). The most notable emperor was the first blazing Emperor Qin Shi Huang who unified the land around 247 B.C. Many emperors followed, claiming the Mandate of Heaven, until the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty …

Economic Sanctions And The Future Of The North Korean Nuclear Program, Drew Horne

BYU Asian Studies Journal

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), or North Korea, has proven to be a stumping issue for policymaker and academic alike. Dubbed “The Impossible State” by Victor Cha (2012) and the quintessential “Hard Target” by Haggard and Noland (2017), North Korea’s unique mix of autarkic authoritarianism, stubbornly resilient socialist system, and burgeoning nuclear capability, all situated in perhaps the most geopolitically fraught region in the modern world, has led journalists, academics, policymakers, and even thrill-seekers (think Dennis Rodman) to try to understand this enigmatic, what Lankov (2013) calls, “political fossil.” Within the myriad issues presented by North Korea, two …

The Power Of Concubines And Empresses, Emma Nymoen

BYU Asian Studies Journal

In official Chinese history, women were the ultimate scapegoat. The downfall of dynasties was often blamed, not on the weak character of an emperor, but rather on the wife or concubine that seduced him and monopolized his attention away from the empire. The accomplishments and influence of women were often erased or downplayed, often twisted in order to paint the women in a dark and problematic light. Emperors were usually isolated in the inner court of the palace to protect them, but in turn this insulated them from the officials and advisors of the outer court and gave the women …

Colonialism And Indigenous Peoples Of Taiwan, Sabrina Wong

BYU Asian Studies Journal

Taiwan can be found about 100 miles off the southeastern coast of China in the Pacific Ocean. It consists of a main island and many smaller surrounding islands. Before the arrival of the Dutch, the only inhabitants of the island were the Taiwanese indigenous peoples, also known as the Formosan people, Austronesian Taiwanese people, or Gaoshan people, who had been there for thousands of years. For consistency, throughout this paper, I will refer to them as Taiwanese indigenous peoples. The Taiwanese indigenous peoples are made up of different tribes, traditionally with over 26, 16 of which are recognized today by …

Xinjiang: Uyghur Nationalism And Prc Economic Ambitions In The Region, Erin Kitchens Wong

BYU Asian Studies Journal

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has maintained a long and strenuous history of relations with its western-most province of Xinjiang (Xīnjiāng, 新疆). Relations with ethnic minorities in the region have been significantly influenced by changes in both domestic and foreign policy. Since the founding of the new Chinese state under Mao Zedong, the Uyghur (Wéiwú’ěr, 维吾尔) population of Xinjiang have seen vicious swings to and from radical domestic policy.

Report On Japanese-Language Manga Magazine Survey 2020, Victoria Rahbar

Journal of East Asian Libraries

The North American manga boom occurred in the early 2000s, but the anime and manga studies boom is occurring now as fans grow up and design their research based on childhoods complete with idols, magical girls, ninjas, and superheroes. Japanese-language manga magazines are one text utilized by these fans turned anime and manga studies researchers, and yet there has been no documentation prior on where patrons are able to access these magazines in North America. Thus, the Japanese-language manga magazine survey was primarily developed to document the availability of Japanese-language manga magazines at North American East Asian academic libraries with …

Full Issue

BYU Asian Studies Journal

No abstract provided.

Warfare: The Test Of Human Nature, Paulee Fogleman

BYU Asian Studies Journal

A common theme many Chinese philosophers explore and debate is the state of human nature and how one can best follow the Way. Bryan W. Van Norden, a scholar of Chinese philosophy, explains that the early Chinese thinkers were looking for the Dao, or the “right way to live one’s life and organize society,” also known as the “ultimate metaphysical entity that was responsible for the way the world is and the way that it ought to be.”1 As the philosophers of the “Hundred Schools of Thought” sought to explain the chaotic time that was the Warring States period (475–221 …

The Effect Of Nationalistic Communism On The Sino-Soviet Split, Braeden Davis

BYU Asian Studies Journal

In the early 1950s, the world communist movement seemed unstoppable. Without giving the liberal democracies time to catch their breath following World War II, the world’s socialist nations confronted the West in a dangerous Cold War standoff. In less than a decade, communist parties had consolidated power across most of the Eurasian continent, all under the powerful protection of the Soviet Union and its communist party (hereafter referred to as the CPSU). Most significantly, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had taken control of China, thus establishing the most populous communist nation on earth. The Chinese were close allies of the …

A Complicated Affair Of Twentieth Century Southeast Asia, Nhi Phan

BYU Asian Studies Journal

January 7, 2021 marked the 42nd anniversary of the Vietnamese army and allied forces of Cambodian general Hun Sen overthrowing Pol Pot. Although this invasion took a mere two weeks, the consequences lasted for more than ten years with huge losses for both the Vietnamese and Cambodians. After 1975, Indochina has gone through many changes with different regimes; its geography, however, has remained the same. Even though both Vietnam and Cambodia became communist regimes after winning their independence from France in 1975, they experienced different changes in political ideology. The shift in regime also brought along border conflicts between the …

The Female Experience With Nationalism, Feminism, And Han In Post-Choson Korea, Midori Raymond

BYU Asian Studies Journal

Women constitute roughly half of the population, yet in most patriarchal societies they are placed second to men. Throughout the course of history, there have been several attempts to improve the standing of women within the home and society to match that of their male counterparts. These attempts to achieve gender equality can be categorized as feminism. In South Korea (hereafter Korea), there have been many such attempts. Since the Japanese colonial period, many things have contributed to the rise of modern feminism in Korea; nationalism, speaking out against sexual assault, and the female experience with han can be considered …

China’S Rural Statistics: The Contemporary Chinese Village Gazetteer Data Project, Yuanziyi Zhang

Journal of East Asian Libraries

In July 2018, the East Asian Library (EAL) of the University of Pittsburgh Library System (ULS) initiated the Contemporary Chinese Village Gazetteer Data (CCVG Data) project to create a series of open-access online datasets of China’s rural statistics selected from the library’s collection of Chinese village gazetteers. The current datasets contain data from 1,000 village gazetteers in 18 categories. As an ongoing project, the goal is to reach 2,500 to 3,000 villages. A database that allows effective and efficient ingesting, querying, manipulating, and displaying CCVG data will be available for use by the end of 2020. This article serves as …

A Report On Preparing The Council On East Asian Libraries’S (Ceal) Statement On Collection Development And Acquisition Amid The Covid-19 Pandemic: In Collaboration With The North American Coordinating Council On Japanese Library Resources (Ncc) And The Society Of Chinese Studies Librarians (Scsl), Fabiano Takashi Rocha

Journal of East Asian Libraries

The COVID-19 pandemic forced libraries to close temporarily halting the access to physical collections. As a result, many libraries started reformulating or implementing collection development policies that favour the acquisition of electronic formats. Given the low, and in some cases nonexistent, availability of resources in electronic formats in the non-English publishing realm, concerns were raised by several area studies organizations about the equity and representation in collection development and acquisition. This report provides insight on how the Council on East Asian Libraries (CEAL) , along with the North American Coordinating Council on Japanese Library Resources (NCC) and the Society of …

Emerging Technical Services, Part Two: 2019 Progress & 2020 Planning Report Of Ctp (Committee On Technical Processing), Charlene Chou

Journal of East Asian Libraries

This report is the Part Two of 2018 CTP report--“Emerging Technical Services: The Vision of the Committee on Technical Processing” published in JEAL, no. 167 (2018), and focuses on the progress of CEAL CTP (Committee on Technical Processing) activities and work plans to fulfill the goals of CTP in the past year.