Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Confronting Cultural Difference In The Establishment Of A Global Zen Community, Joshua A. Irizarry

2013 New England Association for Asian Studies Conference

As a commercial phenomenon, Zen is recognizable throughout the world as a lucrative brand name that communicates harmony, simplicity, and cosmopolitan elegance. In contrast, the Japanese Zen institution’s attempts to develop Zen into a successful global religion have proven more problematic. Despite initial successes by Japanese clergy in establishing centers of Zen practice throughout Europe and the Americas, the past fifty years have seen the dream of a global Zen community descend into a legacy of controversy, scandals, and schisms over conflicting claims of authority.

Looking specifically at the internationalization efforts of the Japanese Sōtō Zen sect, this paper will …

The Cult Of Ho Chi Minh: Commemoration And Contestation, Dat Manh Nguyen

2013 New England Association for Asian Studies Conference

Ho Chi Minh, the “father of modern Viet Nam,” remains a powerful figure in contemporary Vietnamese politics and culture. Since his death in 1969, the Vietnamese Communist Party has constructed a state cult surrounding his image. The construction of the Ho Chi Minh memorial complex in Hanoi, the propagation of Ho Chi Minh’s teachings, and the state commemorative rituals for Uncle Ho contribute to his continuous presence. The state cult posits Ho Chi Minh not only as the “father figure” to whom Vietnamese people pay respect and tribute, but also as the moral compass by which the people orient themselves …

The Role Of Culture In Making Psychiatric Diagnosis: Hwabyung (火病) And Neurasthenia (神經衰弱), Jonghyun Lee

2013 New England Association for Asian Studies Conference

The Role of Culture in Making Psychiatric Diagnosis: Hwabyung (火病) and Neurasthenia (神經衰弱)

My paper looks at two psychiatric illnesses and discusses their social and cultural dimensions. The two illnesses to be compared are the Korean affliction called hwabyung, and the once-popular Western malady labeled neurasthenia, a common ailment in 19th century America.

Neurasthenia was defined as “a disorder characterized by feelings of fatigue and lassitude,” which is caused by the nervous system. That definition could fit most people at some time or another. Hwabyung, on the other hand, means “fire illness.” Koreans believe that chronic distress can …

Bulletin Of The Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Vol. 74, No. 2, Massachusetts Archaeological Society

Bulletin of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society

• Editor's Note (Curtiss Hoffman)
• Perry’s Shell Heap, North Truro, Massachusetts: New Insights from Old Archaeological Sites (Lucianne Lavin)
• Unpublished Papers on Cape Ann Prehistory (Mary Ellen Lepionka)
• Titicut Mullers (William B. Taylor)
• The Copper Projectile Points of North Plymouth (Bernard Otto)

Bulletin Of The Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Vol. 74, No. 1, Massachusetts Archaeological Society

Bulletin of the Massachusetts Archaeological Society

• Editor's Note (Curtiss Hoffman)
• Acorn to Icon: The History of the Pow-Wow Oak in Lowell, Massachusetts (Eugene C. Winter)
• An Early Colonial Native American Trade Point on Boston Common (Joseph Bagley)
• A New Type of Scraper (William B. Taylor)
• The Deeds for Titicut (Ketiticut) Plantation (William B. Taylor)
• New England Native American Spirit Structures (Mary E. Gage)

Car Modification: A Vehicle For Self Expression, Emily Kearns

Undergraduate Review

When considering what falls into the remarkably broad discipline that is folklore, some of the first images that come to mind are peasants and farmers performing folk dances, passing down folktales, and engaging in age-old rituals and ceremonies. I certainly never would have considered car modification to fall under the folkloric umbrella – after all, it seems far too modern, and we often have the misconception that folklore is concerned exclusively with the lower-class workers of the distant past. However, after looking closely at some of the more modern interpretations and definitions of folklore (of which there are many), it …