Encouraging knowledge and enhancing the study of Asia iias.asia 81 The Newsletter

Building the New Silk Road

The Focus A collective and interdisciplinary analysis of social progress

Building material knowledge through conservation in Indonesia

Celebrating 25 years of the International Institute for Asian Studies 2 Contents

From the Director In this edition 3 Second Africa-Asia Conference in of the Focus Dar es Salaam: Boundless Circulation of Knowledge 29-40

IIAS celebrates 25 years 4-5 A number of special activities have been planned for the upcoming year in honour of IIAS’s 25th anniversary.

The Study 7 6- Imaginaries of Jurong Industrial Estate, Singapore A collective and Loh Kah Seng 8 The lingering corpse in the Chinese urban Qin Shao interdisciplinary 9 A besieged artist: Hal Wichers in the Netherlands Indies Louis Zweers analysis of social 10-11 China’s country music: China wind Milan Ismangil progress The Region 12-14 China Connections Olivier Bouin The recent decades have seen a decline in 15-17 News from Northeast Asia 18-19 News from Southeast Asia world poverty and an extension of democracy 20-23 News from Australia and the Pacific in many countries around the world. Nevertheless, many people have the feeling that this has also been a period of social setbacks, and there is a The Review general atmosphere of skepticism regarding the 524-2 New reviews on newbooks.asia possibility of long-term substantial social progress. 26-27 Selected reviews from newbooks.asia A new report compiled by the International Panel 28 New titles on newbooks.asia on Social Progress (IPSP) seeks to gain insights into what the current main risks and challenges The Focus are, and how institutions and policies can be 29 A collective and interdisciplinary analysis improved if the plagues of inequality, segregation, of social progress intolerance, exclusion and violence are to be fought. Guest editor: Olivier Bouin This Focus shares the message of hope found in 30 Rethinking Asia for the 21st Century the IPSP report: A better society is indeed possible, Ravi Kanbur its contours can be broadly described, and all we 31 Social justice and well-being: lessons for Asia Hiroshi Ono need is to gather forces toward realizing this vision. 32-33 Values and principles for social progress Henry S. Richardson 34-35 Economic growth, social progress and planetary welfare Purnamita Dasgupta 36-37 Public health and social progress Vivian Lin, Britta Baer and Kate Silburn 38-39 Sustainable social progress begins The Newsletter is a free periodical with education: current perspectives published by the International Institute on the Asia region In this issue for Asian Studies (IIAS). As well as From 13 October onwards IIAS will be Suman Verma serving as a forum for scholars to share celebrating its 25th year of existence. We aim 40 Religion and social flourishing in Asia to make this year a memorable one, starting Samia Huq research, commentary and opinion with with our Annual Lecture on 20 November 2018 colleagues in academia and beyond, and culminating in ICAS 11 (16-19 July 2019), which will return to the Netherlands, where The Newsletter is also a window into it had its first instalment in 1998 (page 4-5). The Network the Institute. Also cause for celebration is ‘200 years of Oriental Studies in Russia’ (page 51). 42-47 Reports On page 42, attention is given to scholarship 48 New Publication in Cambodia. Closer to home, on page 49, 49 Announcements he International Institute for Asian you may read about the new IIAS research 50 Digital Resources Studies (IIAS) is a global Humanities project ‘Building the New Silk Road: China’s Tand Social Sciences institute and a Belt and Road Initiative in context’. 51-52 Announcements knowledge exchange platform, based in Furthermore, included are two workshop 53 IIAS Fellowship Programme Leiden, the Netherlands, with programmes reports (pages 43-45), an article by Manpreet 54-55 IIAS Research, Networks and Initiatives that engage Asian and other international Janeja about her book Ethnographies of partners. IIAS takes a thematic and multi- Waiting: Doubt, Hope and Uncertainty sectoral approach to the study of Asia (page 48) and finally, two pieces on the and actively involves scholars and experts digital resources of the East Asia Resource The Portrait from different disciplines and regions in its Library in Slovenia and ‘Naval Kishore Press activities. Our current thematic research – digital’ in India (page 50). 56 Song of Spring: Pan Yu-Lin in Paris clusters are ‘Asian Heritages’, ‘Asian Cities’ IIAS research programmes, networks and Chantal Miller Gallery, Asia Society and ‘Global Asia’. other initiatives are described in brief on pages Hong Kong Center (ASHK) Information about the programmes and 54-55. Information about the IIAS Fellowship activities of IIAS can be found in the Network programme can be found on page 53 and pages of each issue of The Newsletter. on our latest announcements on page 52. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 3 From the Director

The Newsletter is a free periodical published by IIAS. As well as being a window into the institute, The Newsletter also links IIAS with the community of Asia scholars and the worldwide public interested in Asia and Asian studies. The Newsletter bridges the gap between specialist knowledge and public discourse, and continues to serve as a forum for scholars to share research, commentary and opinion with colleagues in academia and beyond.

Postal address Second Africa-Asia PO Box 9500 2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands Visitors Conference in Dar es Salaam Rapenburg 59 Leiden T +31 (0) 71-527 2227 Boundless Circulation of Knowledge [email protected]

Colophon Philippe Peycam The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018

Managing editor: he International Institute for Asian of engagement that inspires even beyond the immune to changes. These may be rooted in Sonja Zweegers Studies (IIAS) and the International spatiality of the two continents. deep-seated beliefs and mental – ideological – Guest editor for The Focus: TConvention of Asia Scholars (ICAS) were Another special feature of the conference in Dar constructions delineated by value systems often Olivier Bouin honoured to serve, once again, as one of the es Salaam was the number of universities, institutes imposed by institutions, national narratives, or the Regional editors: principle facilitators of the second edition and even academic journals that went out of their fragmentation of knowledge into disciplines. Terence Chong (ISEAS), of the international conference ‘Asia-Africa, way to support the event and its plurality by funding One kind of unfounded value judgement that the Ilhong Ko (SNUAC), A New Axis of Knowledge’ which took place people in need of assistance. Their collective effort successes of Accra 2015 and Dar es Salaam 2018 Cheryl M. Schmitz (NYU Shanghai), in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 20-22 September amounts to a clear rejection of the current logic swept away is the so-called African ‘disconnection’ Edwin Jurriëns, Ana Dragojlovic 2018. The other key partners in this endeavour that coerces institutions into competition with one from the larger spectrum of knowledge circulation and Andy Fuller (Asia Inst. of were our host, the University of Dar es Salaam another or that prioritizes narrow quantifiable and debates of the world. This derogative conception The University of Melbourne). The Review pages editor: (UDSM), and the Association for Asian Studies outputs against the act of providing open and free is equally held toward other supposedly peripheral Wai Cheung in Africa (A-ASIA). This partnership stems spaces of intellectual exchanges, one of the essential places like for instance South or Southeast Asia. from a continuing commitment of IIAS to missions of humanistic academia. Among them were Before the two African events, we the organisers, The Network pages editor: collaborations beyond boundaries of any Calicut University, University of Ghana, Shanghai were warned about the ‘risks’ we would face – the Sandra Dehue kinds, which must include academic, cultural, Academy of Social Sciences, Tokyo University of supposed lack of local academic and intellectual Digital issue editor: public and social actors, particularly those Foreign Studies, Henry Luce Foundation, Michigan infrastructures; the Ebola pandemic; the fact that Thomas Voorter from the two most populated and dynamic University, Réunion University, National University this event was unnecessarily taking place in Africa Graphic Design: ‘southern’ regions (or continents) of the of Singapore, Social Sciences Research Council, (instead of Europe), in Ghana or Tanzania (instead Paul Oram world: Africa and Asia. Leiden University, IIAS, Andrew Mellon Foundation, of South-Africa); that its focus should primarily be Lava the academic publisher Taylor and Francis, Itinerario on the continent’s exclusive relations with China, or Printing: As three years ago in Accra, the event in journal, and of course, University of Dar es Salaam. of global security or economic concerns, subjects for EPC, Belgium Dar es Salaam celebrated the existence of alternative There were other organisations whose members which institutional money from northern programs circuits of exchanges in which the usual ‘periphery’ worked hard to get their presidents, deans or abound. All these disparaging or reductionist became the dynamic agent or vector of new heads of department, often against tight financial comments, many rooted in an antiquated conception Submissions knowledge. Nearly 400 participants joined constraints, to sponsor or contribute to the cost of the world in which meanings and concerns should Issue #82: 15 November 2018 approximately 100 panels and roundtables held of a panel or a roundtable. I cannot name them all remain the primacy of a few (northern) centres Issue #83: 15 March 2019 of gravity were brushed aside in Accra in 2015 and Issue #84: 15 July 2019 at the UDSM Business School. The events were but I would like here to pay special homage to our preceded by two outstanding and very personal colleagues from University Gaston Berger (Senegal), in Dar es Salaam in 2018. keynotes by Prof. Zulfiqarali Premji, from Tanzania Airlangga University (Indonesia), Ibadan University What came out of these periphery-turned- Submission enquiries and Prof. Oussouby Sacko, from Japan in the (Nigeria), Vietnam National University, University centre events, is that new agencies only emerge [email protected] university’s majestic Nkrumah Hall. of Zambia, and Kasetsart University (Thailand). if they emanate from truly inclusive trans-regional More information: I must say something about the organisation of In this list of supporting institutions, we saw forums, and that for them to arise free from iias.asia/the-newsletter the event; it was only possible thanks to the work and African, Indian and Pakistani, Chinese, European, existing constrains, they need to do so outside the dedication of our colleagues from UDSM, especially Japanese, American, Southeast Asian universities mainstream institutional or geographical circuits. Dr. Mathew Senga, our main counterpart from the working together to ensure a maximum plurality of Indeed, by moving away from the traditionally Free subscriptions participants regardless of institutional, disciplinary confined and located ‘academic territories’ usually Go to: iias.asia/subscribe College of Social Sciences. Mathew was aided by To unsubscribe, to make changes a number of organisational committees made up or national backgrounds. populated by self-defined ‘specialists’ of the two (e.g., new address), or to order of young UDSM faculty and graduate students who For all these reasons combined, the Dar es regions, the Africa-Asia events of Accra and Dar multiple copies: [email protected] delivered one of the smoothest and most heartfelt Salaam event must be seen as pertaining to a novel es Salaam openly disrupted the implicit restrictive events we at IIAS have ever been involved in. I want to kind of trans-regional ‘area studies’ platforms, function presiding over academia in the global thank them all and with them Prof. William Anangisye, one which saw a first occurrence at the memorable economic-political order and its hierarchized division Rights Vice Chancellor of UDSM, for his enthusiastic support. Accra conference in September 2015. Those who of labour. It is in fact at the time when we are all Responsibility for copyrights and Our symbiotic collaboration with UDSM was participated in one (or both) of these conferences experiencing a deep crisis of the Western-dominated for facts and opinions expressed not limited to organisational and logistical matters. can testify to their transformative appeal. ‘grand narrative’, with human, ecological but also in this publication rests exclusively Like us, they worked hard to raise awareness among A sentiment, shared by many during the events epistemological impasses everyday clearer, that with authors. Their interpretations this kind of Africa-Asia forum, by mobilizing multiple do not necessarily reflect the views scholars, especially within the Tanzanian and East and after, is that something new and critically of the institute or its supporters. African academic community. And like us, they did important was happening. They experienced first- ways to ‘be in the world’, can prove its full worth. Reprints only with permission from their utmost to raise resources to ensure that the hand the exhilarating feeling one encounters when Not only can it engage critically with the relations of the author and The Newsletter event would be as open and inclusive as possible. we step out of our comfort zone and are forced to power at the heart of old epistemologies, but it can editor [email protected] Together with the IIAS-ICAS team, whom I want to reach out to counterparts from totally different offer new angles to apprehend the world through thank for yet another example of their exceptional backgrounds or horizons, and how this experience a shared, inherently kaleidoscopic language. engagement, our UDSM colleagues worked in unison can be extremely rewarding, especially when we For these reasons, on behalf of the Organising to shape the whole programme, to organise the confront ourselves with an all-different historical, Committee, I would like to thank all the participants, panels according to 9 broad themes, to choose cultural and geographical reality. individuals and institutions present in Dar es Salaam, iias.asia the keynotes, etc. It was a real partnership. This exercise not only helps to better situate who brought to Tanzania such a rich and diverse The result was an increase in the number and one’s scholarship by testing our ideas on new group of people and such a wide range of subjects quality of contributions from participants coming grounds. It also inspires us to draw new, hitherto of discussion. In a world of shrinking horizons and from very different horizons. We saw participants unseen comparisons, to search for otherwise hidden growing insecurities, their expanding presence and from regions that were not present in Accra: from connections, or simply to fine-tune our narratives engagement is a testimony to a shared resolve to North Africa and the Maghreb, from Central and or argumentations so that they attain the kind of see scholarship continue to adhere to the universalist Eastern Europe, from Southeast Asia, the Middle- resonance that transcends particularities. A subtly tenets of inclusive exchanges and encounters; East, Western Asia and Central Asia. We saw more subversive displacement occurs that can help us to believe in what the Cameroonian scholar participants from francophone African countries embrace any realities in a decentred-yet-connected Achille Mbembe calls “the articulation, from Africa, – though still too few from lusophone areas. We had manner and allow us to shift our paradigms. of a thinking of circulation and crossings” participants from Latin America, North America, With it, is the possibility of forging new intellectual (Mbembe, Critique of Black Reason, 2013, p.8). Oceania, South, and East Asia, and from Western alignments, of apprehending new sensibilities, Europe. This Africa-Asia axis of knowledge has of testing new analytical approaches, transcending Philippe Peycam become a truly global space, an original method hierarchies or categories we had long thought Director IIAS Current IIAS staff in front of the offices on Rapenburg in Leiden

In 2018-2019, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the International Institute for Asian Studies. Digitalising the (IIAS) Newsletter The official opening of IIAS took place, almost to the day, 25 years before the publication of this issue of The Newsletter, on 13 October 1993. Throughout nother constant feature of IIAS since its beginnings the year, we are planning various activities, starting has been the ‘IIAS Newsletter’ – since issue #50 in 2009 Asimply ‘The Newsletter’. Published three or four times with our Annual Lecture on 20 November and ending per year, The Newsletter has become an IIAS flagship and one during ICAS 11 in Leiden, the home of IIAS. of the most important mediums for the exchange of ongoing and new research, reports on workshops and conferences, reviews of books, etc. To mark the 25-year anniversary, we plan to also digitalise the earliest issues of The Newsletter, from the first issue up to and including issue #26.

1% South America 1% Africa 9% Australia/NZ

9% North America

51% Asia

29% Europe

Alumni meetings

hroughout the 25 years, our fellows have always been an important part of IIAS. They came from all Tover the world to pursue their studies, and their stay in Leiden (or Amsterdam) was for most of them a memorable and very productive time. Recently, we have sent out emails to more than 700 of our alumni, inviting them to the large ICAS conference, in Leiden in July 2019, to present the results of their studies and to meet other alumni. We will allocate several spaces for the ‘IIAS alumni club’, for current and former fellows to meet and reminisce.

Pie chart: Home regions of the IIAS alumni © Merlijn Doomernik IIAS Annual Lecture

‘Selfie’, photo by Klienne Eco, Photo contest submitted to IIAS Photo Contest 2014 with Ruben Terlou

s we did during our 20-year anniversary, we will again be hosting a photo contest in the coming year. The theme Chinese dreams: the human face Awill be that of ICAS 11, namely ‘Asia and Europe. Asia in of changing China Europe’, and the winning photos will be exhibited during the convention in Leiden in July 2019. Keep an eye on our website Rode Hoed, Amsterdam, The Netherlands and email updates for more details. 20 November 2018, 15:00-17:45

n this jubilee year, the International very intimate view of the human face of Institute for Asian Studies Annual Lecture contemporary China. Iwill be delivered by Ruben Terlou. Ruben In his address, ‘Chinese dreams: the Terlou is a Dutch photographer, documentary human face of changing China’, Ruben Terlou filmmaker, and medical doctor. He studied will share his thoughts on modern-day China, Mandarin in China and Medicine at the his personal experiences and his photographs. University of Amsterdam. He has worked Most importantly, he shows what fascinates extensively as a photographer in China and and drives him most: the human condition, Afghanistan, winning several Dutch Silver the adaptability of the people to the enormous Camera Awards and the prize for Innovative changes taking place, while simultaneously Photojournalism. He is also well known for showing how they stay faithful to their culture his television documentary series ‘Along the and all things in which they believe. banks of the Yangzi’ and ‘Through the Heart of China’. Terlou’s endearing personality, If you would like to attend our combined with his fluent Chinese, resulted Annual Lecture please register here: in deeply personal portraits, offering a https://iias.asia/chinese-dreams

The International 16-19 July 2019 Leiden Convention the Netherlands ICAS 11 will be organized by Leiden University, the International Institute for Asian Studies and GIS Asie (French Academic Network on of Asia Scholars Asian Studies). ICAS 11 will be held in Leiden, the Netherlands, from 16-19 July 2019. The convention will draw on the historically rich Asian and global connections of the city, along with its renowned research institutes and museums. For further information visit: https://icas.asia

The ICAS Book Prize (IBP) 2019 he International Convention of Asia Scholars The biennial ICAS Book Prize (IBP) is a global competition (ICAS) engages participants from all continents that provides an international focus for publications on Asia in Tin dialogues on Asia that transcend boundaries the Humanities and Social Sciences. The IBP received in excess of between academic disciplines and geographic regions. 500 entries in 2017 (300 books and 200 dissertations). In addition ICAS is an active accelerator of research. to the original English-language Prize, the IBP 2019 will include Since 1998, ICAS has brought more than 20,000 5 other language editions: French, German, Chinese, Korean, academics, civil society representatives, administrators and Spanish/Portuguese. The IBP awards will be presented during and artists together at 10 conventions. Publishers, the ICAS 11 opening ceremony. institutes and NGOs converge to display their products, services and research outcomes in the ICAS exhibition hall. The ICAS Book and Dissertations Carousel offers Submit your title (future) authors a platform to launch their publications. The English and French editions have already closed With all these activities ICAS has contributed to the their online submissions forms, but the deadline for the other decentring of Asian studies by including more language editions are: German: 1 Nov 2018, Korean: 15 Nov 2018, ‘Asian voices’, while successfully convening a global Chinese: 1 Dec 2018, Spanish/Portuguese: 15 Jan 2019. Visit space in which Asia scholars from the whole world https://icas.asia/en/icas-book-prize to find guidelines and the can directly interact. submission form.

Asian Studies Book Fair Publishers and academic institutes are invited to exhibit at the Asian Studies Book Fair at ICAS 11, to present their publications, projects and programmes to the large number of attendees. The Book Fair will also host events such as manuscript pitches, author meetings and book launches. Exhibitors or advertisers email: [email protected] 6 Singapore’s industrialisation From colonial entrepôt port to The Study an industrial export economy

Imaginaries of Jurong Industrial Estate, Singapore1

Loh Kah Seng Jurong Industrial Estate is a symbol and metaphor for Singapore’s transformation from a colonial entrepôt port to an industrial export economy in the 1960s and 1970s. It is regularly referred to as ‘Goh’s Folly’, so-named after Goh Keng Swee, Singapore’s Minister for Finance at the time and the architect of the project. Used in the context of Jurong’s development into a vibrant industrial hub, the epithet repudiates accusations of bad economics and demonstrates the sound thinking of Goh, and by extension the Singapore government. This official imaginary of Jurong is central to Singapore’s economic history.

Lee Kuan Yew (middle) and other Singapore officials in Jurong, c. early 1960s. Photo is obtained with permission from Alex Tan Tiong Hee.

n his memoirs, former Prime Minister Lee rapid growth of the population after the war, By this time, many of the ‘baby boomers’ rift between the Fabian socialists and left Kuan Yew recounted an epic story of Jurong had become problematic for the future of had reached working age. The PAP declared wing socialists within the PAP. The party had Iin multiple initial failures and eventual postcolonial Singapore. Between 1947 and 1957, a policy of industrial expansion to create won the 1959 elections largely because of the success; of Goh’s alleged folly, Lee imagined as families settled down with multiple children jobs for the general population, which was left’s support among workers, Chinese-stream that “He was not that self-deprecatory instead of returning to their home countries, implemented with the 1961 State Development students, squatters, and farmers. However, when Jurong was barren”.2 Current Prime Singapore’s population grew at a rapid rate Plan. For various practical reasons, the the leftists were not given a major role in the Minister Lee Hsien Loong recently retold this of 4.5% per annum. These settled families industrialisation programme centred on Jurong, government, which was controlled by the narrative in hailing the role of the statutory and locally-born children could no longer be a largely-undeveloped region in the western Fabians led by Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Keng board most closely associated with Jurong’s repatriated in an economic downturn, and the part of Singapore. The state owned most of Swee. Still, the leadership was under pressure history – JTC Corporation (formerly Jurong entrepôt trade would not likely supply the jobs the land there, and the population was sparse, to demonstrate its anti-colonial and anti- Town Corporation) – at the 50th anniversary they needed, especially as newly-independent comprising of farmers and fishermen, which capital credentials. Industrial programming of its formation in 1968. While Jurong’s states in the region began to develop their own minimised the task of resettlement. Unlike the had to negotiate difficult questions on the narrative arc is well-known, less so are other ports and industries, bypassing Singapore. much smaller existing industrial estates, nationalisation of industry, relationship early imaginaries which helped realise the In the late 1950s, the British colonial the development of Jurong was a milestone: between capital and labour, and dominance government’s vision of industrial development. government launched estates for light industries it would be built from scratch, mainly for heavy of British capital. The first was the work of international experts at Redhill and Tanglin Halt, which obtained their industry and with no catchment population who advised the government on industrial workforce from residential areas nearby. residing nearby. policy around the same time in 1960-61: Albert An Industrial Promotion The politics of Singapore in international Winsemius on the feasibility of Singapore’s Board was set up in the early 1960s were industrialisation; Y. Yanagisawa’s team of 1957 to promote and Jurong was a embedded in the society Japanese experts on heavy industry in Jurong; develop manufacturing. industrialisation Outside of these local contexts, Singapore’s and Philippe Schereschewsky’s response The British also milestone: built mainly programme in several industrialisation also took place against a to a proposed iron and steel project. The commissioned the ways. The government broader backdrop of what Akira Iriye has termed other imaginary lay in the origin of Jurong’s first expert surveys for heavy industry, was expected to fulfil a “global community” and an “international showpiece heavy industry: National Iron and of industry, including with no catchment its electoral promises society” after the war.3 The end of war heralded Steel Mills, a product of the imaginaries of a 1958 study by F.J. in order to succeed at a move away from the intense national the Singapore government, local investors, Lyle, who endorsed the population nearby the next polls. (This competition that had brought about the global and foreign advisers. prevailing sentiment for pressure was the conflict towards technical cooperation on the island to establish a political factor that, as developmental matters. In the 1950s and 1960s, common market with the Federation of Malaya. we will see, shaped the work of Winsemius and Singapore received much technical assistance Jobs, Jurong, and politics Singapore and Malaya, despite having long- Schereschewsky). There was also the question from the United Nations (UN) and Colombo Singapore’s industrialisation was not a standing political and economic ties, had been of the common market with the Federation Plan, and from Britain and Japan. purely technical matter but one shaped by the separated into two administrative units after the of Malaya, which the government endorsed. Key to the collaboration were the technical socio-economic and political contexts arising war. These late-colonial efforts constituted the Although the island’s politicians looked upon experts who routinely advised the governments after the Second World War. The impetus for first imaginaries of Singapore’s industrialisation. the reunification of Singapore and Malaya of colonies and newly-independent states. In manufacturing was the belief that it would In 1959, Singapore became a self-governing as a matter of faith, the Malay-dominant the current literature, they are often criticised provide more jobs than the existing entrepôt state. The newly-elected People’s Action Federation government was less keen, fearing for imposing their narrow experiences, usually trade. Unemployment and under-employment Party (PAP) government managed domestic – the political influence of Singapore’s majority- drawn from their own countries, or ignoring had been part of the socio-economic land- including industrial – affairs, while the British Chinese population and by extension, the local conditions, often with underwhelming scape of colonial Singapore, but with the retained control over foreign policy and security. PAP. The third political issue was a growing results. Singapore’s encounter with the experts The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 7 The Study

was more nuanced. The PAP government was, levelling of the hills to develop the coast for Subsequently though, UN officials judged the Jurong were rooted in external worldviews from the start, willing to consult experts who heavy industries and shipyards, while the deep project to be unsound. They urged no immediate of industrial development – Dutch, Japanese, were not doctrinaire socialists. To the extent waters off Jurong suited the construction of a action on the blast furnace, though this was the Southeast Asian, Latin American, and that the city-state eventually became an ‘Asian port for industrial cargo (which became Jurong project on which the Singapore government was elsewhere – their advice was often reconciled Tiger’, the experts emerge as generally positive Port). Jurong would be zoned as a complete the most keen, as it depended on investment with the Singaporean context. This involved and benign influences. As an economist noted town, not only with industry and housing, but from “a Japanese iron and steel group.” 11 accommodating the political as well as socio- in the early 1970s, the industrialisation policy also a civic centre, social amenities and green economic circumstances and sentiments was guided by international expertise, some areas for a large population of up to 200,000 prevailing in the city-state, including of it tracing to the late-colonial period.4 It is, people. The Yanagisawa team presented National Iron and Steel Mills disagreements between the government and however, instructive to examine how the experts only a preliminary report to the government, The imagined Japanese role highlighted the left, the question of the common market, negotiated the socio-economic and political but it became the basis of a five-year crash how financial and political considerations and Britain’s role in the economy. dimensions of Singapore’s industrialisation. programme in the State Development Plan to underpinned the iron and steel project. From Subsequent to the work of the three teams, develop the first phase of Jurong. The plan, the beginning, the government was anxious Jurong slowly took shape as an industrial put together by Goh Keng Swee, reiterated to ensure that the plant was self-supporting. estate. The government allotted $45 million Albert Winsemius the team’s assessment, explaining that Jurong Politically, the left saw in the project the – or 13% of the industry and commerce The first expert discussed here is also the was “probably the only waterfront area in question of British economic influence budget – in the State Development Plan to the best known in Singapore – Albert Winsemius, Singapore that possesses all the necessary in Singapore. In December 1960, James development of Jurong. The EDB carried out the Dutch economic planner credited with his conditions for development as an integrated Puthucheary expressed what colonial officials the initial development of some 500 hectares, country’s economic recovery after the war. town with sea access.”7 deemed to be “wild ideas” to obtain Japanese resettling farmers, levelling hills, filling mangrove Winsemius led two UN teams to study the However, British officials believed that the investment for the purpose of “smashing British swamps and prawn ponds, and building feasibility of industrialisation for Singapore in Japanese intended to use Singapore as a capitalism” and establishing socialism.12 Goh factories, infrastructure, public housing, and October-December 1960 and March-May 1961. ‘foothold’ and ‘stepping stone’ for their industry Keng Swee assured the officials in February social amenities. As the Yanagisawa team had He possessed no knowledge of the city-state, to expand into the region.8 The Japanese that the Yanagisawa mission was free of endorsed, the heart of Jurong was the heavy which was “neither an underdeveloped, nor a appeared to have been particularly interested charge with “no strings attached.”13 But they industries lining the seafront. Central to this half-developed or a highly developed country.” in iron and steel, an industry widely viewed as still reckoned in September 1961: “We are swathe of industry was NISM, close to which Winsemius concluded that Singapore should, the backbone of a modern industrial economy. right at the heart of the politics of Singapore’s were coastal lots for shipbreaking. The company and could, industrialise, as the country’s Following the Yanagisawa survey, Fuji Iron and industrialisation … The Government are well duly implemented Schereschewsky’s proposal “greatest asset is the high aptitude of her Steel, a major Japanese steel company, indeed known to be, for political reasons, in a hurry for the rolling mill, which began processing people to work in manufacturing industries. despatched a team of experts to Singapore to to get some form of iron/steel started … are scrap from ships in 1963. It employed 400 They can rank among the best factory study the feasibility of a steel mill. This brings known to be suspicious of British ‘economic workers at the time. The light industries were workers in the world.”5 us to the third imaginary of Jurong. imperialism’ and to favour some spreading of located further inland near the first residential Two of Winsemius’ economic recommend- the net among foreign capitalist interests”.14 neighbourhood, Taman Jurong. ations became policy. First, Singapore should As it turned out, this policy proved difficult In 1968, the development of Jurong was manufacture for the world rather than the home Philippe Schereschewsky to implement, and the Singapore government passed on to the Jurong Town Corporation, market. On the potentially tricky question of the The UN had already organised an iron encountered considerable difficulty in finding which expanded it into a better-settled common market, Winsemius deftly sidestepped and steel study for Singapore led by French Japanese investors. From August 1960 to the garden industrial town with a town centre and it by positioning it as one of several regional industrialist Philippe Schereschewsky. following spring, the government commenced additional social amenities and green areas. export markets Singapore should cultivate. Although, like Winsemius, Schereschewsky preliminary discussions with Japanese steel By this time, Singapore’s merger and common Winsemius also proposed that industrialisation had little knowledge of Singapore, he claimed companies, and Goh Keng Swee spoke with market with Malaysia had failed, the left be led by foreign private capital, rather than relevant expertise from his experience in Latin steelmakers in Tokyo. As Schereschewsky was excised from domestic politics, and the state capital. This proposal was opposed by America. His role, forgotten like Yanagisawa’s, intimated in his 2nd progress report in early island had become a sovereign state in single- the leftist chairman of the Industrial Promotion was critical, for the government had made 1961, the Japanese government made an minded pursuit of global capital investment, Board, James Puthucheary, who advocated iron and steel separate from the remit of the informal offer to help Singapore establish, as Winsemius had urged. From 1969, Jurong state ownership of heavy industry. But Winsemius mission. An earlier study in 1954 through Fuji Iron and Steel, a steel plant. Fuji grew rapidly, welcoming an influx of investors; Winsemius was able to convince Goh Keng by the International Bank for Reconstruction sent three successive missions to Singapore a decade later, it had become the preferred Swee to limit the state’s role to only providing and Development had deemed the industry that year, and at one point was ostensibly site for the majority of them. By then, some infrastructure and a conducive environment impractical because Malaya and Singapore prepared to help build the mill. In April 1961, 5600 hectares of land had been developed for industry, and in lacked coking coal. In Goh Keng Swee appeared to confirm Fuji’s and allocated to over 1200 companies, which ensuring stable relations November 1959, Goh involvement in a public speech. employed 93,000 workers. Goh Keng Swee’s between capital and Keng Swee revisited Henceforth, however, the matter unravelled. project had become a major industrial estate labour. Winsemius is the only the subject by asking At the end of September 1961, two local for multinationals and a new town for a However, interest- the UN for a feasibility establishments were in the running with Fuji young, growing population. ingly, Winsemius delved expert among the study for an iron and to set up the steel plant: Sim Lim, a company into political matters. trio to have rendered steel plant, based on with interests in importing building materials Loh Kah Seng University of Western He felt that his unwritten imported iron ore and and in shipbreaking, and Tat Lee, a rubber Australia [email protected] mandate was to help political advice coal from the region import-export firm. The government had the government win the and to be established difficulty reaching an agreement with Fuji, next elections. Privately, over two or three stages. which initially wanted 70% holding of the mill he advised Singaporean The plant would act while the government was only willing to allow Notes leaders that industrialisation hinged on two as a catalyst to industrialisation by creating 50%. Although the Japanese did agree to this, 1 This article draws from the research non-technical factors: retaining the statue secondary industries and jobs. the main problem, according to a Sim Lim project, ‘Theatres of History and Memory: of Stamford Raffles (the British founder of In July 1960, the month that Schereschewsky representative, was that “Fuji was not interested Industrial Heritage of 20th Century Singapore) as a gesture to foreign investors, carried out his preliminary study, the govern- in the Singapore project, as such.” British Singapore’, which is supported by the and getting rid of the communists who ment announced that the “proposed iron and officials surmised that Fuji was only interested in Heritage Research Grant of the National controlled the militant unions. Lee Kuan Yew steel plant will be the core of the medium and setting up a small scrap mill, not a large smelting Heritage Board, Singapore. laughed at the second suggestion, though heavy industry centre in Jurong, around which plant. The search for investment, the Sim Lim 2 Lee Kuan Yew. 2000. From Third World to First: The Singapore Story 1965-2000: his government soon broke with the left. ancillary industries…can be established.”9 representative suggested, had been protracted Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew. Singapore: Winsemius is the only expert among the trio The envisioned plant consisted of two parts: because the government favoured a local firm, Singapore Press Holdings: Times Editions, to have rendered political advice and stepped a large blast furnace of at least 500,000 tons, but “For political reasons … they were set p.61. beyond the UN’s narrow terms of reference. producing pig iron for export, primarily to upon quick and spectacular results”, and 3 Akira Iriye. 2004. Global Community: Remarkably, his opinions were well-received, Japan, and an integrated steel mill of medium initially doubted Sim Lim’s ability to deliver.15 The Role of International Organisations in and he became an unofficial economic adviser size (60,000 tons) producing for Singapore It may be that Tat Lee’s involvement was decisive the Making of the Contemporary World. to the Singaporean government for two and and the immediate region. Schereschewsky in this regard. The British noted the Singaporean Berkeley: California University Press. a half decades. assembled a team to undertake a full study, government’s parting ways with Fuji in 4 Lee Soo Ann. 1973. Industrialisation which supplemented its fieldwork in Singapore March 1962. in Singapore. Camberwell: Longman. with trips to shipbreaking and rolling mills In August 1961, National Iron and Steel Mills 5 United Nations, Bureau of Technical Y. Yanagisawa Assistance Operations. 1963. A Proposed in Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and (NISM) was incorporated with a nominal capital Industrialisation Programme for the State Winsemius provided a blueprint for Australia. The team concluded that the iron of $50 million. It was funded mainly by local of Singapore, pp.xxiii, 195. industrialisation, but the site for it still had to and steel project was on the whole viable, and Indonesian-Chinese, rather than Japanese, 6 CO 1030/1176, Report on the Plans of be determined. The role of Japanese experts but was to be broken into three constituent capital. Sim Lim and Tat Lee contributed equally Japanese Survey Mission in Singapore. led by Y. Yanagisawa, an engineer, in the projects by order of feasibility. The most towards 80% of the capital. Soon Peng Yam 7 Ministry of Finance. 1961. State of physical planning of Jurong industrial town realistic undertaking, based on the precedent of Sim Lim was appointed NISM’s chairman, Singapore Development Plan, 1961-1964. in November 1960 has long been forgotten. in Hong Kong, was a rolling mill for scrap. while Goh Tjoei Kok and Goh Seong Pek of Tat 8 CO 1030/1176, Jurong Industrial The team endorsed the prospects for heavy Though having a modest annual capacity Lee became the vice chairman and managing Development Plan. industry in Singapore: “the possibility of of 20-30,000 tons and producing mostly director respectively. The company’s driving 9 CO 1030/1176, Singapore Government Press Release, 4 July 1960. success is very high.”6 This was a bold for the local market, it would have important force was Goh Tjoei Kok, an Indonesian- 10 S-0175-1801-02 SING (130-2) PART statement, for Winsemius had initially been knock-on effects on industrial activity. The mill Chinese businessman who had settled in B, Report on the Feasibility of a Steel sceptical about heavy industry and had would expand Singapore’s small shipbreaking Singapore from Jakarta in 1949. The Economic Industry in Singapore, August 1961, p.19. preferred that Singapore focus on light industry, which would provide the scrap, and Development Board (EDB), a government 11 S-0175-1801-02 SING (130-2) PART A, industry, although his report did make thus generate jobs. Schereschewsky deemed agency responsible for Singapore’s industrial Memo from Lurie to Schereschewsky, technical studies for the shipbuilding/repair, this mill, despite not being in the government’s development, contributed 20% of the capital, 8 March 1961. metal and engineering, electrical, and initial plan, “the indispensable base of the aligned with Winsemius’ call for a minor 12 CO 1130/1176, Memo from Bourdillon chemical industries. new steel industry,” and called for it to be government role in investment. The mill would to Wallace, 9 February 1961; Memo from The Yanagisawa team’s frame of reference implemented promptly.10 initially employ 200 workers. Woodruff to Bourdillon, 22 December was thoroughly Japanese (as Winsemius’ On the proposed larger projects in the 1960. 13 CO 1130/1176, Memo from Bourdillon was Dutch). The team assessed Jurong’s government’s mind, the Schereschewsky study Conclusion to Wallace, 9 February 1961. waterfront to be suitable for heavy industry, preached caution. The integrated mill merited 14 CO 1130/1176, Note of conversation as it was similar to Japan’s southern coasts. further research, though raw materials were The three teams of experts worked between Whitley and Toh, 25 September It also advised on other technical matters that available in the region: iron ore from Malaya productively with the Singaporean government 1961. later became policy: land reclamation and and coal/coke from Australia and Indonesia. through 1960-1961. While their imaginaries of 15 Idem. 8 Regulating death The challenge for the Chinese state to manage The Study the dead in their increasingly complex society

Just as some Chinese hospitals have withheld newborn babies from their parents to force payment of hospital bills,13 some hospitals have leveraged their authority in issuing The lingering corpse death certificates to collect payment first: no payment, no death certificate. In one of the cases I studied in Shanghai, a family evicted from their home sent their 80-year-old sick in the Chinese urban mother to the Central Hospital of Xuhui district in 2006, where she later died. The son refused to pay her bills, on the grounds that the district government that evicted his parents should Qin Shao In recent decades, an unusually large number of long dead bodies have foot the costs. As a result, the hospital denied the family the death certificate and overcrowded funeral homes and hospital morgues from major cities to has withheld the mother’s body ever since.14 county seats in China. Some of them have remained unclaimed for decades This case demonstrates how the officially designated certifier of death can stand in the and others are contested. Among the contested corpses, some have been way of a death certificate, a key element in made to disappear by the local government. This phenomenon reflects the processing the dead. Compared with the U.S. ‘Standard tension generated by China’s economic reforms and urban development that Certificate of Death’, which involves only now extends from the living to the dead. This study uses media sources and two entities/persons and their signatures – a physician as the medical certifier and a material from my own field research in Shanghai to shed light on the challenge funeral director15 – the Chinese death certificate for the Chinese state to manage the dead in this increasingly complex society. requires more extensive family involvement, for instance, in the investigation of the cause of death and in dealing with the public security bureau to cancel the household registration of the deceased. If the family with a conflict of medical malpractice, forced demolition and interest refuses to provide necessary information relocation, property seizure, corruption, state about the dead, it is almost impossible for the violence, and other perceived injustices.9 authorities to process the case. In these cases, the affected family often uses One family in Shanghai lost their 95-year- the corpse as leverage to protest and compel old mother in 2017, more than a decade after the authorities to resolve their issues. she had been physically removed from her However, none of the four situations seems privately-owned home. The family petitioned to warrant the extraordinary length of time the eviction from the start. On the day of their thousands of bodies have been kept across mother’s death, the family told the district China. The phenomenon reflects deep issues authority that they would not cremate her in the ‘reform era’ of Chinese society: the before the housing issue was resolved. That loopholes in regulations and laws; the gap night, the body disappeared. When the family between regulations and social reality; the reported her body missing, local authorities heightened consciousness among people admitted that they had taken the body away in terms of their rights on the one hand, but have since refused to give them any and the widespread mistrust of the law and specifics.16 In this case, the woman’s corpse government by not only the survivors, but had come to embody a long standing housing also the officials themselves, on the other. conflict and the government simply removed The central document that governs this the body to avoid the housing issue. matter is the “Regulations on Funeral and Clearly, all the regulations on death, Interment”, issued by the State Council from Beijing to provincial and local on 21 July 1997, and revised and reissued on governments, have not helped to ease the 1 January 2013. This document contains overflow of long-dead bodies. The mounting Ghost Money. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of Jan on Flickr. detailed limitations to earth burials, but only tension generated by urbanization and two brief provisions regarding the corpse: the economic development, the weakness in the body has to be handled in a way that ensures enforcement of regulations, the pursuit of public and environmental safety, and a death economic interests above all else, and the The overflow of corpses often unregulated business in storing the dead. certificate must be issued by a public security public’s mistrust in the government have In the past few years, the Chinese media Most hospitals in Beijing have subcontracted the bureau or by a medical institution before together crippled the Chinese state’s ability has reported on a ‘shocking’ crisis: the overflow care of corpses to private, often unprofessional cremation can take place.10 The document does to manage the dead. The thousands of of long dead bodies in China’s funeral and entrepreneurs.5 A county hospital in Shan’xi not specify which of the two should sign the corpses lying in wait in funeral and hospital hospital facilities. A 2014 investigation by province outsourced the storage of bodies to a death certificate under which circumstances. facilities across China speak to this failure. Southern Weekend labeled such bodies as village where a residential cave was converted It also does not provide any guidelines for ‘long-term residents’ of morgues. Cheng into a morgue. This cave-turned-morgue caused dealing with abandoned or disputed bodies. Qin Shao Professor of History at Xinming, the editor-in-chief of China Funeral apprehension, fear, and an uproar among And so, in December 2013, the Ministry of The College of New Jersey; author of and Interment Weekly, confirmed that this the villagers.6 Health, the Public Security Bureau, and the Shanghai Gone: Domicide and Defiance phenomenon is widespread. This investigation Storing the corpses has also imposed State Council together issued a new document: in a Chinese Megacity [email protected] provided specific cases in Xinxiang (Henan burdens on other resources. Refrigeration “Announcement of Further Standardization of province), Jiaxing (Zhejiang Province), and involves expensive electricity. The 2017 report Medical Certificate of Population Death and Notes Fuzhou (Fujian province) where the long dead on the case in Shenyang pointed out the acute Information Registration and Management”. 1 https://tinyurl.com/ifeng20140711, were kept in various facilities.1 A 2016 report need of electricity in the heat of the summer and This document stipulates that as of 1 January accessed 25 Jan 2018. indicates that there were hundreds and the ongoing consumption of electricity by the 2014, a standard medical death certificate 2 https://tinyurl.com/e23-20160406, even thousands of corpses in some of the long dead. The corpses have to be maintained should be used.11 It places responsibility for accessed 8 Feb 2018. morgues. In Inner Mongolia, there were about to prevent them from decaying, and must dispensing death certificates on medical 3 https://tinyurl.com/syd20170630, 200 bodies in the city of Hohhot alone and, on be relocated if the cabinets malfunction. For institutions, but remains mute on the issue accessed 12 Feb 2018. average, ten of them in each county hospital example, the Shenyang hospital has in the past of disputed and unidentified corpses. 4 https://tinyurl.com/scmp-nospace, in that region. Cities such as Kunming (Yunnan ten years relocated the long dead bodies more Provincial and local governments have accessed 31 Dec 2017. 7 5 https://tinyurl.com/e23-20160406-2, province) and Jinan (Shandong province) have than five times due to facility breakdowns. tried to fill the gap. The “Municipal Regulations accessed 8 Feb 2018. each housed 70-80 such ‘long-term residents’ All this amounts to enormous expenses; one on Funeral and Interment” in Hohhot (Inner 6 https://tinyurl.com/e23-20110908, in their facilities. Morgues in Guangzhou have corpse in Xinxiang reportedly cost the funeral Mongolia) specifies that the public security accessed 20 Feb 2018. reportedly stored 1300-1400 bodies due to the home 550,000 yuan (more than 80,000 US$). bureau will issue a public notice for abandoned 7 Ibid., note 3 concentration of a ‘floating population’ in that The financial burden usually falls on hospitals, bodies, and give 60 days for anyone to claim 8 Ibid., note 1 city. Most troublesome is the length of time funeral homes, and the local government. the body. Beyond the 60 days limit, the 9 https://tinyurl.com/e23-20160406-3, these bodies have lingered. Many have been Disputes over financial responsibilities have bureau will issue a death certificate and the accessed 8 Feb 2018. kept for years; the longest for more than two unsurprisingly led to lawsuits.8 body will be cremated. However, in practice, 10 https://tinyurl.com/gov-cn-gongbo, decades.2 These reports may have only revealed the local public security bureau often failed accessed 8 Feb 2018. 11 https://tinyurl.com/gov-cn-2017qm, the tip of the iceberg. My research in Shanghai to exercise its authority, continuing to leave accessed 15 Feb 2018. has uncovered similar cases, yet there has been Causes for the lingering bodies in the mortuary beyond 60 days after 12 Ibid., note 9 virtually no report on this issue in Shanghai. the public notice, in fear of family members 13 https://tinyurl.com/nytimes-20180522, The accumulation of these long dead corpses coming forward to claim the body and sue the accessed 24 May 2018. bodies has caused a number of problems. There are generally four types of situations bureau. The fear of lawsuits is the main cause 14 https://tinyurl.com/sinablog-20170513, First, it has led to the shortage of available that have resulted in this accumulation of long of inaction by the public security bureau.12 accessed 8 July 2017; Interview with mortuary (refrigerated) cabinets. In 2017, in dead bodies. Unidentified corpses (for example, This situation reflects both the heightened Chen Jianzhong, 13 May 2017, Shanghai; the northeastern city Shenyang, about 110 of the homeless, migration workers, or victims of awareness of rights among the Chinese people, Phone interview with Chen Jianzhong, the 170 mortuary cabinets at one funeral home a crime) is one. The second concerns bodies and the lack of trust in regulations by the 25 January 2018. were used to keep long dead bodies.3 In the kept in storage due to an ongoing criminal public security bureau. 15 Brooks, E.G. & K.D. Reed. 2015. ‘Principles and Pitfalls: a Guide to same year, nearly half of the 15 cabinets at the investigation. The third involves family disputes Medical institutions and physicians, whom Death Certification’, Clinical Medicine Central Hospital in the city of Xiangtan (Hunan over the responsibility for the burial. The fourth the Chinese state entrusted to issue the death & Research 13(2):74-82; province) were occupied by unclaimed bodies, situation is more complex. Sometimes families certificate, are also not a neutral party in the https://tinyurl.com/ncbi-brooks-reed some of which dated back to 2007.4 The lack of are involved in a long-standing conflict with the management of death. The financial interest 16 Interview with Zhang Xiaoqiu, 12 May space at official facilities has spurred a new and authorities over issues involving, for instance, of the hospital is often its utmost priority. 2017 and 6 March 2018, Shanghai. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 Netherlands Indies Art Art looting in the Bersiap period 9 The Study

led to a generous garden with purple bougainvillea and red hibiscus that embraced a big pond and a rock garden; the gardens also boasted fruit trees and a kitchen garden, and there was even a private bomb shelter, just in case. From the terraces of the house there was a terrific view of the lush Bandung landscape, which ended at the foot of the Tangkuban Perahu volcano, and old photos show Wichers in comfortable tropical gear working in the garden or in his studio adorned with paintings. During the Japanese occupation, Wichers and his eldest son were put into the Cimahi camp for men. His wife, Nicolette Henriëtte Bleckmann (related to the famous Willem Bleckmann (1853-1942), the painter who Fig. 1 (above): Damaged black/white photo of the first introduced impressionism to the Indies) Wichers’ house and studio in North Bandung, late 1930s. used her German maiden name to steer clear In late 1945 the house and its contents were confiscated by Indonesian irregular militia. Private Collection. of internment. Nicolette and the younger children managed to continue living in their Fig. 2 (top right): Portrait painted by Hal Wichers of an unidentified co-internee in the Japanese civilian own house, but had no income and their bank camp at Cimahi, West Java, 1944. Chalk drawing, size accounts were frozen by the Japanese. They unknown, signed right bottom. This is the only drawing relied on the sales of personal items, such as known to remain that Wichers made in the camp. Private Collection. clothing and crockery, just to feed themselves. Fig. 3 (right): ‘Paddy Fields’ by Hal Wichers, dated 1926, Japanese soldiers would frequently visit oil on panel 19x29.5 cm, signed right bottom. This sample unannounced upon hearing Nicolette’s piano of Wichers’ pre-War style is owned by the author. playing; they were also enamoured by her children. In the house, she had also stowed away – at considerable risk to her own life – two other little ones, Peter and Truitje, grandchildren of Charles Welter, the former Secretary of Colonies. Their mother, acting in fear, took them back in due course, and the three of them ended up in a civilian camp. In addition to the children, two men – Wil Kaptein and Walter Walraven – managed to remain hidden in the house throughout the war and came out alive. Hiding from the Japanese enemy was very difficult for people who, like the Dutch, were so conspicuous in terms of skin colour and size. It was also very dangerous, as those who were discovered and captured were commonly beheaded on the spot. In the civilian camp Wichers had a few bits of chalk and some pencils, and would Fig. 4 (left): ‘Bandung Landscape’ by Hal Wichers, be compelled to draw portraits of the hated dated 1931, oil on canvas, size unknown, signed right Korean guards; he also captured the images bottom. Sample of Wichers’ pre-War style, which came into the possession of a Dutch family before the war. of his fellow prisoners, and gave them the In collection of Tjieke Deuss-Wichers. drawings for free. Both Wichers and his son Fig. 5 (above): Some of Wichers’ family members in survived internment and were reunited with front of their house and studio in North Bandung. their family. After the end of the war, and Fig. 6 (below): Wichers at a later time in life. Japanese surrender, their worst fears came to pass: Indonesian thugs came from their villages to the villas up on the hills to attack and plunder the Europeans and anyone who looked European; bodies were thrown into the Cikapundung River nearby. As their house was very isolated, the Wichers’ situation became extremely precarious and they were forced to flee, leaving everything behind – all their possessions, including the large collection A besieged artist: of paintings. Initially they were given shelter by friends, the Neervoort family, but the local thugs came there as well and shot the oldest daughter Nicolette through the door that Hal Wichers in the she was attempting to barricade. There was little choice but to flee the country, and the unhappy family embarked for the Netherlands on the passenger ship SS Johan de Witt. Netherlands Indies endrik Arend Ludolf Wichers was Back in Europe they were taken in by the born in 1893 at Tarutung on Lake Toba Bleckmanns in their house in Nijmegen. Hon Sumatra, where his father (from In Bandung, the Wichers house, including Groningen in the north of the Netherlands) all its contents, had meanwhile been Louis Zweers Many artists from the West found was in garrison, and eventually promoted to confiscated by the Indonesians. Not a single their own little paradise in pre-War Lieutenant Colonel of the Royal Netherlands rupiah was paid for the house or for the Indies Army. In the early years of the 20th many (unregistered) objects and paintings Netherlands Indies, and played century the family returned to the Netherlands, stored in the house. There is not a trace left a significant role in the local and where the young Wichers graduated from the of these items. In fact, after closer inspection National Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam, it appears that even the house itself has international art world. However, the followed by a study in tropical agriculture. disappeared! Now in post-war Netherlands, Japanese changed all that when they He sailed back to the Indies in 1919 and Wichers remained silent about their dramatic worked first at a tea estate, then at a cinchona years in Indonesia, but he did continue to invaded in 1942; European artists and plantation, but in the end he chose to become paint and exhibit his ‘beautiful Indies’ and a full time painter on Java. Wichers did the familiar themes from a past gone forever. their artistic products and thinking indeed show considerable talent in the many did not fit in the occupier’s anticolonial impressionist portraits and landscapes that he With thanks to Mrs. Tjieke Deuss-Wichers, made, not to mention volcanos, paddy fields, daughter of H.A.L. Wichers, and Dr Leo frame of mind, or indeed in the townscapes, flame trees or Balinese temples; Ewals. immediate aftermath of WW II. he had many exhibitions and his works sold Art-historian Louis Zweers (PhD) was well. Among his friends were other artists a former lecturer at the Department of So what happened to the artists who of renown, like Carel Dake, Ernest Dezentjé History, Culture and Communication got caught between the cogwheels and Leo Eland, all of whom were members of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. of the prestigious Art Association of Batavia, He works now as an independent scholar and author. His current research focuses of the war and Bersiap period that established in 1902. on the disappearance and looting of followed? And what happened to Wichers was soon able to commission the art heritage objects in the former Dutch their art work? This article presents build of a large villa, ‘Eagle’s Nest’ (Arendsnest), East Indies/Indonesia 1942-1957. His which had a spacious studio; the house stood findings will be published in a book by one case of art looting. in what was Berg en Dal, now Ciumbuleuit, Boom Publishers, Amsterdam in 2019. in the North of Bandung. A grand driveway [email protected] 10 China wind Promoting One China and The Study one (global) Chinese culture

‘Sonic Traveler’ is a jazz fusion band from Hong Kong China’s that combines Western and Chinese instruments. the piano concerto and combines this with Chinese idioms in its instrumentation, country music: melodies and other musical aspects. The Cultural Revolution (1966-76) saw the large scale destruction of cultural artefacts and a restrictive government that firmly controlled the public cultural domain. Popular China wind music was forbidden and all music had to serve an (ideological) purpose in forwarding the revolution. Around forty years later, however, it seems that China is learning to appreciate Milan Ismangil Chinese Pop music in greater China (Taiwan, HK and its historical heritage and uses it to wield China) saw a turn towards the traditional in the early soft power both domestically and abroad. State propagated programs that promote 2000s with the arrival of a new genre called China wind. the Chinese language and culture, such as This genre, created and popularized by Taiwan based the Confucius Institutes, or the One Belt One Road program, showcase a China that artists quickly grew in popularity and since its inception has is more than willing to promote its culture seen many artists emulate a similar style. China wind as a to the outside world. This (re)appreciation of Chinese idioms genre has a high political potential due to its depiction of can also be tied to an increasing nationalist Chineseness, which makes it an easy choice for promoting discourse propagated by the communist party in China. Examples include multiple popular the idea of One China and one (global) Chinese culture television series depicting the Three Kingdoms shared by all ethnically Chinese people. (a particularly bloody period in China’s history that has been greatly romanticized), as well as the many historical television dramas set in imperial China drawing on popular historical sagas and intrigues. Videogames and novels hina wind or Zhongguofeng1 in upon popular narratives surrounding the history, either doing away with it entirely or also play their part. While the Chinese video Mandarin, is known mainly for its conception of Chinese culture and history. trying to bring it in line with ‘the modern world’. game industry is still an up and coming market, Cmusic, but is sometimes used as an China wind is a musical pastiche that builds The time period from the late 19th century mobile games inspired by the Three Kingdom umbrella term to denotate a Chinese style upon cultural Chinese myths to (re)construct to the 1960’s saw great changes in China’s mythology are hugely popular throughout East applied to anything from cheerleading to a Chinese sound, a self-orientalist view of formal musical culture. The region that is now Asia. In addition, a thriving online literature the design of book covers. Most well-known what Chinese music (and China) is supposed China has a rich history of local folk music, scene has paved the way for numerous novels is the musical variant of China wind, which to be. It at once creates a unified past by which was and is an abundant source for mythologizing and historicizing China’s has its origins in the Taiwanese superstar glorifying depictions of ‘the ancient’, and formally trained composers to draw upon. imperial past. Jay Chou (Zhou JieLun) who popularized this unifies the present and future as all fall under Many musicians studied Western music Since China’s opening up, modern Chinese genre in the early 2000s. The songs released the umbrella of Chinese people or culture. or studied abroad (the Soviet Union was a pop music has taken a different path from around this period were demarcated by their In this article I compare different conceptions popular destination for a time). This had the other forms of popular media in China. While use of instruments, lyrics, singing techniques of China wind and situate these as being effect that many instruments were adapted to television and novels quickly adopted and and, in the accompanying video clips, the part of a growing Chinese confidence on an play in a Western style; for example, changing drew inspiration from the idea of ‘ancient usage of décor and costumes evoking a (inter)national stage since China’s opening the tuning system to be able to more smoothly imperial’ China, popular music artists have sense of Chineseness. up (Gaige Kaifang) in the late seventies. play with Western instruments or adapting engaged with this only fairly recently, since While it has been argued that different compositional and instrumental techniques. the mid 2000’s. This is not to say that popular depictions of this genre, hailing from Hong In the early 20th century, for example, the music (at its advent the mainland market was Kong for example, have the potential to disrupt Chinese popular music composer Liu Tianhua used different com- dominated by Taiwanese and Hong Kong the notion of a ‘Hegemonic’ mainland depiction To understand the popularization of positional forms and techniques borrowed from based artists) has not treaded this ground of Chinese culture,2 I argue that while multiple a Chinese style in recent years once must the violin to transform the erhu (a 2 stringed earlier. The immensely popular Taiwanese versions do exist they still contribute to the consider the past two hundred years. Starting Chinese bowed instrument) into a solo artist Teresa Teng (Deng LiJun) has featured overall notion of a unified Chinese culture. in the 19th century, China’s ‘century of instrument similar to the violin. Another famous songs that incorporate Chinese elements. Comparable to how, for example, the 16th humiliation’, in which it lost multiple wars and example that marries Chinese and Western Listen, for example, to the 1978 song ‘Story of century Italian composer Palestrina, and 19th faced great social upheaval, has had a great idioms is the Yellow River Piano Concerto. With a Small Town’ (Xiaocheng Gushi), for the fusion century Polish composer Chopin, are both influence on how the state of China defines idioms I refer to the way in which the piece is of Chinese instruments with smooth Western classified (at least in popular, common usage) itself. The subsequent period of modernization, composed to best suit the idiomatic qualities orchestral lines.3 In another case, one of as ‘(Western) classical music’ solidifying the starting during the late Qing dynasty of certain instruments, music traditions and China’s first heavy metal bands, Tang Dynasty, idea of a seemingly homogenous Western (19th century) and culminating in the Cultural other elements. This concert piece, written in formed in 1988, used song names and lyrics as classical music tradition. Revolution, saw a by and large consistently the 1960’s during the cultural revolution by Yin well as their music videos to evoke a mythical China wind constructs, corroborates and negative attitude of the Chinese government Chengzhong and Chu Wanghua, uses one of historicized China through the modern genre reinforces the idea of Chineseness, building towards pre-modern Chinese culture and the most popular Western concert formats of of heavy metal. They draw upon the past, The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 11 The Study

and sometimes use Chinese musical idioms, everything from any music made by Chinese The immensely popular song ‘Blue and white while their music itself can be firmly placed people to a more liberal music made by anyone porcelain’ (Qinghuaci) is an ideal summation in the heavy metal camp. Nevertheless it could with Chinese instruments. Interesting to note of what characterizes the China wind style.9 be argued that this also constitutes a form that this article states that Hong Kong cannot Musically it features a mix of traditional pop of China wind, depending on the definition (and does not) use the term national music music and Chinese instruments, with the one might take. but rather Chinese or Sino music, which the Chinese instruments used for emphasis. It is There is no pre-defined set of features that author states is in fact just another term for still very much rooted in Western pop music make up China wind. There are many different national music. An article by Zhen frames though, both in the structure of the song as definitions and the term itself is contested as China wind within a trend of ‘traditionalization’ well as the musical content, with a famously well. Even though it is a recognizable genre in (chuantonghua) by which Chinese popular used key change utilized by the likes of Michael Chinese popular music since its popularization music can distinguish itself and develop Jackson at the end of the song to increase the (many would say creation) by Taiwanese a (unique) style of Chinese pop music.6 emotional impact. The music clip features Jay superstar Jay Chou, many ambiguities still China wind has been described as Chou singing interspersed with a dramatic remain. In several interviews held with Chinese constructing a global idea of what Chinese story resembling a classical Chinese drama, music listeners I asked about the particularities is supposed to be, building on popular and many literary allusions to create a sense of China wind, especially with regard to its (and often CCP sanctioned) narratives and of ancient China. The lyrics of this song were political potential in mainland China and the cultural ideas such as China’s long history, written by Vincent Fang (Fang WenShan), fact that it came from Taiwan, a region with the Three Kingdoms and the idea of an ‘ancient a well-regarded Taiwanese lyricist and writer. its own political and cultural history. One (imperial) China’.7 As de Kloet argues, however, Fang wrote many of the songs Jay Chou is interviewee said that China wind promotes the idea of Chinese wind is used by artists well known for and is acknowledged for the the idea of the (global) idea of Chineseness, in Hong Kong to ‘hybridize’ or challenge who literary quality of his prose. in which it can be argued that China wind is able to define this notion of a Chinese style can be made by (Chinese) people all over the of music, pushing back against ‘hegemonic world, drawing from different inspirations, versions of Chineseness’. This is further China wind – a Chinese but all drawing from the root source: mainland muddled by the fact that Taiwan is a major China. Regarded within this frame, the fact driving force when it comes to the creation Americana? that China wind hails from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and popularization of this Chinese style of China wind is a musical style that is hard Malaysia or even further afield is only a boon pop music. to define. I would myself probably identify to the power of creating a unifying idea of one For China wind there do seem to be any song that tries to emulate a Chinese global Chinese people and culture, which like more precise requirements than simply being style as being China wind. It is perhaps best the Chinese dream perhaps gains its strength made by ‘Chinese’. One of the hallmarks comparable with the musical genre known from staying vague and inclusive. is the use of lyrics that evoke a sense of the as Americana; a musical genre in the United ‘ancient culture’; this can be done either by, States that is a collective term for music for example, adopting classical Chinese influenced by traditional American popular Music with Chinese phrases or by simply taking (well known) music genres such as country, blue-grass poems and other writing from China’s and rhythm and blues. If we compare the characteristics imperial age and re-contextualize them as two genres, both share a similar reference What is China wind exactly? Is China song lyrics. As several Chinese academics to a mythological past: ancient, imperial Jay Chou. wind simply the adaptation of selected also argue, China wind is a music style which China with its court intrigue, flowery speech, musical idioms put into a (mainly) Western ‘embodies the ancient culture’, and allows costumes and staging, versus the rugged, invented popular music idiom? Furthermore, a new audience to experience and appreciate pastoral existence of the ‘all-American’ music is supposed to sound like. In recent whose China is being represented by this ancient or traditional Chinese culture in a new cowboy. Both have a flexible working definition years the Chinese government has focussed music? Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong way, bringing traditional culture to a young in which various musical and non-musical on shifting the Chinese economy from a as well as other locations with large Chinese and modern audience.8 On the other side idioms are combined to create an end-product production to a knowledge economy, with diasporas feature musicians who make of the coin are commentators criticizing that is recognizable within the genre. Lastly, slogans such as “from made in China to Chinese style music that is not necessarily China wind for these very reasons as it while China wind can boast more historical created in China” and an increase in discourse called China wind. The term China wind cheapens and commercializes the richness legacy with its ties to Chinese folk music and surrounding Chinese creativity. The idea of can also be taken to be a misnomer, akin of the traditional culture, which should be opera I argue that both have little historical a Chinese, homegrown style of pop music is to ‘Western music’. If we take Western music valued for its own merits. reference to draw upon musically as they an enticing notion. Especially one that evokes to include any popular music in the area Reading between the lines, however, several have to (re)-invent the sounds of the tradition ideas of unification and glorification of a past conceptualized as ‘the West’, then it would common characteristics of China wind do they are based on. ‘ancient’ culture. China wind as a genre can be impossible and pointless to define. A more emerge. Firstly, the issue of appearance, both As discussed, China wind, with its links be contextualized within larger narratives interesting question than that of definition is musically and visually (many songs feature to the representations of Chineseness can of ‘China’s global rise’ in an economic and how this music is used and conceptualized music videos) the song has to come across as also be easily adapted into a political tool cultural sense. Regardless of the original by its audience and its producers. Chinese. This is done by using some traditionally for promoting the unified idea of a Chinese message of China wind at its inception in An article by Chow refers to an alternative Chinese instruments and mixing them with people. Liu et al. argue that popular China Taiwan, China wind today and its treatment name for this genre, namely: neo minzu gequ, more traditional pop elements. Music videos are wind singers have been invited to the Chinese by those in power can tell us much about or new folk songs with a nationalistic flavour.4 often situated in the idea of ‘ancient’ China or governments spring gala exactly for this how popular culture articulates the past China wind can be placed in a larger discourse feature elements regarded as Chinese. Aside reason as songs in this genre promote the and shapes a popular imaginary endorsed of ‘national music’ (guoyue), a term with an from superficial engagements, artists can, for unified idea of the One China policy.10 by an increasingly autocratic regime. uncertain terminology. Wu discusses the example, borrow vocal techniques from Chinese I argue that like Americana, China wind both historical conception of the term national music opera, make allusions to ancient poetry or shapes the visual and auditory imaginary since the early 20th century.5 According to Wu, literature or draw from the numerous folk music of the past, as well as creates a unified Milan Ismangil PhD candidate at national music has been conceptualized as traditions inhabiting China. feature of what ‘distinctly’ Chinese popular the Chinese University of Hong Kong, having studied Musicology (BA) and Asian studies (MA). He focusses on issues of representation in culture and is the recipient of the 2017 IIAS National Master thesis award. His latest article is ‘(Re)creating the Nation Online: Nationalism in Chinese Dota 2 Fandom’, Asiascape: Digital Asia (5), 2018:198-224; [email protected]

Notes 1 China wind is the literal translation into English; another could be China/Chinese Style. 2 Chow, Yiu Fai & de Kloet, J. 2010. ‘Blowing in the China Wind: Engagements with Chineseness in Hong Kong’s Zhongguofeng Music Videos’, Visual Anthropology 24(1–2):59-76. 3 https://tinyurl.com/TTSmallTown 4 Chow, Yiu Fai. 2009. ‘Me and the Dragon: A Lyrical Engagement with the Politics of Chineseness’, Inter-Asia Cultural Studies 10(4):544-64, see p.546 5  42, nr. 12 (2004):40-42. 6  , 2014, 142. 7 Ibid., note 2 8  nr. 2 (2013): 204. 9 https://tinyurl.com/JCBlueWhite 10 Liu, Chen, Ning An & Hong Zhu. 2015. ‘A Geopolitical Analysis of Popular Songs in the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, Malaysia’s fusion ensemble ‘Eight-Twelve’ deftly brings together elements of Chinese and Western music to create innovative compositions. 1983–2013’, Geopolitics 20(3):606-25. 12 China Connections Regional Editor The Region African Studies in China Cheryl M. Schmitz

African Studies

Center for Global Asia in China at NYU Shanghai The Center for Global Asia at NYU Shanghai serves as the hub within the NYU Global Cheryl M. Schmitz Network University system to promote the study of Asian interactions and comparisons, both historical and contemporary. The overall objective of the Center is to provide global societies with information on the contexts for the reemerging connections between the various parts of Asia through research and teaching. Collaborating with institutions across the world, the Center seeks to play a bridging role between existing Asian studies knowledge silos. It will take the lead in drawing connections and comparisons between the existing fields of Asian studies, and stimulating new ways of understanding Asia in a globalized world.

Asia Research Center A few years ago, I sat in on a graduate seminar on ethics at Fudan University and globalization at a major university in Beijing. The course Founded in March 2002, the Asia Research Center at Fudan University (ARC-FDU) is was taught by a Chinese professor who had done extensive one of the achievements of the cooperation fieldwork in locations ranging from Angola to Ethiopia. of Fudan and the Korean Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS). Through the years, More than half of the students in the classroom had also the center is making all the efforts to promote lived in various African countries. They had spent years Asian Studies, including hosting conferences and supporting research projects. ARC-FDU working at construction companies, charity organizations, keeps close connections with the ARCs in or diplomatic offices, and they were now being trained as mainland China and many institutes abroad. Scholars gather for discussion at the Center for African a new generation of area studies experts. Studies, Sun Yat-sen University.

he beginning of the twenty-first connections were set up in the 1960s, in China. The authors highlight some century saw an explosion in popular and with the official aim of supporting anti- themes that distinguish Chinese Africanism, Tacademic publications on connections colonial liberation movements. Recent such as Chinese business and migration and reconnections between China and years have seen the opening of a number networks in Africa or African commercial the African continent. What has attracted of new African Studies centers and institutes, activity in China. They also raise important less attention, however, is how Chinese amounting to at least twenty, with over political and theoretical questions about academic interest in African Studies has half established within the past two the future of the field. Indeed, contemporary grown alongside diplomatic relations and decades. These centers host meetings Chinese connections to Africa can no longer commercial ties. Africanists in China are for scholarly exchange and facilitate the be thought of as restricted to the economic building unique academic programs, often dissemination of written publications and sphere. Scholars based in China continue based on fieldwork or other on-the-ground visual media related to Africa and Africans. to actively produce knowledge about the experience and in collaboration with African The Belt and Road Initiative has been African continent, and it will be important scholars and institutions. Programmatic accompanied by government support for to consider the implications of this emphases are often explicitly contrasted the study of the Global South, opening intellectual work. against Western traditions of studying Africa, up resources for collaborations with African said to have been closely linked to colonial universities and new possibilities for overseas Cheryl M. Schmitz ( ), or neo-colonial projects. fieldwork by Chinese researchers. Global Perspectives on Society The contributions to this issue of China Teaching Fellow, In China, the first academic institutions A corner of the Institute for African Studies, Connections provide a range of perspectives New York University Shanghai devoted to the study of Africa or of Afro-Asian Zhejiang Normal University. on recent developments in African Studies [email protected]

the blossoming of China-Africa cultural and spiritual fulfillment. The Jinhua Qiubin relations. Since 2015, the primary school has Primary School, meanwhile, has embraced Amidst a China-Africa cultural boom adopted a special type of education that all aspects of African culture, including focuses on African culture, the first of its face painting, designing tribal clothing, kind in China and a symbol of the symbiotic manufacturing African musical instruments, Ehizuelen Michael Mitchell Omoruyi relationship between Africa and China. The and constructing thatched huts. The pupils African museum at the Institute of African make masks out of cardboard using designs Studies was the first to be established at a from different parts of Africa. Anyone who ommunication between China Last year, I wrote an article for the China higher education institution in China. It has visits the primary school will be amazed at and Africa has become more Daily where I described how students at Jinhua the largest collection of African artifacts what the pupils do with African arts, fabrics, Cfrequent in recent years, as many Qiubin Primary School in Zhejiang province, and foreign art at any university since the hair weaving, sculpting, and African musical Africans move to China with the hope of China, leapt into the air in a typical African founding of the People’s Republic of China instruments. The Institute of African Studies fulfilling their dreams. China and Africa, dance routine. The dance was accompanied by in 1949. I was amazed the first time I came to has been behind these cultural efforts, both of which possess a rich cultural the sounds of African instruments, ranging from the Institute to find such a museum in China. trying to show to the African people how the heritage, learn more about each other the mbira from Zimbabwe to specially-designed Through cultural exchange, the Institute Chinese people respect and appreciate their and in turn develop a mutual appreciation West African congas. These instruments were of African Studies is able to teach Chinese arts and culture. As people from China and and fondness. Out of the common so loud and clear that visitors from Africa people that Africa is not only a cradle of Africa continue to communicate, there will be aspiration to further strengthen traditional momentarily forgot they were in far-away civilization but also a rising continent. a cultural awakening, and the Chinese and ties of friendship and promote mutually China. This is the power of cultural diversity. From afar, one sees that the building African people will soon be able to appreciate beneficial cooperation between Africa Recently, Chinese activities in many housing the museum is itself a piece of art. the great cultural heritage of both sides. and China, the Institute of African Studies African nations have expanded from economic When entering the structure, one encounters at Zhejiang Normal University stands to cultural exchanges, allowing Chinese diverse artifacts offering various perspectives. Ehizuelen Michael Mitchell Omoruyi out by serving as a platform for cultural people to gradually learn more about Africa This is how traditional African landscape Executive Director of the Centre of exchange and by contributing to a new and its people. The African museum at paintings should be experienced, through free Nigerian Studies, Institute of African historical stage for the development of Zhejiang Normal University and the Jinhua shifts of perspective. China and Africa need Studies, Zhejiang Normal University China-Africa cultural relations. Qiubin primary school both contribute to new possibilities for aesthetic appreciation [email protected] The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 China Connections Regional Editor 13 African Studies in China Cheryl M. Schmitz The Region

A summary of research on Africans at SYSU in Guangzhou, China

Daming Zhou

nown as the pilot site of China’s reform and opening up, and the K‘workshop of the world’, Guangzhou is attractive for its low cost of living, proximity to manufacturing suppliers, and as host to the Canton Fair. Contemporary African immigration to Guangzhou began in the late 1990s and reached its peak Guangzhou. Reproduced under a CC in the year 2010. According to official license, courtesy of Xiquinhosilva on Flickr. statistics, there were 11,000 Africans living in Guangzhou, while the number community’ (liudong de jingshen shequ) of inbound African tourists was over based on Islamic belief. NIU Dong (2015) 500,000 in 2016. At Sun Yat-sen University, focused on Africans’ household, neighbor- Fishermen in Dar es Salaam, researchers from a variety of disciplines hood and associations, and raised a new Tanzania. Reproduced under such as Public Management, Economics, analytic framework of ‘the transient (guoke)’ A Chinese migrant in a CC license, courtesy Rajesh India on Flickr. Urban Planning, Sociology and Anthro- that highlights transnational mobility and Tanzania: Jackey Zhou pology have conducted a number of minimal integration among these sojourners. studies on migration. Among the various research methods applied in the studies of African migrants, LI Xiangyun Before 2010, when Guangzhou hosted sociologists have mainly used large-scale the Asian Games, most Public Management social survey data, and anthropologists studies focused on foreigners’ illegal entry, have begun to conduct in-depth fieldwork ackey Zhou studied French at to his hometown every year. Besides visiting illegal residence and illegal work (termed the through which abundant qualitative Yunnan University in the early 1990s. relatives and friends, he has also traveled with ‘three illegals’ for short) and their negative information can be collected. Indeed, the JAfter graduation, he worked for a his children all around the motherland. impacts. Since 2009, LI Zhigang and his team qualitative approach seems to have gained pharmaceutical company in Kunming. In Jackey Zhou is a warmhearted person. He have studied the socio-spatial features and popularity recently, as geographers and 1999, the young Jackey Zhou was sent by has several good Chinese friends in Tanzania. the organizing principles of African ethnic urban planning researchers, such as the this company to work in, what he would later They all came to Tanzania in the 1990s and enclaves from the perspective of residential team led by LI Zhigang, now use both describe as, “the mysterious continent of struggled from youth to middle-age. During segregation.1 Urban Planning scholars have questionnaires and interviews in their Africa”. Thus began his life in Africa, which the Spring Festival, they gather at Jackey examined how African immigrants explore research. lasted for nearly two decades. Zhou's home. His virtuous wife prepares a full and make sense of places like the business table of dishes. Everyone drinks wine, talks area of Xiaobei or religious sites such as Daming Zhou Professor at School When he first arrived on the continent, about the world, and enjoys each other’s the Sacred Heart Cathedral. A number of of Sociology and Anthropology and Jackey Zhou worked as a salesman of company. Jackey Zhou’s home also serves sociological works examine the collective Director of the Center for Migration and artemisinin, an antimalarial. He still as a temporary hotel for good friends visiting life of these groups through the lenses Ethnic Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, remembers the experience of being robbed for Dar es Salaam, or for those who have had too of social networks, social adaptation and [email protected] the first time. On the morning of 9 April 2000, much to drink. Every Chinese scholar who has mutual perceptions between non-African he was walking on Karl Marx Street in Maputo, done research in Tanzania in the early 21st Guangzhou citizens and African immigrants. Notes the capital of Mozambique, taking photos century knows of Jackey Zhou. In his doctoral thesis, XU Tao conducted of the scenery. Suddenly, three young black a qualitative analysis of African merchants’ 1 Zhigang Li, Desheng Xu, Feng Du, et al. men rushed forward, pushed him to the adjustments to changes that took place 2009. ‘The Local Response of Transnational ground, and stole his camera. At first he was LI Xiangyun Assisiant Professor, Center in 2010. LIANG Yucheng (20132) examined Social Space under Globalization in Urban scared, but then he jumped up and chased for African Studies, Yunnan University the mechanisms of African migrants’ China: A Case Study of African Enclave [email protected] after the men to get his camera back. transnational migration and collaborated in Guangzhou’, Geographical Research 28(04):920-932 The price he paid was a seriously injured with LIU Lin et al (20153) to study their living This essay is based on the author’s 2 Yucheng Liang. 2013. ‘African Immigration right thumb. Later, he settled in Tanzania fieldwork in Tanzania, conducted in 2016, conditions in local communities, both using in Guangzhou China: A Cumulative to marry and have children. He no longer for the project “Chinese Immigrants in the survey data. Causation Perspective on Immigration impulsively chased thieves. Tanzania”. While some social scientists have Behavior’, Sociological Studies 28(01): Jackey Zhou has two children, a handsome viewed the African community in Guang- 134-159+243-244 boy and a pretty girl, both born and raised in The Center for African Studies at Yunnan zhou as a more or less homogenous group, 3 Lin Liu, Yucheng Liang, Guangwen Song, Tanzania. They study at international schools University (CASYNU) is an academic anthropologists ZHOU Daming and XU et al. 2015. ‘Migration Patterns and Its and are fluent in Chinese and English. To institution specializing in African research Duotian have in their recent work (20174) Influencing Factors of African Immigrants and talent cultivation. Currently there are maintain the children's Chinese language emphasized ethnic heterogeneity and in Guangdong Province’, Chinese Journal 7 full-time researchers and 10 part-time of Population Science (01):115-122+128 skills, Jackey Zhou and his wife speak Chinese explored certain groups such as shopping- researchers, with 26 Master’s and Doctoral 4 Daming Zhou & Duotian Xu. 2017. with their children at home. He has also invited candidates at the center. The center has guide brokers. African Muslims in Guangzhou ‘Research on the Social Network of Guide Chinese students from the University of Dar also invited experts and scholars to form were one of the main topics of MA Qiang’s Brokers in Guangzhou in the Perspective es Salaam to teach his children Chinese at an academic committee, which is chaired doctoral thesis (2005), in which he of Structural Hole’, Ethno-National Studies home. In addition, he takes his children back by Professor Liu Hongwu. proposed the concept of a ‘mobile spiritual (03):41-49+123

Above: African Museum at ZNU. Right: Jinhua Qiubin Primary School; both photos courtesy of IASZNU. 14 China Connections Regional Editor The Region African Studies in China Cheryl M. Schmitz

An African perspective Bridging the gap: blackness on African Studies in China and Sino-African relations

Kwesi D.L.S. Prah Keisha A. Brown

frican Studies’ in China is a relatively Most importantly, although Mafeje 2016 television commercial for a Chinese To fully address the complexities and recent scholastic initiative and tradition.1 was optimistic that ‘African Studies’ would laundry detergent featured an African nuances of Sino-African relations, centering ‘A This is not to say that general knowledge open paths for the veracity and value of Aman who, after being placed in a washing identity, specifically around the concept of on, or interest in Africa is new in China. Africanity and African scholarship, there machine, emerged with white skin. Blackness, would enrich African Studies research Nevertheless, the recent pursuit to build and are still indications that efforts to develop by Chinese scholars. Blackness is not just a grow expertise in ‘African Studies’ has become this field of study within Chinese academic In 2017, the Hubei Provincial Museum exhibit racial categorization based on skin color, but a source of interest and focus of the Chinese discourse serves particular interests. entitled ‘This Is Africa’ displayed a series of also encompasses history, culture, society, and academic community and government over As an African scholar in China, I can only diptychs, each one containing a photo of an politics as it relates to the struggles of peoples the past 60 years. However, the challenges hope that these interests are mindful of the African person juxtaposed with the face of of the African diaspora. The performance of Chinese scholars face with regard to the subjective bias, epistemological flaws, and an animal, such as a monkey, giraffe, or lion. race as identity is a constant negotiation of tradition and relevance of ‘African Studies’ often racist nature of ‘African Studies’ and its A skit in the nationally broadcasted 2018 disavowal, affiliation, and exclusion. Treating mirror those faced by Western scholars. traditions worldwide. This mindfulness would CCTV Chinese New Year celebration program race as performative allows one to differentiate create a healthy culture of self-reflexivity and centered around the theme of Sino-African between audience and performer to discuss Despite the major strides being made in critique within Chinese academic discourse, relations. Although it was meant to promote the racial frameworks in China shaping adding to the repositories of knowledge at which would complement scholarship and praise ongoing economic and political perceptions and representations of Blackness, various higher learning institutions across by Africans, African and Africanist ideas, developments, the execution of the theme as well as how said frameworks and beliefs China, and the growing number of scholars histories, and realities. was especially problematic in terms of its are upheld or challenged. Chinese Africanists’ interested in engaging in scholarship on depiction of Africans. An African woman was critical engagement with the performativity Africa and about Africans, there is a continued Kwesi D.L.S. Prah performed by a Chinese actress in blackface of Blackness could reshape discourses in two ‘othering’ of Africans, their ideas, realities Senior Lecturer in History, with exaggerated physical features. This crucial ways. First, critical engagement with and scholastic traditions. Maurice Duverger, East China Normal University, portrayal of African women was accented by the ways in which Blackness has been depicted Edward Said, and Archie Mafeje all argued that [email protected] African men costumed as animals, including and commodified by non-Blacks, especially researchers engaged in the social sciences are monkeys and zebras. in colonial or oppressive spaces, would lead bound by particular value systems which are In each of the above examples, African to a recognition of how racializing the ‘other’ then reflected in the way they conceptualize identities were replaced by whiteness, has historically shaped representations or and frame their research, hypothesize, or collate Chinese caricatures, or animals resulting in conceptualizations of Blackness. Second, information.2 This is no different in China, the misrepresentation of Africans, the erasure examining the ways Africans choose to express where most Chinese scholars studying Africa, of racial identity, and the denial of humanity. their own Black identities can both counteract Notes African peoples and their thoughts or realities Furthermore, these images were presented in and widen the narrow historically constructed are primarily informed by Euro-American 1 I put African studies in inverted comas Chinese spaces where they would be consumed representations by inserting the multiplicities scholarly traditions. Furthermore, some of them because although it is commonly used by a vast audience of Chinese citizens, resulting of African identity into scholarly conversations. are funded by, and follow, policy directives from to demarcate an area of scholarship, in the widespread dissemination of problematic In concurrence with other existing and newly government. The totality of these experiences it is also subject to intense criticism from portrayals of Africans imbedded with racist emerging scholarship, work that engages means that a lot of time is spent regurgitating, African scholars regarding its scholastic connotations and stereotypes. Surprisingly, Blackness as an analytical frame would draw reformulating, or replicating often biased, traditions and epistemologies. these incidents are occurring against the attention to the national and transnational racist, and outmoded epistemological and 2 Duverger, M. 1968. Sociologie Politique. backdrop of increased Sino-African relations aspects of Sino-African relations and has the empirical research frameworks. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, and the continual growth of African Studies potential to connect political and economic Scholars such as Tandeka Nkiwane and pp.11-12; Mafeje, A. 2008. ‘Africanity: A in China. In the last decade, the Ministry of trends to social and cultural contexts to reflect Combative Ontology’, CODESRIA Bulletin Paulin Hountondji make it very clear that social Education (MOE) and other related bureaus the unique ways these components intertwine 3&4:59-115;109-110; Said, E.W. 1978. sciences such as Ethnology or International Orientalism. New York: Pantheon, pp.2-4. of the Chinese government supported the and continue to take shape. Relations need to strip off the Eurocentric 3 See footnote in Hountondji, P. 2009. creation of numerous academic spaces in 3 epistemic lens upon which they heavily rely. ‘Knowledge of Africa, Knowledge by China devoted to African Studies. Just at the Keisha A. Brown This is exemplified in research on Africa-China Africans: Two Perspectives on African moment when there has been a steady increase Assistant Professor of History, relations, through an over-reliance on ‘experts’ Studies’, RCCS Annual Review 1, National in new scholarship by Chinese Africanists Tennessee State University, who are divorced from the political, social University of Benin, African Centre for demonstrating the vitality and potential of [email protected] or economic realities of Africa, but who then Advanced Studies, p.4; also see, Nkiwane, African Studies, trade between China and claim to speak on behalf of all Africans. T.C. 2001. ‘Africa and International various African nations has also increased, thus It is also crucially important that Chinese Relations: Regional Lessons for a Global leading to more contact between these peoples. Discourse’, International Political Science scholars preserve a sense of academic Review 22(3):279-290; Zondi, S. 2015. Considering these developments, how have such freedom, in order to provide more incisive ‘Decolonial Humanism and Africa’s stereotypes and misunderstandings persisted? critique, research and debate on the political Presence in International Diplomacy’, What role can an understanding of Black economy of Africans around the world. CODESRIA Bulletin. identity play in shifting these discourses?

Looking forward, I am confident that the While it is legitimate for Chinese scholars prospects of African Studies in China are and government officials to promote various African Studies with bright. However, it should not become a merits of the China Model, it is equally critical replica of Euro-American African Studies. for us to realize the invaluable experience that Chinese characteristics? While much remains for Chinese Africanists African countries offer to China. As a Chinese to learn from their foreign colleagues, they Africanist, I often say to myself as well as to A perspective and a vision could contribute more to the field if they my students: In many ways, Africa is a mirror, approach Africa from a different standpoint which forces us to stare at ourselves, bring the and fully leverage the history and experience entire world into view, and build a shared moral XU Liang of the Chinese society. For example, conscience for all of humankind. urbanization in Africa bears similarities with Chinese urbanization in multiple dimensions. XU Liang Ph.D. (History, Harvard), frican Studies in the United States of Social Sciences and Peking University, Job creation and the shortage of affordable Assistant Professor of International gained momentum after the passing respectively, research outputs and govern- housing are shared challenges facing Studies and Deputy Secretary-General Aof the National Defense Education Act ment support were modest until the end of numerous cities both in Africa and in China. of the Center for African Studies, Peking in 1958 (Title VI), followed by a substantial the previous century. The rapid proliferation There is a pronounced tendency amongst University, [email protected] expansion of federal funding for area studies. of African Studies programs over the last Chinese Africanists to believe that the Two years later, as the world celebrated ‘the decade or so coincided with the rise of experience of China's development over The Peking University Centre for Year of Africa’, the appointment of a Joint China on the global stage and, in particular, the last four decades offers a model for African Studies was founded in 1998 as a university-wide, interdisciplinary institution Committee on African Studies by the Social its increasing presence and influence in Africa as the continent aspires to develop for comprehensive African research. Science Research Council and the American Africa since the beginning of the new and prosper. It consists of faculty and research fellows Council of Learned Societies officially marked millennium. In my view, issues such as post-conflict from different departments and institutes, the coming of age of Africa as an area field With the recently launched Belt and reconstruction, long-term rule of governing who specialize in African politics, economy, in the US academy. This postwar burgeoning Road Initiative, Chinese government support parties, religious and ethnic policies, the and cultures. Currently, the Center is of area studies was in part prompted by to area studies centers will only continue to decline of marriage and family, and rapid collaborating with the Graduate School the Cold War competition between the expand. However, the numerical growth of industrialization provide an essential common of Arts and Sciences to develop an African superpowers. programs and centers does not necessarily ground for China and African countries to Studies certificate, the first of its kind in bring about a genuine flourishing of learn from each other. Although exploring Chinese universities. This new curriculum African Studies in China is still in its infancy. scholarship. Often, it masks and belies these subjects in Africa does not produce an program will enhance the education and research of Africa among Chinese While African Studies programs in China can a false blossoming of research. As the old immediate solution to similar problems in China university students. The Center’s two be traced back to the early 1960s when the Chinese idiom goes, “it takes ten years (or vice versa), it does help Chinese scholars flagship publications are the PKU African Institute of West-Asian and African Studies to grow a tree, but a hundred to nurture the and practitioners better appreciate and Tele-Info (a weekly newsletter) and and the Institute of Asian and African Studies people.” A good educational program takes acknowledge such issues from a global the Annual Review of African Studies were established at the Chinese Academy time to develop and mature. and transnational perspective. in China. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 News from Northeast Asia Regional Editor 15 Maritime interactions and Ilhong Ko The Region the East Asian world

Maritime interactions and the East Asian world

Ilhong Ko The ‘East Asian world’ is a lived reality, maintained through cultural, historical, and economic interactions that began in prehistoric times and continue strongly into the present day. The seas have played a pivotal role in facilitating such interactions, allowing people, resources, and knowledge The Seoul National University Asia Center to be exchanged throughout this extensive region. (SNUAC) is a research and international exchange institute based in Seoul, South Korea. The SNUAC’s most distinctive feature is its cooperative approach in n this issue of News from Northeast Asia, Neukdo Island. An ancient hub of maritime Kim of Sogang University discusses the way fostering research projects and we examine the various forms of maritime interactions’, Ilhong Ko of Seoul National in which Chinese merchant communities international exchange program through Iinteractions that took place in the past University introduces the results of excavations contributed to the formation of a trans-border close interactions between regional and and which contributed to the formation undertaken at the site of Neukdo, which economic network in the region, and the thematic research programs about Asia and reproduction of a common East Asian illustrate how this ancient port functioned as distinctive nature of their practices vis-à-vis and the world. To pursue its mission community. an international hub of maritime trade around Indian merchant communities, in ‘Modern to become a hub of Asian Studies, SNUAC the turn of the first millennium; the way in maritime interactions of Asian merchant research teams are divided by different The nature of these maritime inter- which Chinese ports, products, and institutions communities’. regions and themes. Research centers and actions, and how they developed over time, shaped the nature of maritime interactions programs are closely integrated, providing is overviewed here by Jun Kimura of Tokai in the region is discussed by Haiming Yan of Ilhong Ko Research Fellow at Seoul a solid foundation for deeper analysis University, in ‘Formation of an East Asian the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage National University Asia Center; of Asian society. cultural, economic, and historic sphere through in ‘The formation and fruits of East Asian Regional Editor of ‘News from maritime interactions’; in ‘Investigating maritime interactions’; and finally, Jong-Ho Northeast Asia’ [email protected]

Formation of an East Asian cultural, economic, and historic sphere through maritime interactions

Jun Kimura

he formation of maritime trading net- works gradually developed in early Asian Thistory and the subsequent integration of separate maritime entities contributed to the extensive growth of socio-economic and cultural development in the region. As a result, people and goods traveled long distances through these maritime networks among early polities in East and Southeast Asia.

The tributary system developed by the Chinese imperial courts was a channel for the Excavated Song period merchant ship (Nanhai No.1) exchange of commodities produced throughout the country, and is regarded as an early form of central government controlled trade. An by pilgrimages aiming to spread doctrines. Maritime Silk Route. This route linked China example is the kingdom of Funan (68–550 CE), An account of an early pilgrimage was with the port cities of Southeast Asia and the located at the tip of the Indochina Peninsula, written by Faxian (337–442), who successfully Indian Ocean. The trade items that moved Ship excavated from Wando, a Goryeo Dynasty and one of many entrepots located in the reached the Gupta Empire in northern India in along the Maritime Silk Route varied, including coastal trader considered to be a descendant type region. Funan sent homage to the Chinese the fifth century and returned via sea routes not only silks but also other export goods of a Silla merchant ship. court in the form of items such as pearls, coral, to Ceylon, then onto China in 413. His account such as ceramics, and consequently Chinese aromatic woods, spices, and precious goods depicts how perilous a voyage crossing the ceramics became a popular commodity in Japanese port open to overseas traders. from the Far West. Funan served as a shipping South China Sea could be, when rudimentary the Northeast Asian markets. At Korokan in Silla-Japan trade, however, fell into decline hub between the West and the East, which navigational techniques were used, sailors Hakata in northern Kyushu in Japan, Chinese after the death of Jang Bogo. was confirmed by the discovery of Oc-Eo in were inadequately trained, and seagoing Changsha ceramics have been excavated, as In China, the rise of the Song Dynasty the Mekong Delta, a site where Roman coins vessels poorly constructed. On the other hand, well as Korean ceramics produced during the (960–1279) was characterized by industrial were once discovered during an archaeological from a detailed account of a pilgrimage by Unified Silla period (668–935). Hakata was a development. The commercial revolution investigation. Given the fact that land roads Yiching (635–713), we learn that maritime prominent international port during this time. during the Song period coincided with the and sea routes for trade extended over vast transportation in the seventh century was In the East Asian maritime world before the expansion of a monetized economy, which regions, it is not surprising that scientists at much safer. Yiching embarked at Guangzhou tenth century, Silla merchants dominated the led to improvements of the taxation system. Nara National Research Institute for Cultural in southern China for the Kingdom of Srivijaya, trade along the northern Chinese coast and in A significant portion of the Chinese socio- Properties (in Japan) have found glass located in modern Palembang in eastern the Yellow Sea. Silla occupied a geographically economy started to rely on taxation generated products from archaeological sites dated to the Sumatra, Indonesia in 671. He then traveled important position in the inter-regional by maritime trading. The growth of maritime 5th century, which originated from the Roman on a ship from Palembang to India, safely maritime trading network, and Silla trading industries such as shipbuilding and water Empire and the Indian Ocean territory. returning to Guangzhou in 695. The rise of the communities were additionally formed transportation was also accelerated. The Using both land and sea routes, long new maritime Kingdom of Srivijaya increased along the Chinese coast. The records of Silla greater engagement of Chinese voyagers in journeys were undertaken in order to acquire the traffic along sea lanes between Guangzhou merchants’ activities represent an early form overseas trade had begun and would foster Buddhist scriptures and relics from within India, and Palembang, and when travelling this of a private trading system, and they also maritime commerce in East Asia. The Song which were then spread rapidly, particularly route Yiching was probably aboard a Persian began to be involved in transit trade. Jang period shipwrecks found in China are a during the Six Dynasties (222–589), Sui ship, on a trip that took him twenty days. Bogo (787–841) was the most powerful figure testimony of this phenomena. (589–618) and Tang (618–907). The accounts Persian and Arab sailors who had of the Silla cliques. His activities especially of Buddhists who traveled between China and sophisticated navigation skills and knowledge impacted on the amount of Silla trade with Jun Kimura Junior Associate Professor, India are a good resource for understanding about monsoons and tidal currents voyaged Japan, peaking around the ninth century. Department of Maritime Civilizations, the improvements to navigation and the water to Guangzhou by the late seventh century, Jang Bogo regularly dispatched ships to Tokai University. transportation system which were facilitated with Guangzhou becoming a gateway of the Hakata, which at the time was the only [email protected] 16 News from Northeast Asia Regional Editor The Region Maritime interactions and Ilhong Ko the East Asian world

Yayoi pottery; and glass beads and cowrie shells that likely originated in Southeast Asia. A diverse range of people may have Investigating Neukdo Island. EAST SEA North Korea resided at this port, as is evidenced by the An ancient hub of maritime material remains of their foreign practices. For example, Yayoi pottery unearthed at the interactions South Korea site comprises not only storage vessels but also ritual vessels, and a ritual clay figurine 1 Japan and miniature clay mask similar to examples Ilhong Ko YELLOW SEA 2 3 from the contemporaneous Japanese trade port at Harunotsuji were discovered. This seems to indicate that a series of Japanese n often overlooked yet key component China ritual practices had been carried out of ancient maritime interactions in the by Japanese inhabitants at Neukdo. ANortheast Asia region is the coastal route In addition, the burial grounds of Neukdo that was established along the western and EAST CHINA SEA have yielded evidence of widely differing southern coastlines of the Korean Peninsula. burial postures and burial structures. One This route played a key role in establishing of the most interesting burials to have been links between the ancient communities of discovered at Neukdo, but which has yet to China, Korea, and Japan up until the seventh be formally published, comes from the Area C century CE. Due to treacherous tidal currents, burial ground. It is said that the deceased was the successful navigation of this coastal buried facing the ground, which is an atypical route would have depended upon an in-depth burial position not identified in prehistoric knowledge of these waters – knowledge that contexts on the Korean Peninsula. Another set Taiwan would have been accumulated through the 4 of interesting burials comes from the Area A input of seafarers from diverse regions. These burial ground (No. 92-1 & 95), in which a single seafarers would have met and exchanged cowrie shell had been placed upon the chest information and goods at ‘hubs’ along this Map presenting the locations of Neukdo (1) and other relevant East Asian ports such as Harunotsuji of the deceased (with the absence of a hole coastal route, one of which was located at (2), Hakata (3), and Guangzhou (4). indicating that it was not worn as a necklace) Neukdo Island, at the southeastern tip of the who had been buried within a double-jar Korean Peninsula. A wide array of archaeological features indicate that various forms of crafts production coffin. As the placement of cowrie shells as have been revealed that can shed light on the also took place at Neukdo. However, the most grave goods has not been observed on the Neukdo is a small island, covering an area nature of daily life at this bustling trade port, important activity on the island was trade, as Korean Peninsula, these burials and the Area of approximately 46ha, which was excavated including round and square-shaped dwellings, is evidenced by the discovery of Chinese coins C atypical burial indicate that the dead buried between 1985 and 2003. Archeological structures built on piles that may have served (Banliangqian and Wushu), a variety of stone in the Neukdo burial grounds may have been investigations revealed that humans were as storage buildings, middens, and burial weights, and an inkstone and knife which were multi-cultural in nature. present at the site from the Neolithic Period grounds. Evidence of harbor infrastructure used to keep records. Finally, some of the Neukdo round- (6000-2000 BCE), but it is the material remains has yet to be identified, but the discovery of The goods that were traded at Neukdo houses were found to have been furnished of approximately two centuries of occupation, an ancient stone anchor points towards the attest to the international nature of this with indoor heating facilities, made in the extending from sometime in the second century possibility of future findings. The presence of port. Artifacts that have been found include style first used by the people of the Russian BCE to the first century CE, that have been iron slags and fragments from furnace walls sword pommel pieces, bronze arrowheads, Primorye region around this time, and the the subject of great scholarly interest, for this and tuyères, whale spine bones that appear bronze mirror fragments, and various types technology gradually spread southwards. evidence reveals that the island functioned to have been used as turntables for ceramic of Chinese pottery that came from the Lelang Strangely enough, in southern Korea, it is as a key trade port in the region. vessel forming, and numerous spindle whorls Commandery or Han China; Japanese at Neukdo that these facilities first appear. Such houses with indoor heating facilities therefore seem to indicate the presence and influence of people from the Russian Primorye region on the island. The above strands of evidence make it possible to suggest that, from the second century BCE to around the first century CE, Neukdo may have been home to individuals from various regions of East Asia who resided at this trade port whilst maintaining their own cultural practices. As an inter- national port where seafarers from various regions could meet and possibly share their diverse experiences, Neukdo was an international hub where not only goods but also knowledge, ideas, practices could be shared, thereby contributing to the foundations of a common maritime interaction network in ancient times.

Ilhong Ko Research Fellow, Inlaid glass bead from Neukdo which may possibly have Southeast Asian origins. From Samgang Institute Seoul National University Asia Center, of Cultural Properties, 2006, Neukdo Shellmidden III – Area 3 burial ground, p. 130. [email protected]

Peninsula mainly used the land passage, while private trade continued using the sea routes. The formation and fruits of East The prosperous regional exchanges started to decline from the fifteenth century, due to Asian maritime interactions embargos all over the region. The Ming rulers banned private trade; Japan left only the port of Nagasaki for foreign trade; and the Joseon Haiming Yan Dynasty put a ban on maritime trade. However, cultural communication was sustained and left behind a number of heritage sites which hile the Eurasian overland trade and in the creation of a new route across the bear witness to the collective memory of cultural routes have been extensively Yellow Sea, which started at Wendeng in the the peoples of the region. Wexplored and identified as World Shandong Peninsula, reached Baengnyeong Chinese porcelain had been exported to Heritage Sites, the maritime routes have yet Island in the west of the Korean Peninsula, and foreign countries from the ninth century, but to be widely investigated. In fact, exchanges terminated at Hakata, Japan. became more popular during the Song and Yuan via the seas may have been more sustainable Before the eighth century, official dynasties. Kilns specializing in export porcelain and influential, and uninterrupted maritime communications – diplomatic envoys from Silla were founded in the southeastern coastal interactions may have created a common and Japan – were the main reason for travel. areas, and inland kilns were relocated to the memory of East Asian civilization. After the eighth century, private trade coastal areas to boost export. Also, early Korean started to play a more influential role. Between celadon imitated, in terms of glaze color and Simple trade activities existed among the tenth and thirteenth century, private trade shape, similar vessels produced in Zhejiang’s different areas in the East Asian region as early flourished thanks to the commercially open Yue Kiln. The Korean technique of pottery as 2000 BCE. Around the first century CE, mindset of China’s Song Dynasty. There were became increasingly more sophisticated, maritime connections within the region became two major routes from China to the Korean culminating in its own worldly famous brand, institutionalized. Initially, the navigation routes Peninsula: one across the Yellow Sea, and Korean celadon, which was introduced back were located along the coastline, with islands the other between Mingzhou (today’s Ningbo) to China. The prosperity of porcelain trade and the mainland in visible range. Military and the southwest of the Korean Peninsula. has been extensively explored by scholars, conflicts between Baekje and Goguryeo made After the Mongols occupied China, official and is regarded as a fundamental basis for it difficult to sail along the coastline, resulting exchanges between China and the Korean the sustainability of the Maritime Silk Road. Celadon from Yue Kiln The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 News from Northeast Asia Regional Editor 17 Maritime interactions and Ilhong Ko The Region the East Asian world

The British-occupied Asian territories, such as had the protection of being British subjects. Burma, Malaya, the Straits Settlement, and The business activities of Indian merchant Modern maritime interactions Hong Kong, became the main areas of their communities were spontaneous and free from migration. Furthermore, the opening of China the political intentions of the British Empire of Asian merchant communities caused by the Opium War allowed Indian but their activities were facilitated by the merchants to do business in the International influences of the British Empire. Settlements of Chinese treaty ports. In the In mapping the economic activities and Jong-Ho Kim period 1844-1931, over 300,000 Indian traders networks of East Asia in the modern period, the moved from India to Malaya.3 Unlike the movements and networks of Asian merchants indentured Indian labor migrants, they were who participated in maritime interactions rom the nineteenth century, East Asia government was again not very interested a spontaneous migration group that targeted must be drawn as complicated lines that and Southeast Asia were affected by the in the circumstances of overseas Chinese economic profits. transcend boundaries. The lines denoting Fexpansionism of European empires and the communities, but Sun Yat-Sen established the Based on the caste system and regional the movements of Indian merchants should technological advancement of transportation. Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau in Guangzhou identity, rather than nationalism, diverse Indian accompany the expanding territories of the This expansionism was regarded politically as in 1924. Sun fully acknowledged the communities became involved in a varied British Empire, which provided them – the an invasion of external powers, but for Asian contribution of the overseas Chinese patriot range of international business networks. For imperial subject – which a geographical merchant groups it provided an economic remittances and their economic potential. instance, the Indian merchant communities limit and a stable business environment. opportunity. The Western empires in Asia, The Nationalist Government soon followed suit from the Sind region formed a notable inter- On the other hand, Chinese merchants along with their advanced technologies, made and tried to attract the fortunes of overseas national banking network throughout Asia. could not depend upon their home country it possible to form and maintain trans-border Chinese merchants. In particular, they adopted a hundi system (i.e., China during the late Qing dynasty and economic networks. For instance, many Despite the changed attitude of their (a type of cheque or draft system that was the Republican Era) to provide them with a Chinese merchants in British Malaya and the home regimes, overseas Chinese merchants a convenient form of remittance from one stable political status and conversely were Straits Settlement accumulated their fortunes decided to be ‘international orphans’,2 in place to another) in which their networks were faced with the demand to support their home through the influence of the British Empire contrast to the overseas Chinese laborers who maintained with the use of hundis as a major country. As a result, Chinese entrepreneurs and its modernized institutions. Within this maintained strong and unilateral connections currency. Interestingly enough, the hundi engaged in the international business network economic environment emerged Chinese and with their home villages. The overseas Chinese system was remarkably similar to the exchange had to constantly adapt, react, and survive Indian merchant groups with trans-border merchants in Southeast Asia had to hold draft system used within the overseas Chinese under diverse empires and regimes, without business networks within Asia. dual connections with their home country remittance network, Qiaopi (僑批). Chinese any stable political or social status. That is why and host country, which resulted in their and Indian merchants thus appear to have their business network was spread over diverse In the earlier stage of Chinese migration, having dual – and sometimes even multiple operated a similar system of payment within regions, including the British Empire, French overseas Chinese were not regarded as – nationalities as they dealt with the trans- their respective business networks. Indochina, the Dutch Indies, Thailand, the imperial subjects and therefore none of border business network. Because the Indian merchant network had Philippines, Japan, and Korea. This widespread the political regimes (including Qing, the On the other hand, Indian merchants who been riding alongside the expansion of the trans-border network provided Chinese Europeans, and local rulers) were concerned conducted business between South Asia British Empire, it strongly relied on the growing merchants with diverse economic opportunities with them. Later, Chinese people attempting to and Southeast Asia migrated worldwide by imperial territories. These Indian merchants and information, and their unstable positions depart imperial territory by crossing the South the end of the nineteenth century, following were controlled by the British Empire as within foreign countries meant that they China Sea and to make a living overseas were the incorporation of India into the British- colonized subjects. Paradoxically, this allowed were able to sensitively react to external regarded by the Qing government as criminals, dominated network of trade and finance. them to form networks more easily as they circumstances and naturally adapt to the and were often executed by officials. The Qing political changes of their host countries. Due government’s stance on this matter changed to these survival strategies Chinese overseas by the mid-1870s, as Qing elites began to merchants have been able to maintain a realize the economic potential of the Chinese presence within the modern Asian economy, living abroad. whereas for Indian merchants, the fate of their In 1876, the Qing government decided to business was, to an extent, tied to the rise and dispatch ambassadors to Europe, America, and fall of the empires to which they belonged. Singapore for the protection of these overseas Chinese groups. In 1893, Emperor Gunagxu Jong-Ho Kim Assistant Professor, announced that “From now on, Chinese Institute for East Asian Studies, people and merchants abroad are allowed Sogang University, to come back to their hometowns as well as [email protected] to go overseas freely”.1 In the period following the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, the Beiyang Notes

A logo of Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation, 1 Qingshigao (清史稿, Draft History the largest overseas Chinese-funded bank in Southeast Asia, established in 1932. The logo of the Qing Dynasty), Vol. 23. illustrates a Chinese junk sailing from South China, 2 A term used by Reynolds to refer to the reflecting its ambiguous identity between China Chinese in Thailand during World War 2 and Southeast Asia. https://www.ocbc.com/group but which I believe is also applicable to the entire history of the overseas Chinese merchant community. Reynolds, E. B., R 1997, ““International Orphans”: The Chinese in Thailand during World War 2”, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies 28 (2). 3 Markovits, C., 1991, “Indian Merchant Networks outside India in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: A preliminary Chettier Moneylender in Singapore (1890). A sculpture by Chern Lian Shan, depicting a Chettier-originated survey”, Modern Asian Studies 33 (4), Indian merchant dealing with Chinese and Europeans. https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/556968678893541801 p. 895.

In the middle of the sixth century, Buddhism Japanese monks usually returned home was also widespread in Japan and Korea. in Japan and Korea. By the middle of the was introduced from China to Silla and Japan. bringing with them elements of scripture, tea In the Ming and Qing dynasties, the main thirteenth century, monks from Japan visited After the eighth century, many Japanese and ceremony, poems, calligraphy, and painting. agents of Sino-Japanese cultural exchange famous Chinese temples in the Jiangnan Silla monks went to China to study Buddhism, For example, two Japanese monks, Yosai were Chinese scholars. In 1619, Chen Yuanyun region. They drew The Map of Five Mountains while Chinese monks also spread Buddhism and Dogen, returned by sea with the Dharma settled in Japan, where he introduced Chinese and Ten Temples, which presented the eastwards. For instance, the Buddhist Monk acquired from Tiantong Buddhist Temple literature and martial arts, and created Judo. architectural layouts of various temples and Jianzhen arrived in Japan during the Tianbao in Mingzhou, and founded the Rinzai school Zhu Shunshui arrived at Nagasaki in 1659, was subsequently used as the blueprint for Period of the Tang dynasty. He founded Risshū, and the Soto school, respectively. Many where he actively introduced Chinese culture, the organizing and building regulations of one of the six schools of Nara Buddhism in Chinese monks also visited Japan during namely Confucianism. He was honored by Japanese Buddhist temples. Simply put, a Japan, which also influenced the establish- the Ming and Qing dynasty, partly because Japanese scholars as a ‘sage of culture’. number of traditional Chinese-style buildings ment of the Tendai school. During the Song of the continuous domestic wars in China. Heritage sites are witnesses to the with deep cultural origin, which presently exist and Yuan dynasty, after visiting China, Confucianism, which originated in China, formation of common culture in East Asia, in China, Japan and the Korean Peninsula, represented especially show the common values of the ancient by Buddhist temples. East Asian cultural sphere that are linked by Chinese traditional Buddhism. architectural tech- The East Asian maritime sphere was the niques, manifested outgrowth of ancient peoples using traditional in Buddhist temples, sailing techniques that opened up connections reached Japan and through maritime passages. Based on coastline Korea through the nodes and navigation technology, people maritime routes. were able to trade and exchange elements of Buddhist temples of cultures. The region has been tightly connected the Song dynasty, via the maritime interactions, by which exemplified by Tiantong collective memories and common cultural Buddhist Temple in sphere have been formed. Mingzhou, exerted huge influences upon Haiming Yan Associate Research Fellow, Buddhist architectural Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, Tiantong Buddhist Temple, Jiangnan, China. technology and art [email protected] 18 News from Southeast Asia Regional Editor The Region The Vietnam Studies Program Terence Chong

The Vietnam ISEAS@

Unity Through Studies Program Understanding

2018 marks the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute’s 50th anniversary. Initiated in 1968 by then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Keng Swee, The Vietnam Studies Program at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute ISEAS has since been dedicated to research is dedicated to the study of Vietnam, a very important Southeast and scholarship on Southeast Asia. Asian country due to its growing and dynamic population of more than 90 million and a GDP growth rate of over six per cent for the past few years. The Vietnamese people are also widely known for their diligence and mettle in face of intractable difficulties.

part from these socio-economic Asian Development Bank and the Lancang- The second article highlights the ethnicity. The situation is further complicated strengths, Vietnam is of considerable Mekong Cooperation led by China are further important role of the Communist Party when local authorities intervene to persuade Astrategic importance due to its history areas of interest as they draw attention to the of Vietnam (CPV) in steering the country Protestant Hmong to discard their new and location. In view of its past history of either role of outside powers and institutions and the forward. The CPV plays a pervasive role found faith and return to their folk traditions. being colonized/occupied by or being overly responses of the Mekong countries to these in setting the direction and agenda for the As a result, a large number of evangelized dependent on bigger and stronger powers, external players. country as had happened when Vietnam Hmong have migrated, partly to escape Vietnam today pursues a multi-directional To provide a flavour of the type of issues embarked on Doi Moi (renovation or economic such interventions, and partly in the hope foreign policy which offers useful references that the Vietnam Studies Program cover, we reforms) in 1986. To further industrialize and of escaping poverty. In the urban areas of for other countries. Vietnam is also a key player would like to present three articles written by modernize the country, the Party recognizes Vietnam, the state also keeps a watchful eye in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations our experts. These three articles cover separate that the quality of its personnel matters the over the Protestant community due to their (ASEAN) and other ASEAN-centred regional but inter-related areas. The first article looks most. Hence, a key emphasis of the Party at ability to attract converts through dispensing architectures. at Vietnam’s reactions to China’s Belt and Road the just concluded seventh plenum in May 2018 of welfare services, their strong foreign links, Initiative (BRI) unveiled five years ago in 2013. was on raising the quality of its personnel. and their call for greater religious freedom. The Vietnam Studies Program has two Although it has welcomed the BRI, Vietnam Personnel management also has to be seen There is a common thread in these three key research thrusts. Firstly, it focuses on remains cautious about the economic, political in the wider context of the anti-corruption articles, i.e., Vietnam is still a developing domestic issues such as Vietnam’s leadership and strategic implications of this initiative for drive launched by Vietnam’s General Secretary country that has to grapple with development renewal, political jostling and infighting, the the country. This cautiousness is driven by Nguyen Phu Trong. Keeping corruption in check challenges. Although the CPV remains anti-corruption campaign and socio-economic a number of factors including Vietnam’s past is crucial for the Party’s long-term legitimacy, influential, it has to deliver, like governments developments within the country. Secondly, history of being occupied by imperial China, thereby ensuring that it continues to play in other countries, socio-economic progress it examines developments on the external its desire not to be over-reliant on any major a leading role in Vietnam’s development. to ensure its legitimacy and ability to stay at front including Vietnam’s foreign policy power, the poor record and public perception The third article examines the growing the helm. At the same time, the CPV and the orientation, relations with major powers, its of Chinese projects in Vietnam as well as number of Protestants in Vietnam which government of the day that it directs has to ASEAN neighbours and regional organisations. the lingering distrust between Vietnam and highlights the interesting nexus among religious navigate an ever changing and challenging Cambodia, which just concluded its July China in the South China Sea. Therefore, revivalism, communism and capitalism. external environment. This is a constant 2018 general elections, and its relations with while the BRI may seem to be offering The rise of Protestantism among the Hmong challenge. Vietnam and the big powers also fall under abundant opportunities for growth and ethnic minority in the rural areas is a means the scope of the Vietnam Studies Program. prosperity, there are challenges to be to alter the ethnic group’s marginal status in Liang Lye Fook Senior Fellow and Mekong development initiatives such as the overcome if BRI projects are to achieve Vietnam. However, the unconverted Hmong Co-ordinator of the Vietnam Studies Greater Mekong Sub-region funded by the their intended outcomes in Vietnam. see conversion as a betrayal of Hmong Programme

Vietnam is open to funding from other sources including loans from international The Belt and Road Initiative in financial institutions and ODA partners especially Japan. In general, Japanese Vietnam: challenges and prospects contractors and technologies are perceived by the Vietnamese public as being more trustworthy than Chinese ones. Vietnam is also Le Hong Hiep keen to promote the Public-Private Partnership, especially the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. Public-Private Partnership projects ietnam stands to benefit from China’s Belt the 2014 oil rig crisis. On the one hand, Vietnam will continue to be a major avenue for Vietnam and Road Initiative (BRI) due to its growing has expressed formal support for the BRI as it is to meet its infrastructure needs as they can Vdemand for infrastructure investments Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign help relieve the state of financial burden and to fuel the country’s growth. At the moment, policy initiative. On the other hand, Hanoi international obligations. Vietnam is facing challenges in meeting this seemed more concerned with how this initiative Given Vietnam’s cautiousness, the demand because of the decreased inflow of is implemented. While Vietnamese President implementation of the BRI in Vietnam is likely official development assistance following its Tran Dai Quang welcomed the BRI when he to be slow. So far, no new infrastructure project Line 2A, Hanoi Metro. attainment of the middle-income country status attended the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing in in Vietnam has been officially labelled as in 2009, difficulties in promoting Public-Private May 2017, he also emphasized that cooperation BRI-funded, although the Cat Linh-Ha Dong In sum, the implementation of BRI Partnership projects due to tightening financial under the initiative must ensure “sustainability, metro line in Hanoi, which has been under in Vietnam faces significant challenges. and legal regulations, and limited state-funded effectiveness and inclusiveness, openness, construction since October 2011, has been China should acknowledge these challenges investment due to budgetary constraints. Based mutual respect and benefits, and compliance categorized as such by both sides. In the coming and work with its domestic stakeholders on one estimate, Vietnam’s infrastructure needs with the UN Charter and international law”. years, whether the BRI will be successfully and Vietnamese partners to address them. (in terms of road, rail, airports, ports, telecoms, Although China is keen to fund projects implemented in Vietnam will continue to Although the actual implementation of the electricity and water) would reach a staggering such as steel mills, coal-fired power plants, depend on Hanoi’s evolving perception of the BRI in Vietnam may be slow, it is most likely US$605 billion from 2016 to 2040. It will need high speed railways and highways, Vietnam is initiative. Vietnam may apply for one or two that Hanoi will continue to lend diplomatic to actively seek different sources of funding unlikely to consider getting Chinese loans for ‘pilot’ projects to get a better assessment of support to the initiative as a means to including from the BRI. these projects as a top priority. Some observers the upsides as well as downsides of BRI loans. strengthen overall relations with China. have pointed out that securing Chinese loans However, due to rising public debt, Vietnam Vietnam has endorsed the BRI and the is neither cheap nor easy. China also normally may refrain from applying for government-to- Le Hong Hiep Fellow at ISEAS-Yusof China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank imposes conditions on their preferential loans government loans. Instead, it may encourage Ishak Institute but is cautious about the economic, political including the use of Chinese technologies, domestic private investors to apply for BRI This is an extract from Le Hong Hiep’s and strategic implications of this initiative. equipment and contractors. Moreover, loans, especially from the Asian Infrastructure ‘The Belt and Road Initiative in There remains lingering distrust between the Vietnam’s experience with the poor record Investment Bank, to construct infrastructure Vietnam: Challenges and Prospects’, two countries and rising anti-China sentiments of Chinese contractors and technologies in projects under the BOT model. This approach ISEAS Perspective 2018/18; in Vietnam due to recent tensions over the various projects will dampen its willingness will reduce the political and strategic https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles- South China Sea disputes, especially following to take on Chinese loans. implications of BRI loans for Vietnam. commentaries/iseas-perspective The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 News from Southeast Asia Regional Editor 19 The Vietnam Studies Program Terence Chong The Region

procedure and methods for appraising cadres; charges, and Mr Dinh The Huynh, who is strictly controlling cadres’ power, putting an seriously ill. Instead, the plenum saw the Personnel issues at the end to the practice of bribing for power and election of additional members into the positions; introducing the rule that the party Party Secretariat: Mr Tran Cam Tu, Standing CPV’s seventh plenum secretary of a given province or district must Deputy Head of the Central Committee’s not be a native of the same province/district; Inspectorate Commission, and Mr Tran Thanh reforming salary policies to incentivise cadres’ Man, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Le Hong Hiep performance and attract talent into public Front (VFF). Mr Tu was also elected Head of the institutions; and, improving mechanisms to Inspectorate Commission after Mr Tran Quoc strengthen ties between cadres and the people. Vuong vacated the position to focus on his he seventh plenum of the twelfth Central Once implemented, the blueprint envisions that other post as Standing Member (i.e., Executive Committee of the Communist Party of the quality of Vietnam’s bureaucracy will be Secretary) of the Secretariat. TVietnam (CPV), which convened from 7 to strengthened and the efficiency of the entire Since December 1993, the Party’s 12 May 2018, discussed and made decisions political system will be improved. It also expects Inspectorate Commission has always been on three key issues, namely the CPV’s strategic to alleviate the government’s budgetary deficit headed by a Politburo member. As such, the personnel planning and management, salary Secretary Kerry meeting with Ho Chi Minh officials by reducing the number of officials, cadres and Party’s assignment of the position to Mr Tu reforms and social insurance reforms. Of the state employees. rather than an existing Politburo member three issues, personnel policy decisions and of corrupt personnel practices such as political The blueprint served as the basis for the CPV suggests that Mr Tu will likely be elected into changes at the plenum has attracted the most patronage, nepotism or bribing for power and Central Committee to adopt a resolution on the Politburo in future. His current appointment attention given their important implications for positions. The CPV’s on-going anti-corruption the Party’s personnel works at the end of the will give him the necessary authority to the country’s political prospects. campaign, which saw the prosecution of plenum. While it remains to be seen whether oversee the Party’s anti-corruption campaign. various high-ranking officials at both the the CPV can successfully implement the Similarly, Mr Man also stands a good chance Guided by the late President Ho Chi Minh’s central and local governments has further measures proposed by the blueprint, the move of being elected into the Politburo as the VFF dictum that “cadres are the foundation of all reinforced the importance of personnel works demonstrated the Party’s will to strengthen the in recent decades has normally been headed works”, the CPV has consistently put a strong for the Party’s legitimacy. quality and integrity of its cadres as well as the by a Politburo member. Mr Man’s rather young emphasis on its personnel management. In Against this backdrop, a draft blueprint resilience of its political system. The adoption age (56) and Southern origin may also play the context of economic reforms under Doi on the Party’s personnel strategy up to of the resolution should also be seen in the to his advantage as the Politburo is currently Moi, the Party regards personnel works as an 2030 and beyond was presented to the light of the CPV’s recent efforts to crack down dominated by Northerners while the Party essential element in its efforts to industrialize Central Committee’s seventh plenum for its on corruption and to further institutional and normally seeks a relative balance in the and modernize the country. Over the years, deliberation. The blueprint is divided into five economic reforms, both of which will hardly be regional representation of its top decision- the Party has formulated and implemented sections. The first outlines the theoretical and successful without a cleaner and more capable making body. various plans and policies to improve the practical basis of the blueprint. The second cadre system, especially at the leadership level. quality of its cadres, especially those at key reviews the current status of the Party’s The seventh plenum was also widely Le Hong Hiep Fellow at ISEAS-Yusof levels. However, such plans and policies have personnel works. The third proposes guidelines, expected to elect additional members into the Ishak Institute not translated into expected outcomes. The objectives and solutions to improve the Party’s Politburo, the highest decision-making body This is an extract from Le Hong Hiep’s Party has acknowledged that weaknesses still personnel works. The last two sections assess of the Party. The additional members were ‘Personnel Issues at the CPV’s Seventh remain in its personnel works, including the lack the blueprint’s impact once implemented and expected to replace Mr Dinh La Thang, who Plenum’, ISEAS Perspective 2018/29; of effective mechanism for appraising cadres propose measures for its implementation. Some was removed from the Politburo in May 2017 https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles- and recruiting talents, as well as the prevalence of the key measures include reforming the on corruption and economic mismanagement commentaries/iseas-perspective

Another layer of complication has resulted Protestant welfare services have a role to play, from local authorities’ active intervention to there is concern among local authorities that Evangelizing post-Doi Moi Vietnam. The rise persuade Protestant Hmong to return to their more Vietnamese will convert to Protestantism folk traditions. In response, a large number of after receiving such welfare services. of Protestantism and the state’s response. evangelized Hmong have migrated, partly to There remains a stigma attached to escape such interventions, and partly in the Protestantism. While the actual number of hope of escaping poverty and conflict. Protestants only accounts for over 1 per cent Chung Van Hoang In the urban areas, Protestantism is also of the population, many ordinary people growing among the middle-class Kinh. still keep a distance from them because Churches in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are they believe that the government continues rotestantism is one of the fastest grow- their ancestral land that was taken away by busy during the weekdays and always full to keep a watchful eye over the Protestant ing and dynamic faiths in Vietnam. the Kinh (the majority ethnic group) and to expel during Sunday services. To cater to the growing community. The Protestant faith stands out PThe Protestant community in Vietnam, the latter from the Central Highlands. They also numbers, different divisions are set up for due to the more visible ways it carries out its present since 1911, has been a small one until demanded religious freedom and autonomy different ages from teenagers to older people, mission, its close association with Western the last decade of the 20th century. For a for all ethnic minorities in the region. Another to facilitate Bible studies or to encourage values and its active participation in social long while, Protestant churches, missionaries, protest took place in 2011 in the mountainous members to provide social services. One million issues. The state is also wary of Protestants pastors and followers in northern, central and province of Dien Bien in the North with hundreds copies of the Bible were printed and distributed because of their strong foreign connections. southern Vietnam experienced difficulties in of Hmong participants demanding land in Vietnam by the Religion Publishing House in Furthermore, two-thirds of the 700 or so conducting missions and dealing with different allocation to welcome their returning king. 2014 alone. Notably, an increasingly number international NGOs presently active in Vietnam political regimes. Until 1975, the total number The majority of protestors in 2001, 2004 and of Protestant church leaders and members are faith-based organizations. Moreover, some of Protestants was around 200,000 and 2011 were new evangelical Protestant ethnic have joined political organizations such as of these Protestant-based NGOs explicitly this number did not vary much over the next minorities. the People’s Committee and the Vietnamese promote religious freedom, which opens the decade. However, since Doi Moi reforms in 1986, Another challenge is the internal conflict Fatherland Front. These activities signal the door to more intense evangelization, further Protestantism’s growth has been phenomenal. between ethnic minorities who are Protestants state and the public’s open recognition of heightening the concerns of the state. As such, In 2013, the religion was found to be present in and those who are not. Conflict and separation the Protestants’ contribution and initial steps the state is expected to maintain a watchful 62 out of 64 provinces and in 2015 the total between the evangelical and non-evangelical taken by Protestants to engage in politics. eye over Protestant activities. number of followers was roughly 1.5 million, a Hmong, for example, are not unusual, often Protestant communities in urban areas seven-fold increase from 1975. Despite its rate of resulting in discord within families, bloodlines are also known for helping marginalized Chung Van Hoang Visiting Fellow growth, Protestantism faces many difficulties in and between communities. The most and vulnerable urban residents afflicted by at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute terms of theology, religious competition, cultural contentious issue was the refusal of Protestants social dislocation, family break-ups, illness This is an extract from Chung Van Hoang’s conflict and response from the political regime. to continue the tradition of ancestor worship. and deprivation. Some Protestant services ‘Evangelizing Post-Đổi Mới Vietnam: The converts view Protestantism as the only have successfully rehabilitated thousands The Rise of Protestantism and the State’s One of the foremost tasks of the Communist way to alter the ethnic group’s marginal status of criminals, drug addicts, prostitutes and Response’, ISEAS Perspective 2017/34; Party of Vietnam (CPV) is to maintain national in Vietnam while the unconverted Hmong see HIV patients, with many of them becoming https://www.iseas.edu.sg/articles- solidarity and ethnic unity. This has been conversion as a betrayal of Hmong ethnicity. converts in the process. While recognizing that commentaries/iseas-perspective challenging because of the desire of some ethnic minority groups for autonomy, as well as the distrust between ethnic minorities and majority. Of the total 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, 53 New titles published are minority groups which account for only 14 per cent of the total population of 92 million. by ISEAS Most of these groups are scattered in remote and mountainous areas (except the Khmer and Cham). The inhabitants in these areas are ISEAS Publishing is a dynamic press with more than saddled with an underdeveloped infrastructure, forty years’ experience. It is the largest publisher of high poverty rate, low-quality education and academic books that focuses on Southeast Asian politics, an inadequate healthcare system. economics, and social issues. As a Unit of the ISEAS – A key source of distrust between the state Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, its role is enshrined and Protestant ethnic minorities stems from in Parliamentary Act 9 of 1968, to assist ISEAS in the issues of Hmong identity and autonomy. For ‘promotion of research on Southeast Asia worldwide.’ Wang Gungwu. 2018 Marty Natalegawa. 2018 Norshahril Saat (ed). 2018 example, two thousand-strong protests erupted Nanyang: Essays on Does ASEAN Matter? Islam in Southeast Asia: in the Central Highlands in 2001 and 2004. Please visit the ISEAS Publishing website at Heritage A View From Within Negotiating Modernity These were reportedly provoked and financially https://bookshop.iseas.edu.sg for the full range aided by the Montagnard Dega Association with of titles and for ordering. Books are also available ISBN: 978-981-4786-51-5 ISBN: 978-981-4786-74-4 ISBN: 978-981-4786-99-7 assistance from members of the United Front as PDF downloads, either as full books or as https://bookshop.iseas.edu. https://bookshop.iseas.edu. https://bookshop.iseas.edu. for the Liberation of Oppressed Races (FULRO). individual chapters. sg/publication/2319 sg/publication/2332 sg/publication/2321 The protestors wanted state authorities to return 20 News from Australia and the Pacific Regional Editors The Region Cultural materials conservation in Asia Ana Dragojlovic, Edwin Jurriëns and the Pacific and Andy Fuller

Cultural materials conservation in Asia and the Pacific The Asia Institute The Asia Institute is The University of For News from Australia and the Pacific, we ask contributors to reflect on their own research Melbourne’s key centre for studies in interests and the broader academic field in Australia and the Pacific of which it is a part. Asian languages, cultures and societies. Asia Institute academic staff have an array We focus on current, recent or upcoming projects, books, articles, conferences and teaching, of research interests and specialisations, while identifying related interests and activities of fellow academics in the field. Our and strive to provide leadership in the study of the intellectual, legal, politico-economic, contributions aim to give a broad overview of Asia-related studies in Australia and beyond, cultural and religious traditions and and to highlight exciting intellectual debates on and with Asia in the region. Our preferred transformations of Asia and the Islamic world. The Institute is committed to style is subjective and conversational. Rather than offering fully-fledged research reports, community engagement and offers our contributions give insight into the motivations behind and directions of various types a dynamic program of academic and community-focused events and cultural of conversations between Asia and the region. In the current issue, we highlight the topic exchanges that aim to promote of Cultural materials conservation in Asia and the Pacific. We would like to acknowledge dialogue and debate. Nicole Tse and Eliza O'Donnell's invaluable support for this collection of essays. Articles are edited by Ana Dragojlovic [email protected] and Edwin Jurriëns [email protected], with assistance from Andy Fuller [email protected], from the Asia Institute in Melbourne arts.unimelb.edu.au/asiainstitute

APTCCARN: Working towards a network of shared material conservation actions

Nicole Tse

ow long cultural records, cultural 'Natural disasters and cultural heritage assets, art and antiquities last, and in the Philippines: Knowledge sharing, Happroaches for their care, arguably decision making and conservation', differs across values, geographic place, was co-hosted with the National Museum timescales and knowledge systems. Having of the Philippines to share responses, worked in the Asia Pacific region for twenty recovery and conservation actions in years, I have witnessed how knowledge, a region that is facing unpredictable, which is produced and validated to inform uncertain events and the dynamics conservation actions in museums in the Asia of change at different scales. Pacific, is still dominated by the promotion These APTCCARN meeting themes 'Natural disasters and cultural heritage in the Philippines: Knowledge sharing, decision making and of universal standards that are unsuitable for may mirror the tension between a material- conservation, 5th APTCCARN Meeting', with the National Museum of the Philippines and SEAMEO SPAFA in the Province of Bohol, the Philippines. tropical climates and a diversity of values in based approach and a dialogic and socially Southeast Asia. From experience, institutions, situated examination of cultural materials communities and materials conservation conservation. The chronology of meetings bring people together to talk primarily knowledge of heritage professionals, artists, practices have thereby struggled with first acknowledged a point of difference in the of material matters, it recognized the binary curators and cultural practitioners were “a long-standing epistemological debate practice of cultural materials conservation knowledge divide between science and important steps towards the development of about the nature of knowledge and expertise in the region, which required a translation the social, east and west, and expertise a “shared thought style”.4 APTCCARN’s goal between dominant positivist and alternative of decision making frameworks grounded versus cultural rights, and was a platform to support an Asia focused cultural materials non-positivist approaches”.1 What works in in regional relevant research. Quite simple for collective dialogues. We acknowledged conservation, prioritised the concept of various geographical contexts is poised discussions on the longevity of materials that the promotion of expensive materials ‘relationships’ as a cultural practice, its own against an inherent tension between object in hot and humid climates and the climate and scientific methods fosters dependency diversity and claims to knowledge, to foster centred and scientific processes, to those that controls in museums in the region were without developing capacity and empower- alternative approaches. Resonating throughout simply work, are value based and socially discussed. Such persistent discussions were ment. We started talking about how an object’s APTCCARN meetings, and more particularly situated alongside differences in institutional not so different from those raised by OP value, materiality and care is culturally the meeting in 2017 in the Philippines, was the cultures, developmental histories and Agrawal2 in the 1970s and SEAMEO SPAFA’s and geographically determined, and how to importance of an iterative practice working disciplinary leader’s foci. Knowledge gaps and platform on Heritage & Conservation: establish this, thereby drawing the transcultural within a social space and a diversity of asymmetries therefore provided an impetus Conservation in the Tropics.3 From a materials links between materials and the social. technical solutions to reach mutually agreeable for the founding of a collective network of science conservation perspective, clearly Such thinking prompted a certain mind- goals. But in framing such a holistic practice engaged heritage workers to form the Asia there were few scholarly studies on the risks fulness among APTCCARN members and an of conservation in the region, acknowledging Pacific Tropical Climate Conservation Art to objects and their rates of decay, while evolving ethos. With limited conventional the lines of accountability and how flexible do Network (APTCCARN). discussions on perceptions of damage, textural sources available and an acknowledge- technical approaches need to be, is another cultural rights and material lifetimes evolved. ment that information asymmetry existed, evolving tension. Some 10 years on, APTCCARN Launched in 2008, APTCCARN was So, while the early APTCCARN meetings did dialogues vested in people and the embodied as a maturing network, knows the importance inaugurated at Balai Seni Visual Negara of reflexivity and connectivity. in Malaysia - then Balai Seni Lukis Negara (National Art Gallery), which focussed on Nicole Tse Senior Lecturer, the theme of ‘20th Century Art Conservation Grimwade Centre for Cultural Research’ evolving from my doctorate Materials Conservation, research with partners in Singapore, The University of Melbourne Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. By 2009, an ‘Online web portals for Art Conservation and Curatorial Research’ was Notes hosted at the University of Melbourne, which garnered impetus for ‘The Conservation 1 B eebeejaun, Y. et al. 2013. ‘‘Beyond of Material Culture in Tropical Climates: Text’: Exploring ethos and method in The 3rd APTCCARN Meeting’ at Silpakorn co-producing research with communities’, University, Thailand in 2012 to claim a focus Community Development Journal 49 on materials conservation in the region in (1):37-53, p.2. its own right; and then ‘Embracing Cultural 2 Agrawal, O.P. 1975. ‘An Asian view of conservation’, Museum 27(4):157-160. Materials Conservation in the Tropics: 3 SEAMEO SPAFA. 2014. ‘Heritage & The 4th APTCCCARN Meeting’ at Cheng Conservation: Conservation in the Tropics’; Shiu University in Taiwan in 2015. In 2017, http://www.seameo-spafa.org/heritage- following a number of extreme natural ‘Embracing Cultural Materials Conservation in the Tropics: The 4th APTCCCARN Meeting’ conservation/; accessed 5 Aug 2018. disasters effecting cultural heritage, with Cheng Shiu University in Taiwan in 2015. 4 Ibid. note 1, p.5. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 News from Australia and the Pacific Regional Editors 21 Cultural materials conservation in Asia Ana Dragojlovic, Edwin Jurriëns The Region and the Pacific and Andy Fuller

Lost visual histories. China’s Tang dynasty (618-907) tomb mural paintings

Tonia Eckfeld

hina’s Tang dynasty (618-907) tomb analysed in numerous archaeological reports mural paintings are rare finds and in Wenwu, Kaogu, Kaogu yu wenwu and other study of them has grown since the first Chinese journals, Imperial Tombs in Tang C 2 archaeological discoveries and excavations in China (618-907), The politics of paradise, the early 1950s. Although thousands of minor The Complete Collection of Murals Unearthed Tang graves and about 400 tombs have been in China (Shaanxi Province)3 and other recent discovered, so far only around 60 Tang tombs detailed volumes on individual Tang tombs have been found to contain mural paintings. in Shaanxi and Henan. These have led to the While many questions are still to be answered, accepted premise that the Tang tomb murals each new discovery contributes to knowledge were subject to a strictly regulated system in this important field. of mortuary entitlement where the subject content and length of a mural program was The importance of tomb mural painting is required to match the status of the deceased stressed in the Principles for the Conservation tomb occupant. Reserved for extremely high of Heritage Sites in China (Revised 2015), status individuals – members of the Tang which highlights the rapid development imperial family such as princes, princesses context in which these mural paintings exist and dukes, and exceptionally distinguished and the need for sound conservation principles civil or military officials such as ministers or to be applied to preserve their artistic values, generals – about half the Shaanxi tombs with Tonia Eckfeld examining Tang tomb sancai horse and rider at the Luoyang Cultural Relics Bureau materials and technical methods.1 Consistent murals were located within the 17 cemetery with these Principles, this Australia-China complexes of the Tang emperors to the project is researching mural paintings north of the Chang’an, the primary Tang the murals have parallels with those listed While following standard format and the and archaeological site conservation. dynasty capital (present-day Xi’an in in the 9th century catalogues and it can be mortuary entitlement system these two mural Collaborative work involves the University Shaanxi Province), with only six discovered speculated that they were either the work of programs are highly individual, expressing of Melbourne, Shaanxi Provincial Institute of so far near Luoyang, the secondary Tang famous artists or strongly influenced by them. the life interests and achievements of each Archaeology, Henan Provincial Administration capital (in Henan Province). Their secular content, style and non-canonical deceased tomb occupant. Both included a of Cultural Heritage, Zhengzhou University As most of the mural paintings are located approach makes them an important category retinue of staff, and lively musical, singing and and the Australian Synchrotron. Technical near the Tang capital cities where the Tang of painting distinct from the Tang dynasty dancing performers. Li Daojian, a member study is providing data to increase dynasty had its political and cultural base, and Buddhist murals discovered at the dawn of of the imperial family, former diplomat, understanding of the materials, techniques can be accurately dated, they also provide the 20th century at Dunhuang and other sites Minister of Rites and Head of Royal Household and working methods used by the Tang visual evidence of important lost but described along the Silk Road. Affairs, had distinctive murals included in dynasty tomb painters and their workshops, master artworks. In the Tang dynasty, A number of recently excavated Tang tomb his tomb. His murals perhaps in reference and in turn to inform contemporary mural painting was the major painting form, mural programs, comparable in date, official to his diplomatic travels and extremely high conservation methods. prevalent in high status buildings such as rank and therefore mortuary entitlements, status, include a lion from the West on a Inscribed epitaph tablets found in most of palaces, government buildings, temples and reveal new evidence about patronage, beautiful fringed carpet, and three African the tombs provide exact dates and names and elite mansions. Information about these no aesthetic styles and subject matter. The attendants. Attendants carrying a paintbrush biographies of the deceased tomb occupants longer extant murals is known through Tang tombs of two imperial concubines of Emperor and water basin for brush washing indicate (many of whom are also recorded in the dynasty artistic texts.4 Although not all mural Zhongzong (r.684, 705-710) – Tang shi and Li’s personal interests as a painter. Hui Xiu’s Tang official histories). In this way the tomb programs have survived in their entirety, due to Cui shi Anguo Xiang wang furen – were tomb has palanquin bearers transporting murals provide visual first-hand records of collapse, destructive environmental conditions excavated in 2005 and recently conserved.5 large lacquered chests perhaps containing Tang dynasty history, politics, court life and or plunder for example, the known repertoire of These two tombs were built and painted in his treasured art collection. society. Examples of high status imperial painting is extensive, stylistically sophisticated, 706 near Luoyang, the same year as three Research undertaken in this project Tang tomb mural painting programs have vivid in subject matter and adept in methods imperial tombs at the Qianling mausoleum currently points to a centralised entitlement been visually documented, described and of technical production. Analysis reveals that complex that belonged to Crown Prince system and set subject matter program Zhanghuai (d.684), Crown Prince Yide (d.701) for Tang dynasty mural paintings, with the and Princess Yongtai (d.701). All five had coordinated employment of artists and met untimely deaths under the orders of the artistic practices across both the Tang ruthless female Emperor Wuzetian (r.690-705) capital cities. The relationship between these and were accorded grand reburials under her practices and works by named masters in son and successor, Emperor Zhongzong, on the Tang catalogues is being explored. The his ascent to the throne. Visual observations variations in individual mid-8th century high reveal that all five of the Qianling and status tombs, compliant with the official mural Luoyang murals programs have sequences painting entitlement system, need further typical of high status Tang tombs. The subject analysis based on recent discoveries. Analysis matter is largely conventional – directional of materials and working methods will shed animals (dragon and tiger), processions further light on artistic masters and workshops with fine horses, honour guards, palace as well as contributing to the conservation attendants and entertainers. The mural of the Tang dynasty tomb mural paintings paintings in the tombs of Zhanghuai and the into the future. two concubines tombs have similarities in both the style of painting (especially in the Tonia Eckfeld Principal Fellow, Arts brushwork and portraits) and subject matter Faculty, University of Melbourne (with the inclusion of camels and entertainer dwarfs) in all three tombs. These similarities may indicate that the same workshop groups worked in both the Tang primary Notes and secondary capitals (more than 1300 km apart). This proposition is being explored. 1 ICOMOS. 2015. Principles for the While evidence thus far indicates that the Conservation of Heritage Sites in 7th and early 8th century tombs adhered China. ICOMOS China and the State closely to a standard system of mural Administration of Cultural Heritage, Beijing; programs based on rank, new discoveries https://tinyurl.com/icomoschinaheritage; suggest that the situation changed around pp.67 & 69-70. the mid-8th century with more freedom to 2 Eckfeld, T. 2005. Imperial Tombs in Tang express highly personal interests. Important China (618-907), The politics of paradise. examples currently being analysed in this Routledge-Curzon. 3 Xu Guangji. 2011. The Complete Collection project include the tomb murals recently of Murals Unearthed in China, Volumes 6 excavated in Shaanxi Province belonging to & 7, Beijing: Science Press. two chancellors of the Tang court – Li Daojian 4 Zhu Qingxuan. c.840. Tang chao minghua (d.738, tomb excavated in 2017) and Han lu (Record of Famous Painters of the Tang Xiu (d.739, excavated in 2014). Comparable Dynasty); Zhang Yanyuan. c.847. Lidai in date and status, and neither within an minghua ji (Record of Famous Paintings emperor’s mausoleum complex, both contain of All the Dynasties). impressive mural programs including the 5 Luoyang City Second Cultural Relics earliest illustrations of landscape paintings Task Force. 2008. The Mural Tomb of the on screens (six-panel folding screen and Concubine of King Anguo Xiang of the Tang Dynasty. Zhengzhou: Henan Meishu single-panel respectively). While Li Daojian’s Chubanshe; Luoyang Cultural Relics tomb mural program is sombre, refined and Bureau and Luoyang Ancient Arts Museum. Camel and foreign groom, mural painting from Tang shi’s tomb (east wall of tomb passage, 2m high), subdued in palette, Han Xiu’s is lively and full 2010. Luoyang gudai muzang bihua. 706, Luoyang, Henan Province China. Photo courtesy of the Luoyang Cultural Relics Bureau. of vivid colour, using large quantities of yellow. Henan: Zhongzhou Guji Chubanshe. 22 News from Australia and the Pacific Regional Editors The Region Cultural materials conservation in Asia Ana Dragojlovic, Edwin Jurriëns and the Pacific and Andy Fuller

rather a close friend and support network to Going forward many artists in the Yogyakarta art community, The conservation residency presented Materiality, making & meaning. and her collection and archive is a testament an opportunity to critically question to the strong relationships she has built. and expand disciplinary frameworks and Building material knowledge During the assessment period a large-scale methodologies for conservation knowledge triptych by Entang Wiharso, contemporary sharing in Indonesia, raising questions of through conservation in Indonesia. Indonesian artist and close friend of Melani’s, how our knowledge of the artwork and the was selected as the focus for treatment artistic process can contribute to creating and exhibition. an authentic cultural record, and why Eliza O’Donnell a secure artist record is important. From March-May 2018 I participated As an outside researcher new to Indonesian in a three-month conservation residency ‘Landscaping My Brain’ studies, the residency provided a welcoming in Yogyakarta, working with the painting Wiharso painted the oil on canvas and inclusive space to form friendships The top of the cliff isn’t collection of Dr Melani Setiawan and based triptych ‘Landscaping My Brain’ (3 panels of and close ties with artists and cultural at RuangDalam Art House. The residency 200 x 97 mm) in 2001 at Melani’s home while practitioners, relationships that cannot the place to look at us; was supported by the Australia Indonesia Arts he was visiting Jakarta for his solo exhibition develop from ‘the top of the cliff’, but Forum (AIAF), in partnership with Project 11 Nusa Amuk at Galeri Nasional Indonesia must occur ‘face to face’. These outcomes come down here and and the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials (National Gallery of Indonesia). This painting emphasise the importance of Australia- Conservation at the University of Melbourne. was chosen as the focus for the project Indonesia inter-personal knowledge learn of the big and little The inaugural AIAF residency program aimed to due to its personal significance to Melani’s exchange, relationship-building and provide a cultural exchange based on painting collection, level of deterioration, the action-based research based on a prolonged 1 currents, face to face. conservation knowledge sharing, drawing availability of conservation materials to and collaborative approach to knowledge on my experience as a paintings conservator undertake the treatment and the opportunity making and production. The success of working in South East Asia and my PhD thesis to interview Wiharso during his visit to this project was grounded in establishing focusing on Indonesian cultural production and Indonesia in April. The lack of conservation- relationships based on mutual trust, uring a conservation residency in building the artist record. Each year a number grade materials in Indonesia limits what respect and understanding, paving the Indonesia earlier this year, I attended of art houses and independent organisations can be achieved, therefore, we adopted way for further projects that strengthen Dthe Bacaan (Terpilih): Menuju Kepulauan in Yogyakarta facilitate residency programmes a treatment methodology based on minimal Australia-Asia engagements with a focus ([Selected] Readings: Towards the Islands) which provide an opportunity for artists from intervention including stabilisation, surface on developing collaborative platforms exhibition at Kedai Kebun Forum (KKF), abroad to interact and engage with artistic cleaning and minor retouching. Visual and for skill and knowledge exchange. an alternative art space in Yogyakarta. production in a local context. Building on this technical examination, archival research Experimenting with the presentation of model, the conservation residency adopted a and knowledge gained from interviews Eliza O’Donnell PhD Candidate, theoretical discourse in an exhibition context, practice-based interdisciplinary approach to with both Wiharso and Melani provided Grimwade Centre for Cultural the walls of the KKF gallery showcased a knowledge sharing in Yogyakarta by providing an understanding of the paintings history, Materials Conservation, School of selection of publications addressing themes a collaborative framework for engagement the materials and techniques used and Historical and Philosophical Studies of life and challenges faced in the archipelago, with local collections, art collectives and the mechanisms of deterioration. (SHAPS), University of Melbourne, [email protected] the Pacific Region and throughout the communities. Working with art students from Knowledge gained through these equatorial region. The above quote from Mary Institut Seni Indonesia Yogyakarta (ISI), curators, interdisciplinary avenues of enquiry informs Kawena Pukui’s 1983 publication on Hawaiian writers, artists, cultural material practitioners, a holistic understanding of the artwork and This residency was supported by proverbs was included in the exhibition as collectors and members of the local community its materiality, creating a historical narrative Konfir Kabo and Monica Lim from an excerpt from Teresia K Teaiwa’s reading, to examine artistic production in the region and which contributes to the artist’s oeuvre the Australia Indonesia Arts Forum and ‘L(o)osing the Edge’ (2001), addressing critical explore the potential for collaboration at the and the cultural record of the collection. Project 11. Further acknowledgements issues associated with Native Pacific Cultural intersection of these disciplines. The residency concluded with an exhibition to the RuangDalam Art House residency team and to Dr Melani Setiawan for Studies. Teaiwa references the proverb as The residency began with a visual condition of the painting at RuangDalam arthouse. allowing access to her collection a rejection against “perspectives from the assessment of Melani’s painting collection Presenting the painting in an ‘active state for the project. edge”, leaning away from non-inclusive by members of the residency team at Rumah of conservation’, the exhibition aimed to methodologies for cultural studies and Melani (Melani House). Melani’s culturally and highlight the conservation process and inviting an intimate “face to face” approach historically significant collection consists of raise discussions around perceptions of to knowledge exchange, production and approximately 600 paintings, sculptures and damage and to what level artworks should Notes understanding.2 These ideas of cross-cultural drawings, as well as an extensive archive of be conserved. Approaches to conservation research practices grounded in interpersonal photographic documentation and research are values based and culturally grounded 1 Pukui, M.W. 1983. Olelo No/eau: collaboration were central to the aims of the material. Part of the significance of her decisions, and lead to notions of authority Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings. conservation residency as a platform to foster collection lies in the personal relationships and role of technical-conservation expertise, Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press. cultural interaction and exchange between Melani establishes with the artists themselves. what approaches, work best, who should do 2 Teaiwa, T. 2001. ‘L(o)osing the Edge’, art professionals in Australia and Indonesia. Melani does not identify as a ‘collector’, the work and what knowledge informs it. The Contemporary Pacific 2(1):343-365.

Eliza O'Donnell and Andrea Gani Hidayat aqueous cleaning Entang Wiharso's 'Landscaping My Brain' (2001), panel one. Photograph by Harry Arafat, 2018 The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 News from Australia and the Pacific Regional Editors 23 Cultural materials conservation in Asia Ana Dragojlovic, Edwin Jurriëns The Region and the Pacific and Andy Fuller

Moiapu 1 Square F, excavation unit 55 sherds. The Moiapu 1 sherds demonstrate the crumby nature of the ceramic fabric prior to conservation intervention. Photo Holly Jones-Amin. Bogi 1 Square Y, excavation unit 1 vessel (2600 cal. BP.) after conjoining and reconstruction. Photo by Steve Morton.

Tanamu 1 Square N, excavation unit 2 vessel (2800-2750 cal. BP.) after conjoining and reconstruction. Photo by Steve Morton.

Why does the conservation of low-fired Caution Bay Lapita pottery matter?

Holly Jones-Amin

n 2009-2010 Monash University (Australia) has not been conserved, creating a knowledge affecting their consistency. For example, on the south coast of PNG and the conserved undertook a large archaeological survey gap for research that informs archaeologists, the super-fragile sherds lifted by hand can ceramics are of international academic worth, Iand excavation program at Caution Bay, on conservators and source communities. I felt collapse during excavation or transport, and and of immeasurable cultural value to their the south coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) that I could contribute to bridging this gap a three-centimetre long sherd can break into country of origin and to local communities revealing readily identifiable dentate stamped by undertaking a PhD that conserves and four to ten fragments and friable sections. whose ancestors made the pottery. Lapita ceramics from 2900 years ago.1 In late analyses the Caution Bay ceramics. The highly crumbly fragments are difficult to 2010 I was asked to conserve two recently Lapita pottery-making and pottery- interpret, and without conservation cannot Holly Jones-Amin PhD Candidate excavated highly fragmented very low-fired carrying colonisers of the western Pacific be reported or displayed in a museum for Australian Research Centre of Excellence Lapita vessels from Caution Bay. Both vessels are famed for their expansive travels across public access. Each fragment requires time for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage were presented concealed in plaster jackets 4500km of seascape from the Bismarks to consuming conservation and it is not until (CABAH), Monash University, Australia; that had been used to encase, support, lift and Samoa approximately 3400 and 2900 years each fragment (often < 3cm in size) has Senior Objects and Archaeological Conservator, The Grimwade Centre transport the fragile fragmented pots from ago. For over 40 years the lack of material been cleaned, consolidated, and adhered 2 for Cultural Materials Conservation, the excavation trench in PNG to Melbourne. evidence resulted in researchers positing back into its original sherd, that it can be The University of Melbourne. Prior to treatment commencing, research that the colonisers of the western Pacific reconstructed to become a perceptible vessel. revealed that there was scarce literature on never made it to the south coast of PNG even So, why does the conservation of the conservation of low-fired archaeological though Lapita peoples were known for their Lapita pottery from Caution Bay matter? Notes ceramics; the literature that was found was extensive sea travel. The discovery of Lapita Conservation in the form of stabilisation in agreement that low-fired ceramics are pottery by Monash University was unexpected and reconstruction makes the intangible 1 David, B. et al. 2011. ‘Lapita site in the difficult to conserve and lift in the field and and contrasted with the written record. The tangible. The reconstructed tangible vessel Central Province of mainland Papua New often do not make it to the laboratory. At this discovery revised the archaeological narrative helps archaeologists and conservators tell Guinea’, World Archaeology 43(4):576-593. time, I had been working as a conservator of Lapita people and a new story began to stories. These stories include those which 2 Jones-Amin, H. 2014. ‘Conservation of for 15 years in the laboratory and in the field be told that connects across Melanesia. My relate to the age of human activity at low fired Caution Bay archaeological ceramics’, ICOM-CC 17th Triennial on archaeological excavations. I had seen, research and conservation of Caution Bay a site, the organisation of production and Meeting/Conference Preprints, Melbourne, handled and conserved countless artefacts. ceramics brings increased understanding of exchange/trade, mechanisms of cultural 15-19 September 2014; International Council The complex deterioration challenges and the materiality of archaeological material in interaction, socio-economic change, discard of Museums Committee for Conservation. significant conservation issues presented by Australasia, interdisciplinary collaboration behaviour (including fragmentation and 3 David, B. et al. 2016. 'The Caution these vessels was new. with archaeologists and demonstrates how enchainment), and post-depositional processes Bay Project Field and Laboratory early conservation intervention can increase (e.g., degradation). The process of conserving Methods', in Richards, T. et al. (eds.) Pottery remains one of the most the understanding and survival of low-fired Caution Bay Lapita pottery is establishing Archaeological research at Caution Bay, abundant and enduring materials found on pottery all over the world. protocols for conservators and archaeologists Papua New Guinea: Cultural, Linguistic archaeological sites. The limited durability of Lapita pottery (c. 2900-2550 cal BP) that will increase the number of low-fired and Environmental Setting. Oxford: low-fired archaeological pottery means that it from Caution Bay was fired in open bonfires vessels surviving other excavations and the Archaeopress, pp.145-176. 4 Jones-Amin, H. 2018. ‘Conservation of is largely overlooked and rarely identified. This at very low temperatures (500-600°C). potential for analysis to tell a multitude of archaeological ceramics’, in Batmaz, A. et 3, 4 durability issue obscures the archaeological Some of the low-fired pottery is super-fragile; stories about people from all over the world. al. (eds.) Context and Connection: Essays record creating misleading histories and it does not fracture but it crumbles and Lastly, the conservation of individual sherds on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near knowledge of past people. Furthermore, poor delaminates. The ceramics have often and vessels from Caution Bay contributes East in Honour of Antonio Sagona. Leuven: endurance has meant that low-fired pottery undergone severe chemical degradation, to a hitherto unknown area of Lapita people Peeters Publishers, pp. 911-925. 24 newbooks.asia Asian Studies. Newest Titles. The Review Latest Reviews.

New reviews on

newbooks.asia is the go-to Asian studies book review newbooks.asia website, administered by IIAS. The site lists the newest titles in the field of Asian studies and makes them available Now available to read online for review. Find a selection of new titles on page 28. All reviews are posted online, whilst a lucky few also make it into The Newsletter (see pp.26-27 of this issue). Browse a selection of the latest reviews below.

‘A fascinating explanation of increased ‘This study proposes to compare and contrast “gender-based violence” (specifically Muammar Qaddafi and Saparmurat Niyazov, addressing violence against women) in each of whom established personality cults India despite the global efforts towards that shaped the postcolonial nations they women empowerment’ – Sania Ismailee oversaw’ – Victoria Clement

Tamsin Bradley. 2017. Fabio De Leonardis. 2018. Women and Violence in India: Gender, Oppression Nation-Building and Personality Cult in Turkmenistan: and the Politics of Neoliberalism The Türkmenbașy Phenomenon London: I.B. Tauris Abingdon and New York: Routledge ISBN 9781784532444 ISBN 9781138576834 https://newbooks.asia/review/women-violence https://newbooks.asia/review/personality-cults

‘An almost inexhaustible source of information ‘Akamine’s work fills a long existing gap and about partly ill-documented lands in the offers anyone in search of an English survey early days of European overseas expansion’ of Ryukyu’s past a handy, well-researched, – Hans Hägerdal and referenced book’ – Henning Wittwer

George Bryan Sousa and Jeffrey Scott Turley (eds). 2016. Mamoru Akamine. 2017. The Boxer Codex: Transcription and Translation of an The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia Illustrated Late Sixteenth-Century Spanish Manuscript Translated by Lina Terrell and edited by Robert Huey Concerning the Geography, History and Ethnography Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press of the Pacific, South-East Asia and East Asia ISBN 9780824855178 Leiden and Boston: Brill https://newbooks.asia/review/ryukyu-perspective ISBN 9789004292734 https://newbooks.asia/review/boxer-codex

‘An excellent monograph based ‘A well thought-out book that attempts on fieldwork, interviews and surveys’ to place the concept of medical plurality – Jon K. Chang and especially “multiplicity” in a more

Federica Prina. 2016. complex situation in Bhutan today’ National Minorities in Putin’s Russia: – Aranya Siriphon and Sunanta Yamthap Diversity and Assimilation New York: Routledge Jonathan Taee. 2017. ISBN 9781138780828 The Patient Multiple: An Ethnography of Healthcare https://newbooks.asia/review/minorities-russia and Decision-Making in Bhutan New York and Oxford: Berghahn Books ISBN 9781785333941 https://newbooks.asia/review/medical-plurality

‘[The book’s] usefulness comes from the ‘Its meticulously researched, carefully comprehensive discussion of the place’s argued and dense contributions historical and architectural significance, are indispensable for scholars of detailed inventory of the place, types South Asian studies’ – Shobna Nijhawan

of threats, and the policy and actions M. Asaduddin (ed.) 2016. recommended for heritage management’ Premchand in World Languages: Translation, Reception and Cinematic Representations – Kapila D. Silva New York: Routledge Anila Naeem. 2017. Urban Traditions and Historic Environments ISBN 9781138671881 in Sindh: A Fading Legacy of Shikarpoor, Historic City https://newbooks.asia/review/premchand-studies Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press ISBN 9789462981591 https://newbooks.asia/review/shikarpoor The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 25 The Review

‘Contesting Indochina provides a compelling ‘An important and nuanced exploration account of what has been termed France’s of tensions that underlie transnational most forgotten twentieth century conflict’ networks’ – Su Lin Lewis – Ronald Bruce St John Brian Russell Roberts and Keith Foulcher (eds). 2016. Indonesian Notebook: A Sourcebook on Richard Wright M. Kathryn Edwards. 2016. and the Bandung Conference Contesting Indochina: French Remembrance between Decolonization and Cold War Durham, NC: Duke University Press ISBN 9780822360513 Oakland, CA: University of California Press https://newbooks.asia/review/coloured-glasses ISBN 9780520288607 https://newbooks.asia/review/remembering-indochina-war

‘Unpicks the ideologies behind ‘A convincing book on the sledgehammer Japan’s “cuisine” at the national level and the trowel of the formation of but also discusses local food cultures new urban zones in Ho Chi Minh City’ in three locations on different islands’ – Hans Schenk – Rowena Ward Erik Harms. 2016. Luxury and Rubble, Civility and Dispossession Eric C. Rath. 2016. in the New Saigon Japan’s Cuisines: Food, Place and Identity Oakland: University of California Press London: Reaktion Books ISBN 9780520292512 ISBN 978178023643 https://newbooks.asia/review/rubbles-luxury https://newbooks.asia/review/japan-cuisines

‘Highly informative with essays from 'An interesting addition to [the] landscape some of the most eminent scholars of recent works on Myanmar’s transition' from India and the world’ – T. F. Rhoden – Nipun Nutan Matthew Mullen. 2016. Pathways that Changed Myanmar Dorothy M. Figueira and Chandra Mohan (eds). 2017. Literary Culture and Translation: New Aspects of London: Zed Books Comparative Literature ISBN 9781783605088 https://newbooks.asia/review/changed-myanmar New Delhi: Primus Books ISBN 9789384082512 https://newbooks.asia/review/literary-translation

‘The volume has brought together an ‘A rich and fascinating account of first-hand impressive arsenal of paintings, drawings experience with the anti-communist mass and engravings’ – Kristoffel Lieten killings and their devastating long-term – Clemens Six John McAleer. 2017. impact on Indonesian society’ Picturing India: People, Places and the World of the East India Soe Tjen Marching. 2017. Company The End of Silence: Accounts of the 1965 Genocide in Indonesia London: The British Library Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press ISBN 9780295742939 ISBN 9462983909 https://newbooks.asia/review/picturing-india https://newbooks.asia/review/end-silence

‘What is particularly enticing about ‘Readers will find many lessons included this book, apart from its breadth here on why comparative analysis requires of knowledge, are the nuggets of the connections between the parts personal opinions from Padoux’ compared’ – Sofia Sundstrom – Steffen Rimner

André Padoux. 2017. Jin Noda. 2016. The Hindu Tantric World: An Overview The Kazakh Khanates Between the Russian and Chicago: The University of Chicago Press Qing Empires: Central Eurasian International Relations ISBN 9780226424095 During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries https://newbooks.asia/review/hindu-tantric-world Leiden: Brill ISBN 9789004314443 https://newbooks.asia/review/kazakh-khanates 26 newbooks.asia Asian Studies. Newest Titles. The Review Latest Reviews.

Trajectories of memory embodied in memorial and historical sites

John Kleinen

Dossier Cambodge. Tuol Sleng ou l’histoire du génocide en chantier / Tuol Sleng. A History of the Cambodian Genocide Under Construction

Special Issue of Mémoires en Jeu, enjeux de société / Memories at Stake, Issues of Society Chan Kim Srun and her baby before she got a name (left, above). Display of mugshots in Tuol Sleng. Photo taken by John Kleinen in May 1991. Issue 6 (2018), pp.44-110. https://tinyurl.com/memory6-2018 and killed. Just a dozen male prisoners and in the prison archives, researchers have four children survived. Pol Pot’s reign of terror been able to provide names and sometimes between 1975 and 1979 was accountable background information for those taken for the death of at least 1.7 million people. to S-21. Journalists, playwrights, artists, cholars, artists and eyewitnesses giving others licenses to kill, Pol Pot and Nowadays Tuol Sleng is open to the public photographers and filmmakers have dealt with participated at a conference in Utrecht his henchmen provided the motives and as a genocide museum. It plays a role in the this collection. Playwrights Catherine Filloux Sin 2017 to discuss the history of memory orchestrated the means of the killers. painful ‘heritage’ left by the former regime, and Randal Douc show in their contributions embodied in Tuol Sleng, a Phnom Penh The special issue, edited by a French- for imagining a past that is remembered, how the traces of genocide have inspired their secondary school converted into a special Spanish editorial board (Stéphanie Benzaquen- but nearly lost. As proof of an atrocity it work in different situations. Cambodia’s most interrogation and execution place by the Gautier, Anne-Laure Porée and Vicente tells a narrative that is elsewhere created. famous film director Rithy Panh discovered Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. They discussed Sánchez-Biosca) devotes much space to the The contributors of this special issue reflect one prisoner’s name and background: Hout the memorial museum itself, but also artifacts, well-known collection of mugshots that the upon this legacy in a kaleidoscopic way. Bophana, the wife of an important KR-cadre, pictures, movies, theatrical productions Tuol Sleng prison guards left behind when Important is that local voices are included who remained loyal to her husband when and paintings that contain tangible and Phnom Penh was liberated on January 7 here, like the former and present directors he fell out of grace and was brought to the intangible traces of the Khmer Rouge’s mass by the Vietnamese army and a small group of the museum, Chey Sopheara and Chhay interrogation centre. Vicente Sánchez-Biosca slaughtering, which turned Cambodia into of defected Khmer troopers. A small unit Visoth, who give the reader an intrinsic tells the story of how her portrait became a an enacted utopia between 1975 and 1979, accompanied by a Vietnamese cameraman Cambodian perspective upon a painful source and a medium of agency, even until inspired by Maoist China. The results of this discovered a place euphemistically called past. They also tell of the laborious way the today. A well-known iconic image is the photo conference are now bundled in a special issue Security Office 21 or S-21, which served as museum had to struggle with the help of of prisoner number 462, a mother and her of the French magazine Mémoires-en-Jeu that the main interrogation center for KR-cadres foreign donors to engage with the institutional child; she too had her name returned to her. deals with trajectories of memory embodied of the Pol Pot regime. The thousands of technology of representation. Rachel Hughes’ Chan Kim Srun became the symbol of the in memorial and historical sites. It also tries photographs made by the Khmer Rouge in article about the role and function of visitor way the Khmer Rouge crushed innocence to analyze what it means in contemporary the prison became an impressive memorial for books is a refreshing contribution to this field. and reduced people to dust. society to memorialize a divided past that the victims who were executed 15 kilometers Much attention is devoted to what The display of photographs also played produces asymmetries in rethinking and from Tuol Sleng/S-21 at Choeung Ek. The Tuol Sleng has been made known for outside a pivotal part in the outreach work of the mastering memory. prison was the summit of a system of 197 Cambodia: the more than 7000 pictures extraordinary chambers in the courts of The no longer mysterious Communist Party interrogation centers that together formed of mostly anonymous victims taken by Cambodia (ECCC). While the verdicts of of Cambodia went on a rampage against its the center of the Killing Fields of Cambodia. their torturers, at a certain moment before judicial cases against the main perpetrators own population. By compartmentalizing their In Tuol Sleng alone an estimated number of their execution. By combining the images might have been a deception for many who self-created adversaries into enemies and 18.000 people were interrogated, tortured with written documents that were left suffered from the Pol Pot regime, the criminal

en years have passed since China in China is worth the wait. The book’s basic experienced one of its worst food safety premise is that food safety in China suffers Tincidents. In July of 2008, melamine, from ‘scale politics’, a conclusion Yasuda a resin used to manufacture plastics, was reached after conducting over 200 interviews A Problem of Scale: discovered in several infant milk formula with academics, conventional and organic products. It was illegally added to increase farmers, food processing center staff, food the products’ apparent protein content. safety auditors, and government officials Six babies died and up to 300,000 were working in the domestic, export and organic Food Safety in China affected, many with kidney stones. Twenty- farming sectors across three provinces and one companies were implicated. As time in three food categories. has passed, more food safety incidents have Yasuda takes his interviewees seriously occurred and systemic regulatory failures when they say they want to solve food Sacha Cody have been identified. safety problems yet are unsure where to There has not been a shortage of start or what to consider. He dismisses easy analysis and commentary on, as well as explanatory targets, such as authoritarianism, efforts to improve, China’s food safety corruption, local obstructionism, lack of On Feeding the Masses: problem. Regulators have promoted ‘tried- political will or even the argument that food An Anatomy of Regulatory and-tested’ methods from the West to bring safety is a problem developing countries China up to global standards. Meanwhile, have that is eventually solved. For the Failure in China social scientists have situated food safety quantitatively-minded reader, Yasuda problems within questions of morality supports these dismissals with robust data John Yasuda. 2018. and social trust amidst rapid urbanization at several points in his book. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press and industrialization of the nation’s food It is easy to think of scale politics along 1 ISBN 9781107199644 economy. Yet problems continued, and we the following lines: “Of course, China is a big have been waiting for a more definitive and country, so there are bound to be problems book-length assessment of the situation. of scale”. Yasuda’s sophisticated analysis John Yasuda’s new book On Feeding the goes much deeper. ‘Scale’ does not refer Masses: An Anatomy of Regulatory Failure to geographical scope or population size. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 27 The Review

process is, like Sarah Williams argues in her contribution “only one dimension of an A limitation is that the majority of the ongoing process of remembering” (p.75). writing within the volume covers the early Julia M. Fleischman, however, suggests that 20th century, with the exception of three the results of forensic medical anthropology essays couched as premodern, including in the form of human remains are used quite two from the Edo period and one from late during the trials of former Khmer Rouge Child’s Play the 19th century. Despite this gap in the leaders. Her findings are supported by the contribution toward understanding pre- contributions of Chhay Visoth (about explicit 18th century Japan, the approaches of the graffiti) and Magali An Berthon (about textile authors in Part 2 are compelling, including and clothing), who also make an appeal Gwyn McClelland Jinno Yuki’s study of material objects of not to dismiss these forms of evidence. the Taisho period and Harold Salomon’s This special issue dealing with the discussion of childhood films in wartime Cambodian genocide – still a term that Japan. Salomon surveys films released requires explanation – also gets its weight from 1932 to 1941, a period which reflects from the visual material it presents (including the emotional proclivities of the generation archive photos of the museum itself) and immediately before. The materials are the various interviews the editors held with sourced from an earlier period, perhaps Cambodian and non-Cambodian artists, explaining why the editors decided to place who were asked to share details of their Salomon’s essay in the early 20th century relationship with Tuol Sleng and the ways in section rather than the proceeding wartime which their work is influenced by the past. series. Of course, the initial Japanese The interview by Stéphanie Benzaquen- invasion of Manchuria took place in 1931. Gautier with American anthropologist The last section of the volume considers Eve Zucker concludes the section with a contemporary issues that children encounter fascinating account of memory practices in Japanese society, ranging from a of villagers who try to cope with the horror Child’s Play: Multi-Sensory discussion of the relationship of childhood in their community. It also reflects on the Histories of Children and development to a wider discourse about fieldwork she conducted in Cambodia – an soccer and the nation, to two ethnographic experience she recounts in her book Forest Childhood in Japan studies of the treatment in Japan of children of Struggle: Moralities of Remembrance in with developmental challenges. Kathryn Upland Cambodia (2013) – as she tracked Sabine Frühstück Goldfarb writes about a group of children the recovery of a village community in the and Anne Walthall (eds). 2017. and institutionalisation, using the case southwest of the country, a site that was Oakland, CA: University of California Press study of Chestnut House, a child-welfare a Khmer Rouge base and battleground for ISBN 9780520296275 institution located in Tokyo. nearly thirty years. The interview opens up It seems no collection on Japan is the question of the remembrance of Khmer complete without a reference to the nuclear Rouge atrocities beyond Tuol Sleng and the Monju-kun, Cartoon age, and the final essay provides an example urban environment. It points to a nationwide character as protestor. of protest in the shape of a cute character traumatic landscape, which in turn helps to – Monju-kun, a cartoon character modelled better understand the role of the museum in after a reactor in Fukui after the 2011 today’s Cambodian memory politics, and to he burgeoning field of the history period designers of furniture in Japan; Fukushima disaster. Noriko Manabe discusses imagine alternative forms of memorialization of emotions has continued to develop or the intricacies of the ideological how Monju-kun became a symbol of protest, of a historical period that continues to haunt Tin scholarship out of Europe and the dynamics of the Asia Pacific War, including subverting propaganda and disrupting generations of Cambodians. This closing paper United States over the last decades. One ways children’s individual emotions were silences around irradiation and the health reminds the reader of the limited space most of fascinating segment of this field describes suppressed and the so-called ‘emotional of mothers and children. In my own oral the authors have contributed to debates about children’s emotions, or emotions directed capital’ of children was utilized in propa- history research, for which I interviewed theoretical issues. Ever since Jean Lacouture’s towards children in history. However, ganda. Such topics and more, revolving survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, inapt verdict about the Khmer Rouge as an within such emerging research, there is around the concept of childhood and the my interviewees were children themselves expression of tropical fascism, allusions to the much less consideration of Asia, and Japan history of emotions are examined from in 1945. Having grown up in the Taisho and Gulag or Laogai systems have been scarce. specifically, and this is the gap addressed the perspective of Japanese history, albeit Showa eras, these survivors remember their As said, the Khmer Rouge’s mass slaughtering by this new book, Child’s Play. In this for the most part in recent periods. In short, own negotiation of adulthood over a time as a means to create an enacted utopia, collection, Sabine Frühstück and Anne the editors aim to make understandable of great tumult and disruption. As a result, inspired by Maoist China, comes closer to Walthall perform the somewhat complicated the relationship of various identifiable I read with interest about the reflections realities than the many references to Nazi- task of ‘combing’ periods of Japanese phenomena to our understanding of the of the scholars in this collection on how Germany. An approach as proposed by history in order to highlight issues such as history of children and childhood and understandings of childhood and children Dutch sociologist Abraham de Swaan in his how children were distinguished from adults experiences of affect. have been imagined and exhorted within book The Killing Compartments (2015) might in Japan and how the study of children and Certainly, this book offers an opportunity Japan over disparate time periods. Japan- be a way-out to understand and to compare childhood may be analysed in this particular to at least partially correct the common ologists, historians, and those who have an the tragedy that struck the inhabitants context for emotion, affect, and sensibility. bias, which is to examine childhood and interest in finding out more about childhood of Cambodia between 1975 and 1979. At first glance the scope of the collection children predominantly through a European- from an East Asian perspective will certainly appears wide and the subject matter eclectic. American lens. The essays presented were benefit from reading this book. The editors Essays muse on wide ranging issues including, initially outlined at a workshop held at the achieve the cited aim of re-orienting discourse John Kleinen Visual anthropologist and historian; Dept of Anthropology for example, the social position of male University of California on 27-28 February about childhood by considering new, worth- at the University of Amsterdam and acolytes in medieval Japanese Buddhist 2015. Frühstück and Walthall arrange while and important perspectives from Asia. the Amsterdam International School monasteries, boys’ androgynous qualities, the essays by historical period and the for Social Science Research (AISSR), and male–male love affairs; the identification contributors offer cross-disciplinary and Gwyn McClelland [email protected] of conceptions of childhood for Taisho varied viewpoints and methodologies. Monash University, Australia

It is, rather, relational. Specifically, scale framework as robust as possible, Yasuda only imagine the fascinating insights and units – is the root cause of China’s food concerns how “size interacts with the way tests his findings against other industries stories that are contained in the presumably safety problems today. individuals perceive and relate to space, in China (environmental protection, fishery hundreds of pages of interview transcripts Part of the appeal of Yasuda’s conceptual jurisdiction, knowledge, time, networks, management, and aviation safety) as well Yasuda used to build his conceptual framework. framework is its ability to incorporate so and management styles”. Scale politics is as food safety regulatory frameworks Thus, for readers like myself who are also much analytical territory. Overall, Yasuda’s “the fierce conflicts that emerge when policy elsewhere (the European Union, India, and looking for ‘thick description’ surrounding book will appeal to political scientists and communities operating at different levels – the United States). Yasuda’s recommends the dynamics of various actors involved in policy analysts researching China, as well national, provincial, municipal, prefectural, the EU model as offering the best learnings food regulation in China, or for those seeking as anyone researching or working in the food county, and township – are forced to and hope for China’s future. an investigation into a particular element of industries in China. It is also an excellent integrate to develop a unified regulatory Yasuda has big ambitions for his scale the political economy as it pertains to food teaching resource for undergraduate and system” (p. 4). politics framework. Food safety in China in China, we will need to listen to Yasuda graduate courses on food and governance Yasuda finds in China an inability to seems to be his first case in what is an ongoing present his work – presentations I heard are in China. nest differing scales inside a multilevel research agenda to “unveil the root causes bursting with fascinating stories from the regulatory framework because of three of the world’s worst regulatory failures, and field – and consult other material. Sacha Cody Australian National perennial problems: an inability to determine the solutions to address broken systems of One book that can be read alongside University, http://sachacody.info the scale of the problem; persistent governance”.2 Indeed, Yasuda sees similarities Yasuda’s is Guanqi Zhou’s recently published mismatches across scales of governance; between his research in China and significant work The Regulatory Regime of Food Safety and a lack of sensitivity to scale externalities. incidents elsewhere including the Fukushima in China: Governance and Segmentation.3 Notes The real problem lies with China’s domestic meltdown, the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Zhou discusses regulatory segmentation in food supply, the largest by volume and and the Global Financial Crisis. China, and both he and Yasuda are in broad 1 Yunxiang Yan. 2012. ‘Food safety and strategically important for social stability A research programme such as this agreement regarding its ill effects. Yet while social risk in contemporary China’, in China. Yasuda shows how regulation aspires to inform and influence regulatory Yasuda briefly touches on the topic and The Journal of Asian Studies 71(3):705–29. and better food quality found in the frameworks, governance and policy at a dismisses it as a failed strategy in managing 2 See John K. Yasuda, http://www.johnkyasuda.com, export sector does not scale down, while national or international level. Naturally, scale, Zhou builds his entire analysis around accessed 2 May 2018. regulation and better quality found across Yasuda has had to make trade-offs between it and argues that regulatory segmentation 3 Guanqi Zhou. 2017. The Regulatory grass-roots sustainable food movements presenting high-level macro analysis and dating back to the 1950s – when redistributive Regime of Food Safety in China: does not scale up for these three reasons. findings versus revelling in detail. As an politics allowed food to be siphoned off Governance and Segmentation. To make his conceptual model and policy anthropologist reviewing this book, I can cheaply from rural collectives to urban work- New York: Palgrave MacMillan. 28 newbooks.asia Asian Studies. Newest Titles. The Review Latest Reviews.

Visit newbooks.asia to browse the newest titles in the field of Asian studies. If you would like to review any of the available titles, of which you will find Asian Studies. Newest Titles. Latest Reviews. a selection below, please submit a review request through the website or send an email to our editor at [email protected] newbooks.asia

Civility and Its Development: The Experiences of China and Taiwan

David C. Schak. 2018. Hong Kong University Press ISBN 9789888455973 https://newbooks.asia/publication/civility-development

Diva Nation: Female Icons from Japanese Cultural History

Laura Miller and Rebecca Copeland (eds). 2018.

University of California Press ISBN 9780520297722 https://newbooks.asia/publication/diva-nation

Unmarked Graves: Portraiture in South Asia Death and Survival in the Since the Mughals: Art, Anti-Communist Violence in East Java, Indonesia Representation and History Crispin Branfoot (ed.) 2018. Vannessa Hearman. 2018. NUS Press I.B. Tauris ISBN 9788776942571 ISBN 9781780767246 https://newbooks.asia/publication/unmarked-graves https://newbooks.asia/publication/portraiture-mughals

D. Christian Lammerts. 2018. Julia Stephens. 2018. Ayesha Khan. 2018. Debojyoti Das. 2018. Yujie Zhu. 2018. Buddhist Law in Burma: Governing Islam: Law, The Women's Movement The Politics of Swidden Heritage and Romantic A History of Dhammasattha Texts Empire, and Secularism in Pakistan: The Fight Farming: Environment and Consumption in China and Jurisprudence, 1250-1850 in Modern South Asia for Democracy and Development in Eastern India Amsterdam University Press University of Hawai'i Press Cambridge University Press a Secular State Anthem Press ISBN 9789462985674 ISBN 9780824872601 ISBN 9781107173910 I.B. Tauris ISBN 9781783087754 https://newbooks.asia/ https://newbooks.asia/publication/ https://newbooks.asia/ ISBN 9781788311984 https://newbooks.asia/publication/ publication/heritage- buddhist-law-burma publication/governing- https://newbooks.asia/publication/ farming-environment-development romantic-consumption islam womens-movement Jim Glassman. 2018. Pradeep K. Chhibber Ross Tapsell. 2017. Drums of War, Drums of Nancy K. Stalker. 2018. Michael Clarke (ed.) 2018. and Rahul Verma. 2018. Media Power in Indonesia: Development: The Formation Japan: History and Culture Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Ideology and Identity: The Oligarchs, Citizens and of a Pacific Ruling Class and from Classical to Cool in China: Domestic and Foreign Changing Party Systems the Digital Revolution Industrial Transformation in East University of California Press Policy Dimensions of India Rowman and Littlefield and Southeast Asia, 1945-1980 ISBN 9780520287778 Hurst Publishers Oxford University Press ISBN 9781786600363 Brill, ISBN 9789004315792 https://newbooks.asia/ ISBN 9781849048774 ISBN 9780190623883 https://newbooks.asia/ https://newbooks.asia/publication/ publication/japan- https://newbooks.asia/publication/ https://newbooks.asia/publication/ publication/media-power drums-war-development classical-cool terrorism-china ideology-identity The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 29 The Focus

have never been so well equipped to assume such a responsibility, thanks to the development of all the relevant disciplines since WWII. But the expansion of disciplines, their growing specialization, and the globalization of academic production have made it impossible for even the brightest mind to grasp, on its own, the complexity of social mechanisms and make serious proposals for changes in institutions and social structures. Such a task must now be collective and it must be cross-disciplinary.

International Panel on Social Progress The IPSP (www.ipsp.org) was developed to address this task. It brought together more than 300 academics (of all relevant disciplines, perspectives, and regions of the world – including 65 from Asia) willing and able to engage in a true interdisciplinary dialogue on key dimensions of social progress. Relying on state-of-the-art scholarship, these social scientists reviewed the desirability and possibility of all relevant forms of long-term social change, explored current challenges, and synthesized their knowledge on the principles, possibilities, and methods for improving the main institutions of modern societies.

A better society is indeed possible, its contours can be broadly described, and all we need is to gather forces toward realizing this vision

The Panel is a truly collaborative effort, in its organization as well as its multi-sourced funding. It seeks to work in a way that is true to the key values and principles underlying its mission: well-being and freedom, security and solidarity, as well as pluralism and toleration, distributive justice and equity, environmental preservation, transparency and democracy. The group has produced a three-volume A collective and report – “Rethinking Society for the 21st Century” – which covers the main socio- economic, political, and cultural dimensions of social progress, and explores the values, the opportunities and the constraints that interdisciplinary underlie cutting-edge knowledge on possible improvements of institutions and policies. The report covers global as well as regional issues (including numerous references to Asia, Asian experience and Asian perspectives) analysis of social and considers the future of different parts of the world – the diversity of challenges and their interplay. The IPSP report seeks to gain insights into The recent decades have seen a decline in what the current main risks and challenges progress world poverty and an extension of democracy in are, and how institutions and policies can be improved if the plagues of inequality, many countries around the world. Nevertheless, segregation, intolerance, exclusion and violence are to be fought. The full IPSP many people have the feeling that this has also report is available at www.ipsp.org. Olivier Bouin and Marc Fleurbaey been a period of social setbacks, and there is a general atmosphere of skepticism regarding The purpose of this Focus the possibility of long-term substantial social This Focus is written for a wider audience interested in Asia to share the message of progress, not to mention a deeper transformation hope of the larger report: A better society is overturning the prevailing social injustices. indeed possible, its contours can be broadly described, and all we need is to gather forces toward realizing this vision. Although it largely relies on some part of the report, it does not ost intellectuals shy away not only inventing a new model, and social hardships seek to summarize it with all its wealth of from utopian thinking, but from any reminiscent of the early phase of Western topics. It is an invitation to take these issues Mlong-term prospective analysis of social capitalism are widespread in these countries. to heart and to explore them more deeply structures. The crisis of social democracy after Yet neither the collapse of illusions nor with the help of the full report. the collapse of the Soviet empire seems, in the booming development in most Asian developing West, to have generated a decline of hope countries should mean the end of the quest Olivier Bouin is Director of Collège d’Études for a just society precisely when the conditions for justice. Given their special competence, Mondiales Paris, Secretary-General of the of life of hundreds of millions of people in social scientists ought to think about the European Network of Institutes for Advanced emerging economies (especially in Asia) have transformation of society, together with Studies, [email protected] dramatically improved. These countries, scholars from the humanities and the hard Above: however, have also abandoned the search for sciences. If hope for progress is possible, Marc Fleurbaey is the Robert E. Kuenne International Panel on Social Progress (IPSP) a different path to development: the trend is they should provide it – if it is not possible, Professor of Economics and Humanistic Studies, Book cover (detail). to mimic the developed countries, rather than they should explain why. Social scientists Princeton University, [email protected] 30 A collective and interdisciplinary The Focus analysis of social progress

Rethinking Asia for the 21st Century

Ravi Kanbur

The Report of the International Panel on Social Progress (IPSP) acknowledges and celebrates the considerable progress that has been made globally along different dimensions of social progress in the three quarters of a century since WWII. But it highlights the huge challenges Inequality and development. In China the speed of urban transformation can be seen in a single the world now faces in continuing this progress into the next century, warns against picture. As in this image on the outskirts of Jiangyin (Changzhou city, Jiangsu province) China. © Joan complacency engendered by past successes, and questions whether the mechanisms and Cane, submitted to the IIAS photo contest 2014. arrangements which delivered past successes are now fit for the new purpose. The Report calls for a rethinking of society for the 21st century.

t is remarkable how well the general messages One cause for concern emphasized by the within countries, and climate change at The IPSP report ranges over a very of the Report resonate with Asian experience IPSP Report at the global level but with Asian the global level. Of course, climate change wide set of topics in its three volumes, Iand with Asian challenges. The Report is implications, is rising inequality. It is true that will also have deep consequences at the including socio-economic transformations; at pains to emphasize that the world is not income inequality between countries has country level. Asia’s coastline countries are political regulation, governance, and societal homogeneous, but that nevertheless some fallen as poorer countries (mostly in Asia) have particularly vulnerable to sea level increases transformations; and transformations in broad themes can animate our discourse on grown faster than richer ones, but inequality and to weather volatility. Rising temperatures values, norms, cultures. But across this social progress. Similarly, Asia is not homo- within countries has risen for many countries will negatively affect agriculture closer to the breadth of canvas emerge some core themes. geneous, and detail and context matter in in the world. These include the big countries Equator. More generally, air pollution deaths If Asia is to avoid the complacency trap, diagnosis and design of specific policies. in Asia such as China and India. An Asian in Asia are the highest in the world and rising. even more so than the rest of the world But some broad themes on social progress Development Bank Report estimated that had In 2016 close to 3 million deaths in Asia could because of the sheer impressiveness of do emerge which mirror global themes. within-country inequality in Asian countries be attributed to ambient outdoor pollution Asia’s achievements in the last few decades, The first and most obvious theme is the stayed at the same level as it was a quarter of particulate matter and ozone, up from Asian policy makers and populations will remarkable progress along different dimensions century ago, economic growth would have nearly 2 million in 1990.5 Alerts and emergency have to address the looming issues of in Asia over the past several decades. Indeed, lifted a quarter of a billion more people out of measures on air pollution are now a ritual in equity, government responsiveness, and when exemplifying global progress, Asian poverty.3 Spectacular as it has been, poverty big Asian cities, and in South-East Asia the environmental sustainability. Only then will countries are often ‘exhibit A’. It took a thousand reduction in Asia would have been even greater cross-country spillover effects of forest fires social progress not be stalled or even go into years up to 1950 for world per capita income had inequality been kept in check. For the in Indonesia, being burned to clear ground reverse, but stand a chance of continuing to multiply by 15, but it took only 60 years for future, the forces of trade and especially for plantations, are a frequent occurrence. on its remarkable path of the last three it to multiply by almost 4 between 1950 and technology making for greater inequality are But the consequences of Asian carbon quarters of a century. 2008. The story of the big Asian economies a global phenomenon and are also playing emissions extend beyond Asia. Asian countries of China and India is even more spectacular, out in Asia. The move away from basic to are a major global contributor of carbon Ravi Kanbur Professor of Economics, and indeed the foundation for the global story. skilled labor and capital, contrary to the emissions, whose effects go beyond localized www.kanbur.dyson.cornell.edu In 1978 China’s per capita GDP was roughly pattern of expanding demand for basic labor air pollution to impacts of global climate twice its level in the year 1000. But thirty years which was the foundation of Asian success, change. China, India and Indonesia between later, in 2008, it was six times its value in 1978. is now as much the reality of trends in China them contributed 13 billon tonnes in 2014, At independence in 1947, India’s per capita and India as it is in the USA and Europe. compared to 5.6 billion tonnes for the USA.6 Notes GDP was 20% above its value 1000 years before. Secondly, the IPSP Report highlights the Asia is part of the global problem and so has During the next sixty years of independence, interconnections between rising inequality to be part of the global solution. 1 See chart ‘Share of the population living it increased almost five fold. Many other Asian within a country and lack of responsiveness We come then to a fourth concern in extreme poverty, by world region’ presented in Roser, M. & Ortiz-Ospina, E. countries fit this pattern – Malaysia, Vietnam, of the polity and the government to the expressed in the Report, the lack of institutional 2018. ‘Global Extreme Poverty’, Bangladesh, Thailand, Singapore, etc. needs of the vast majority of the people. innovation at the global level to address Our World in Data, https://ourworldindata. Of course average income is not and Rising inequality is also detrimental for social the new cross-border issues, whether they org/extreme-poverty (first published in should not be the only yardstick of progress. cohesion and thus indirectly for investment be climate change, financial contagion, 2013, with substantive revision in March But similar trends are seen for extreme poverty and growth. A survey of Asian policy makers refugee and migrant flows, tax shelters 2017), accessed 20 Aug 2018. using the World Bank standard of $1.90 per found that in response to the question “How catering to mobile capital, and spread of 2 See chart ‘Life expectancy globally and person per day in 2011 Purchasing Power important do you think it is to have policies in infectious diseases, to name a few. The global by world regions since 1770’ presented Prices. For the world as a whole poverty fell place to prevent rises in inequality in order to institutional architecture still reflects the in Roser, M. 2018. ‘Life Expectancy’, from 35% to 11% over the quarter century from maintain stability and sustain growth in your economic and power structures of 1945 rather Our World in Data, retrieved from 1987 to 2013. For South Asia the fall was from country”, 57% said it is ‘important’ and 38% than of 2018. The emergence of regional https://ourworldindata.org/life- 4 expectancy accessed 20 Aug 2018. 48% to 15% while for East Asia it was from 58% said it is ‘very important’. Thus Asia’s stellar institutions like the Asian Infrastructure 3 Asian Development Bank. 2012. Asian 1 to 4%. Global life expectancy rose from 48 growth and poverty reduction performance Investment Bank, and strengthening of existing Development Outlook (ADO) 2012: years in 1950 to 71 in 2013. In Asia it rose from in the last three decades should not lull the regional institutions like the Asian Development Confronting Rising Inequality in Asia, 42 to 72 over the same period.2 Once again, polity into a false sense of security. Proactive Bank, is a step in the right direction. However, retrieved from https://tinyurl.com/ Asia is a leading example in the global story. measures, tailored to local realities of course, these institutions can, at best, only address ADO2012 accessed 20 Aug 2018. These successes of the past few decades are needed to mitigate the trend of fast cross-border issues within Asia while the 4 Idem could breed the seeds of Asian complacency. rising inequality. More generally, however, present conjuncture highlights that Asia 5 Ritchie, H. & Roser, M. 2018. ‘Air Pollution’, Why worry about the future when the recent responsiveness of government (or lack thereof) cannot stand alone in addressing problems Our World in Data, retrieved from past has seen so much progress on so many is the concern. The question is whether an which are global but with Asian consequences. https://ourworldindata.org/air-pollution, accessed 20 Aug 2018. dimensions? And why the need for change? institutional structure of governance which Can Asia take the responsibility commensurate 6 Ritchie, H. & Roser, M. 2018. ‘CO₂ Surely if we go on doing the same we will has paid dividends in the past decades on with its economic weight in the world, and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions’, continue to have the same successes? The economic growth can be reformed rapidly to not only fashion and strengthen Asian Our World in Data, retrieved from same questions could be put at the global level, enough to meet the new challenges. institutions, but to contribute to redirecting https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and- but they would belie the angst and anxieties A third cause for concern emphasized by the architecture of economic and environ- other-greenhouse-gas-emissions, felt around the world, and no less in Asia. the IPSP Report is environmental degradation mental global governance? accessed 20 Aug 2018. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 A collective and interdisciplinary 31 analysis of social progress The Focus

lowers the well-being of parents and would-be parents. Some women may even opt out of childbearing and choose to continue working, spurring the problem of low fertility and Social justice and well-being: declining population in Japan. The shortage of elderly care will likewise lower the well-being of older people, as they may be forced to live alone without support. Nevertheless, Japan’s lessons for Asia case illustrates that the state must act to fill the void left by the weakening family support system, and mitigate the negative effects of modernization on well-being. Hiroshi Ono Countries strive for economic growth because they believe that it will Second, and similarly, transition countries elevate the well-being of their people. Higher income entails a higher such as China, Vietnam and Cambodia must ensure that a well-functioning safety net be standard of living and enhanced life satisfaction. Economic growth in place as they transition towards market will lift all boats, and assures the greatest happiness for the greatest capitalism. The experiences of the former Soviet states provide ample evidence that number of people, so it has long been believed. Underlying the growth the safety net is a vital source of well-being objective was the unquestioned assumption that income and for their citizens. The higher relative standing of the Scandinavian welfare states provide happiness are closely related. further support that a state-centered universal social insurance can be effective in improving people’s happiness. The Easterlin et al. study of China’s ut it has become equally clear that Yet, the same survey showed an even lower What then are the transition provides important insights.3 China economic growth can be very problematic level of happiness after the transition. Why? lessons for Asia? exhibited a growth pattern consistent with Bfrom the viewpoint of social justice and The explanation is rooted in social injustice the Easterlin paradox, and social justice and well-being. First, higher economic growth has and inequality. A deep sense of injustice First, many Asian countries are vulnerable well-being fell following the transition. Between not necessarily led to greater happiness. For prevailed following the transition. People’s to a large-scale social transformation that 1995 and 2004, real income in China expanded example, GDP per capita in the U.S. increased expectations of meritocracy and the fruits is taking place: the weakening of family and 250 percent, but life satisfaction remained low four-fold between 1945 and 2010, but of market capitalism were largely unfulfilled. intergenerational ties and the diminishing or even worsened. This decline is concurrent happiness levels remained flat throughout the Optimism was replaced by powerlessness and social support system that accompanies with rising unemployment, widening inequality same period. This pattern, i.e. the disconnect hopelessness; widening inequality between it. According to Esping-Andersen,2 there and the dismantling of the state-centered between material and subjective well-being, rich and poor instilled feelings of unfairness. are three types of social safety nets: (i) the social insurance. Yet, rather than prescribing was observed consistently across countries, Surveys taken after the transition (in the state-centered social democratic welfare state, a return to central planning under which and became known as the Easterlin Paradox.1 1990s and 2000s) consistently rank the primarily found in Scandinavian countries, life satisfaction was presumably higher, Second, and even more troublingly, post-communist/East European countries, (ii) the market-centered system, as in the case the authors instead advocate jobs, income economic growth in the twentieth century e.g., Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia, among of the U.S., and (iii) a family-based support security and a social safety net as the essential did not lift all boats equally, but increasingly the unhappiest countries in the world. Among system typically found in Asian countries, and pathways to fostering higher life satisfaction. favored only a select few. Without a doubt, the transition countries, it is not uncommon for in Mediterranean societies such as Spain, Italy Interestingly, China appears to be embracing technological innovations and efficiency gains the elderly to reminisce about the communist and Greece. Under the family support system, such a strategy, along with the policy principle have led to significant advances in standards past. People had jobs, access to healthcare and caring for small children and older parents is that strong state intervention can shore up a of living and quality of life, on average. But education. They had a sense of social security conventionally resolved through the immediate country’s efforts to bring about greater social the dispersion of progress has turned out to be and felt protected. As the countries transitioned or extended family, without relying on the justice and well-being. Other parts of the extremely uneven. Inequality intensified within out of communism, people lost their safety market or the state. world, which seem currently to be retreating and between countries especially after the net to an often dysfunctional market-based But history informs us that a shift from from this principle, should take note. 1980s, as the gap widened between the haves substitute. Unemployment rose as jobs were no Gemeinschaft to Gesellschaft and the and have-nots, and between the protected and longer guaranteed. Corruption and organized transition from personal to impersonal ties is Hiroshi Ono Hitostubashi University unprotected. It was a far cry from achieving crime flourished as loopholes in regulations were a natural part of the process of modernization. Business School happiness for all people. exploited. Unsurprisingly, the post-communist The Asian countries are not immune to this countries rank low in the ‘trust index’, owing to social change. Family and intergenerational Notes widespread corruption. In former East Germany, ties are weakening. Take the example of Welfare states, communist resentment of the present is so strong that a Japan where women traditionally care for the 1 Easterlin, R. 1974. ‘Does Economic countries and happiness new expression became commonplace, ostalgie, children, and young adults care for their elderly Growth Improve the Human Lot? Some a combination of ost meaning east and nostalgie. parents, often times co-residing. In recent Empirical Evidence’, in P.A. David & M.W. The postwar period also saw the rise of In Bulgaria, people still ponder the Stalinist years women are more likely to take part in the Reder (eds.) Nations and Households in the social-democratic welfare states in many past; in China, the Mao regime, and so on. labor force rather than stay at home. Young Economic Growth: Essays in Honor of developed countries. These have come closest In sum, the promise of capitalism fell short adults are now less likely to co-reside with Moses Abramovitz. New York: Academic to securing social justice and well-being in many of the transition economies. These their parents. As a result, Japan faces a dire Press, Inc. for the people. By means of redistribution countries continue to struggle as they transition shortage of childcare and elderly care facilities. 2 Esping-Andersen, G. 1990. The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Princeton: and universal model of social insurance, the to a more meritocratic, market-based system. The transformation came swiftly, and demand Princeton University Press. welfare states have empowered people and The experience of the transition economies for care facilities far outweighs supply. 3 Easterlin, R.A., R. Morgan, M. Switek & reduced inequality. In contrast to the market- inform us that advances in well-being and The state is scrambling to increase supply but Fei Wang. 2012. ‘China’s life satisfaction, centered approach typically found in the U.S., social justice must be achieved through the will not be able to meet the surge in demand 1990–2010’, Proceedings of the National the social-democratic model – evolved in the right mix of capitalism and democracy. for years to come. The shortage of childcare Academy of Sciences 109:9775-9780. Nordic countries – is state-centered. The social- democratic welfare states, notably Norway, Sweden and Denmark, consistently rank among the happiest countries in the world. Historically, these countries have also recorded low within- country income inequality (as measured by the Gini index) in comparison to continental Europe and the U.S. The successful performance of the Scandinavian welfare states illustrates that the state can play a pivotal role in advancing social justice and well-being. If a state-centered approach can lead to greater happiness, then what can we say about the performance of the communist or the transition economies? Were people happy under communism? Did they become happier after the transition? In the West, the conventional wisdom is that life under communism was full of misery and grief. People lived in dire conditions, under state control and with little freedom. Surely, many assumed, the transition from communism to capitalism must be a necessary condition for achieving greater well-being. Liberated from the iron grip of communism, the people would come to realize that meritocracy and market capitalism are the path to true happiness. But the experience of the transition countries diverged from expectations. Almost without exception, happiness in the post-communist economies declined following the transition. To be sure, life under communism was far from happy: a survey taken in the Soviet Union before the transition showed that happiness there was lower compared to their Western counterparts. Getting older but still happy. Photo © Albert JR, submitted to the IIAS photo contest 2014. 32 A collective and interdisciplinary The Focus analysis of social progress

Prayer tablets hanging in the Confucian temple in Pingyao. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of E. Gawen on Flickr. Values and principles for social progress

To comprehensively assess the social progress of some locality, nation, or the Henry S. Richardson globe, how many different evaluative dimensions does one need? Nothing important should be left out. Some dimensions might potentially be reduced to other ones. Items important only as means to other ends may be dropped; for instance, economic growth is merely a means to enhancing individual welfare and security and the society’s ability to secure people’s basic needs and promote cultural goods. Some items may be reasonably grouped together under one rubric; for instance, avoiding hunger and promoting health might be grouped as basic needs. Together with thirteen colleagues from around the world who collaborated on the framing normative chapter of the IPSP’s report, Rethinking Society for the 21st Century,1 we identified and defended twenty-one values and principles irreducibly relevant to assessing social progress – coincidentally, 21 for the 21st.

pioneering development of the capability people’s enjoyment is a wash, the weakened approach, which distinguishes multiple social relations would undercut people’s dimensions of well-being.2 Taking advantage resilience in dealing with unexpected of this development, the 2009 report of the setbacks. It would tend to deprive people of Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission focused support networks. For this reason, the value on just two main dimensions: well-being of good social relations is not well captured and sustainability.3 Yet the dimension in the current well-being accounts. Additional, of well-being, its authors suggested, could of course, there is a strong case for thinking in turn be broken down into eight sub- of friendships and various other healthy forms dimensions (material living standards, health, of social relations, which in their nature go education, personal activities, political voice beyond a single individual, as being valuable and governance, social connections and for their own sakes. relationships, environment, and security). Third, the dimension of cultural goods This report did not ignore distributive justice, similarly combines intrinsic value, current but made a rather strained effort to suggest enjoyment, and a significant standing that it could be accounted for under the as a social capital. In characterizing this Woman Votes in Timorese Presidential Election. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of UN Photo on Flickr. heading of political voice and governance dimension, we had in mind quite broadly (as if there existed any system of governance the fruits of scientific endeavor, insights that both gives the people a serious voice of creative and scholarly reflection, stores uppose that one seeks to judge the catalog of dimensions of social progress and guarantees that measures generating of memories and historical knowledge, extent to which China has made social simply to support the kinds of retrospective unjust inequalities will not be adopted!). and diverse modes of artistic and religious Sprogress between 1950 and today. evaluation and prospective policy choices In our chapter of the IPSP report, we instead expression. Each of these builds up over many To do that, it suffices to make, as best one described in the previous paragraph. To reflect pull out distributive justice for detailed centuries, with innovations sometimes erasing can, a relevant assessment of Chinese society the difference between simple evaluative separate treatment. and writing over what came before but always at each of these two points in time. And, as dimensions and ones that register the kinds The treatment of sustainability in building on it. Because the well-being and almost always happens, a society that moves of costs that may put some options off the the Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi report valuably the potential progress of future generations forward in many respects may also move table, we distinguished between fundamental emphasized the importance of keeping track depend in important respects on the current backward in some. Yet costs endured only principles, which have this extra feature, and of capital stocks, including stocks of social generation’s guardianship of this heritage, in the intervening time raise a different issue. fundamental values, which do not. To avoid capital. Remember that progress is naturally and because, again, the concept of progress If some of the intervening work to achieve redundancy, we sought to limit ourselves judged by comparing things at two different suggests that we compare two time-slices, the social progress came at great, but relatively to values and principles of non-derivative points in time rather than by integrating value of cultural goods should be recognized temporary cost that does not directly affect importance: ones whose importance cannot all the data over a long period. Looking at as a distinct dimension for judging social this retrospective assessment of progress securely be derived from some other value or capital stocks importantly adds to the time- progress. If a society achieved high well-being – say, because some of the gains resulted principle. In the end, we offer two orienting, slice information in a way that helps assess at the cost of neglecting all maintenance indirectly from some of the harsher abuses cross-cutting principles, nine fundamental a society’s resilience – the likelihood that it and enhancement of its cultural heritage, of the Cultural Revolution – one could aptly values, and ten fundamental principles will withstand shocks and support future this neglect ought to count against its claim say, “much progress was achieved, but at (see fig.1). Intent improvement. to having progressed. considerable cost”. By contrast, if one looks on guiding those We implicitly These last two dimensions, social relations forward, and assesses alternative policies as who are diving distinguish three and cultural goods, come together in an pathways for making social progress, one more deeply into ... guided by a different kinds interesting way in the Chinese regime’s will have reason to treat some of the expected specific social of social capital, attempts to cope with the downsides of interim costs in a different way. Suppose issues – including fundamental commitment broadly understood. modernization. It has been widely noted over that laissez-faire treatment of expanding both policy-makers First, and most the past decade that the regime has at least agribusiness would boost economic growth and other scholars to the equal dignity of abstractly, been exploring the revival of Confucianism in India between now and 2030, but at the – we thought it it characterizes the as a means of combating the normless cost of severely threatening the subcontinent’s best to err on the each human being ... value of security not individualism that has come from rapid already depleted supplies of groundwater, side of including a as itself an element industrialization and broadening capitalism one could argue that this cost provides strong dimension. of well-being but and exacerbated by the one-child policy. reason for taking that option off the table. Why so many as a contextually- These changes have somewhat eroded the To be sure, some of this cost will be felt by dimensions? Many economists will be assured robustness in people’s enjoyment of familial ties that had traditionally been central those alive in 2030, but it will also cause used to admitting just two: welfare and its elements – a robustness that will withstand to social relations in China. Rebuilding social trouble for a long time afterwards. distributive justice. Notoriously, focusing at least many types of misfortune. Security relations in a way that fosters solidarity Our diverse group of authors quickly solely on maximizing total (or average) welfare of this kind requires that settled practices (another of our fundamental values) over agreed on the outlines of our approach. is compatible with fostering unacceptable and institutions are in place to help people individualism is no easy thing to do. A nation We would be guided by a fundamental levels of economic inequality. It might be when they get in trouble – with their health, cannot simply import, lock, stock, and barrel, commitment to the equal dignity of each thought that once justice has been added for example. ways of living life that have worked elsewhere. human being and a respect for the deep to welfare, these two dimensions are enough. Second, the dimension of social relations The relevant types of informal social practice pluralism, around the world, of views about After all, the idea of welfare or well-being is is worth recognizing as an independent need to put down roots organically, a process values, morality, and religion. We agreed to quite capacious. The subjectivist approach dimension in part because it combines present that takes a very long time. Hence, it makes abjure any trace of the Enlightenment faith to the idea of welfare that was dominant enjoyment with a set of informal practices perfect sense that the Chinese regime, that human society is destined to progress. in economics through the middle of the last that embody social capital. If an innovative in seeking to combat the ill effects of excessive We also rejected the related thought that century is giving way to more substantive form of social media or an addictive new individualism arising from modernity, turned there is some single, privileged pathway to understandings of well-being. This shift is video game erodes social relations in a given to an indigenously well-established set of social progress. Instead, we intended our in no small part due to Amartya Sen’s society, even if the short-term effect on cultural norms: the Confucian tradition, The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 A collective and interdisciplinary 33 analysis of social progress The Focus

with its emphasis on filial piety and ritual policies.5 In discussing this, we emphasized Generalizing the line of thought just Dimensions for Evaluating propriety.4 Whether such an effort can work that the idea of democracy has roots all suggested about the local adaptability of in a top-down way is another matter. around the world. For example, legislators the idea of democracy, for some purposes Social Progress Institutions may be looked at in the same were elected in Ashoka’s India.6 In Africa, it might be apt for locally appropriate light, for they cannot be set up overnight, the Oromo people of Ethiopia developed specifications first to be reached before any Cross-cutting, orienting principles and often need to exist for generations before a complex democratic process involving weighting is contemplated. In addition, there they earn the trust of those who participate a system of checks and balances.7 are many contexts – both in policy-making 1 – The principle of equal dignity in them and interact with them. In introducing Relatedly, there is no uniquely preferred and in social-scientific study – in which – Respect for pluralism the distinction between values and principles, way to implement democracy. Different there is no need to attend to the full range above, we focused on a moral-philosophical forms of democracy will be appropriate in of values and principles that would be distinction: when looking forward, principles different places. This was made vivid to me relevant to judging a society’s overall Basic values serve to put options off the table in a way when I participated in a conference in Paro, progress. Our compass chapter was intended that values do not. That is in part because Bhutan in 2009 on Deepening and Sustaining in part to be of use to the authors of the – Well-being principles directly indicate how some agent Democracy in Asia.8 One point brought home twenty chapters that follow ours in the IPSP – Freedom should or should not act, whereas values do so to me was that the United States could be report, and to other humanists and social – Non-alienation only via some process or principle of weighing described as being stuck with Democracy 1.0, scientists working in their wake. These – Solidarity or reasoning. Seven of our principles are with all its faults. Given how hard it is for the chapters cover a huge diversity of topics, – Social relations framed as applying only to a specific range U.S. to amend its constitution, we essentially including cities, the future of work, wars – Esteem and recognition of human institutions: to governments, to civil cannot upgrade. Newer democracies have a and violence, media and communications, – Cultural Goods society, and to global institutions. Principles chance to design democracy better, and in democracy, families, health, and education. – Environmental Values are especially at home in application to ways that suit their circumstances. Bhutan, Different ones of our twenty-one values – Security institutions, for institutions are themselves being a monarchy, is by no means fully and principles will be salient in each of constituted on the basis of rule or principles. democratic; but the king, like Emperor Ashoka these distinct areas of concern. When doing Consider the role of the principle of the rule of before him, had decided that the country scholarly work or policy assessment on one of Basic Principles law in characterizing the core requirements of should adopt democratic mechanisms. It was those issues, it will be perfectly apt to select a well-functioning legal system. Governments exciting to see how thirsty the Bhutanese the dimensions most worthy of attention and Of general applicability: typically rest on constitutions, written or organizers were for ideas about how to do to elaborate them, as needed, by specifying – Basic rights unwritten, that give them shape. Civil society, democracy better. For instance, they lapped them or disaggregating them. For instance, – Distributive justice being so heterogeneous, is less obviously up voting theorists’ state-of-the-art ideas work on assessing individual deprivation will – Beneficence and generosity rule-constituted than either governments about how to design voting processes to sensibly set aside the dimensions that apply or the law; but civil society arguably exists minimize strategic voting. only to collective or institutional achievement Applicable to governments: only against the backdrop of a government Just as there is no one privileged path to and will disaggregate the basic needs so as to – The rule of law that is at least minimally effective and that democracy, there is also no one privileged bring to bear more detailed data. In principle, – Transparency and accountability sufficiently protects basic liberties for a way to combine the twenty-one dimensions so however, all twenty-one dimensions are – Democracy diversity of civil-society organizations to arise. as to reach an overall assessment of achieved relevant to overall social progress if causally – Giving rights determinate reality One of our chapter’s principles, relevant to or expected progress or decline. It will be impacted, intentionally or not, by the actions assessing a society’s progress, is the principle said that weights (or more sophisticated taken or policies adopted in any arena. Applicable to civil society: of democracy: all governments should be aggregating functions) need to be applied This is of course true of effects on well-being – Toleration democratic. Given the size of modern nations, to the dimensions in order to produce an and distributive justice; but it is true of the – Educating and supporting citizens democracy therein must clearly be indirect, overall score. That doing this is sometimes other nineteen dimensions as well. involving the election of representatives, useful for public-relations purposes is shown The complexity of the idea of social Applicable to global institutions: rather than assembling all citizens for a large by the competitive incentives generated by progress implied by the multiple dimensions – Global justice meeting. Democracy is important to treating the Human Development Index’s rankings, needed to capture it also indicates that citizens as free and equal persons, which calls annually released by the U.N.D.P. But this there is room to interpret it different ways for giving them a role in ruling themselves. is just one simple use of a multi-dimensional in different places. By differently interpreting To allow citizens to do so in a way that allows understanding of how well a society is doing. the various dimensions and differentially Fig. 1 them to respect one another as free and equal For many other purposes, it will be more prioritizing them, nations may arrive at their persons, the process should afford them an important to work first to specify some or own conceptions of progress. What is to be opportunity to give and to hear one another’s all of the dimensions more fully before doing hoped is that, in so doing, they do not either reasons for and against alternative laws or any aggregation or assessment. neglect any of the twenty-one dimensions distinguished in our compass chapter and that they work out their conceptions of progress via processes that respect the equal dignity of all persons.

Henry S. Richardson Professor of Philosophy, Georgetown University, Washington DC, http://henrysrichardson.com

Notes

1 Richardson, H.S. et al. 2018. ‘Social Progress: a Compass’, Rethinking Society for the 21st Century: Socio- Economic Transformations, Report of the International Panel on Social Progress Vol. 1, Ch.2, pp.41-82, Cambridge University Press; https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108399623 2 Sen, A. 1987/1999. Commodities and Capabilities, New Delhi: Oxford University Press. 3 Stiglitz, J., Sen, A. & Fitoussi, J. 2009. Report of the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress (CMEPSP). Available at https://tinyurl.com/stiglitzCMEPSP, accessed 24 June 2018. 4 See, e.g., Bell, D.A. 2010. ‘Reconciling Socialism and Confucianism? Reviving Tradition in China’, Dissent 91: 91-99; Solomon, D., Ping-Cheung Lo & Ruiping Fan (eds) 2012. Ritual and the Moral Life: Reclaiming the Tradition, Dordrecht: Springer. 5 See Richardson, H.S. 2004. Democratic Autonomy: Public Reasoning about the End of Policy, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, ch.5. 6 Sen, A. 2009. The Idea of Justice, Harvard University Press, pp.329-32. 7 Legesse, A. 2000. Oromo Democracy: An Indigenous African Political System, Lawrenceville, NJ: The Red Sea Press. 8 The proceedings of this conference were published in Beyond the Ballot Box: Report from the Deepening and Sustaining Democracy in Asia Conference, 11-14 October 2009, Thimpu, Bhutan: Taiwan 2016 presidential election. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of Studio Incendo on Flickr. Centre for Bhutan Studies, 2010. 34 A collective and interdisciplinary The Focus analysis of social progress

Wind turbines at night. Courtesy Asiastock on Adobestock.

Forest Rangers patrol the Tripa peat swamp, Aceh province, Indonesia. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of Dita Alangkara/CIFOR on Flickr.

Economic growth, social progress and planetary welfare

Purnamita Dasgupta The call to revisit and assess how economic growth is contributing to well-being is a recurring theme and a very valid one too.1 In the IPSP report, it sits within a specific context, namely, its role in social progress and in ensuring planetary welfare. All three are interlinked not just conceptually but also empirically, as substantial evidence garnered over this century seems to suggest. Their inter-relationship poses opportunities for win-wins as well as challenges that need to be carefully reasoned and mitigated.

from preference satisfaction, happiness, wealthy agents, facilitated through political capabilities to function,2 status consumption changes. Similarly, technological change to the meaning of life – the application of can enhance inequality when it favours high distributive principles to evaluate whether skill workers although it is a driver of overall economic growth contributes positively to economic growth. Given the reality of path these is more complicated. Utilitarianism dependencies in social and natural systems advocates maximizing the good (or discounted and the experience with irreversibilities in utilitarianism) while Rawlsian logic rejects this; nature, economic and social institutions have applying egalitarian principles raises debates to strive towards reducing inequalities across on geographical boundaries and intertemporal time and space. The global commons for dimensions for benchmarking (in)equality; instance need to be protected using principles sufficientarianism has implications for where of intergenerational justice. the threshold should be drawn and so on. A specific concern, which also has implications for several economies in Economic growth through Asia, is the accumulating evidence that socioeconomically deprived groups and sub the lens of sustainability groups of population especially in developing The issue of sustainability of economic Coastline pollution. Courtesy Stéphane Bidouze on Adobestock. countries are subjected to environmental growth, as far as depletion of natural wealth injustice, leading to a call for specific focus is concerned, evokes considerable consensus on these vulnerable populations. in the public domain and brings together varied n one hand, improvements in life faced with developmental challenges of Economic growth from the perspective aspects ranging from the sheer exhaustability expectancy, real wages, health and high environmental degradation and the of well-being, distributive justice and of resources, the side effects of producing and Opoverty reduction have been positively eradication of poverty in all its forms planetary welfare, involves an evaluation using them (deforestation, biodiversity loss, associated with economic growth, with (air pollution in cities in China, India). The key of what it can deliver in terms of the quality air and water pollution, to name a few highly convincing evidence in recent decades objective here is to assess what are the key of economic growth. Economic growth itself relevant to developing countries in Asia) to (for instance, in the case of poverty reduction lessons to be learnt from past experiences, is impacted by natural, social, institutional the global concerns of climate change and in East Asia). On the other hand, the resultant particularly with regard to large parts of the and political capital, and distributional breaching of planetary boundaries.3 Strong reorganisation and restructuring of economic developing world, including Asia. concerns are important to take on board for correlations have been observed at the global activity under rapid economic growth, along sustaining economic growth over the long run. level between greenhouse gas emissions, with the abuse of power under insufficiently Welfare is multidimensional and normative economic growth and natural capital regulated markets, have led to increasing Economic growth through and encompasses values which are easily depletion. There has been a proliferation inequality, environmental degradation, quantifiable as well as those which are not. of writings in the last half a century, some alienation and undermining of social the lens of social progress Economic growth can impact some dimensions according centre stage to climate change, and well-being across and within economies. The history of debates around the positively and others negatively. some more directly to fundamental concerns This has at times led to a questioning of the relationship between economic growth and It is important to recognise the links between such as the preservation of life support systems role of economic growth itself in promoting social progress is well known and possibly as growth and inequality here. The relationship including but not only restricted to climate sustainability and well-being. old as history itself. The idea of social progress between inequality and economic growth is change impacts. Our collegial contribution to the IPSP is itself a dynamic one, as it is a composite relevant for understanding social progress. How does limiting the overall scale of report aims to move this discussion forward, of the many changing dimensions that Addressing inequality through redistributive activity relate to the scary implications of assessing the conditions under which impact welfare. Often it is centred around measures that result in tax distortions can climate change and for long run sustainability? economic growth can lead to a transformation a dominant narrative of achieving ‘equity’. suppress growth in terms of physical capital The evidence here is not that straightforward in the modern day context. A transformation A range of normative criteria can be accumulation. On the other hand, allowing as outcomes are complex, being dependent on that accords centrality to sustainability and used to evaluate economic growth from the inequalities to persist negatively impacts the dimensions of uncertainty in both biophysical sustainable development, and thus, prioritises perspective of social progress: what matters accumulation of human capital, especially and human systems. Differential impacts by reduction in poverty and inequality, while to society is important, as is the question of where there are large numbers of poor; a time and spatial scale complicate matters. reconciling climate protection with economic what distributive principles are to be applied in reality for many Asian economies. Economic Conventional ways of understanding the growth. Asian economies with success stories evaluating the criteria. While what matters to growth can increase wealth creation alongside relationship between economic systems and of high economic growth (India, China) are society can be defined in varied ways – ranging the appropriation of economic rents by ecosystems are inadequate. Economic systems The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 A collective and interdisciplinary 35 analysis of social progress The Focus

and ecosystems are both complex adaptive have an appeal at the global level, security, and social metabolism. Growth Relevant indicators systems with substantial uncertainties. its relevance for the region is debatable. itself does not directly translate into poverty Yet, there is still scope to ponder about The inadequacies of economic growth reduction, much depends on policies, for relevant policies the relationship. Data indicates that while as a measure of social progress, and institutions and public investment, while there A major need flagged earlier is to high growth phases are usually correlated dissatisfaction with GDP in particular,5 has are examples of good developmental outcomes effectively measure social progress with high rates of environmental degradation led to the emergence of several alternative being achieved with relatively low per capita alongside planetary welfare. Efforts (air and water pollution, water scarcity, measures, including attempts to measure incomes (for instance in some states in India). which seek to empirically take forward species extinction, climate change and ozone non-marketed aspects of well-being. The main alternative indicators to GDP such as the depletion), higher economic growth can be limitations of GDP are its inability to take note wealth as welfare approach, or promote useful for generating the resources that enable of distributional aspects, changes in stocks Enabling institutions a mix of monetary and physical indicators, the adoption of cleaner technology and of natural capital, household production of Enabling institutions can do much to have for the most part been limited. willingness to invest in environment friendly services and inclusion of certain activities that promote what is seen as ‘socially progressive’ Much more can be done to track and R&D, policies and practises. actually are harmful to certain dimensions of and ‘just’ growth. In fact, recent experiences measure the dimensions of well-being For resource-constrained, low and middle social well-being. The Social Progress Index, suggest that the symbiotic relationship that are adversely impacted by economic income economies in Asia and elsewhere, Green Net National Product (or extending the between economic growth, distributive justice growth in Asia. A set of welfare indicators with multiple pre-existing stressors such as national accounts more generally), Measure and planetary welfare can be strengthened for should be defined which allow policies poverty, malnutrition, lack of basic amenities of Economic Welfare, ecological footprints, at least some economies. Evidence establishes to be assessed in terms of their contribution and health care services, dealing with climate and so on have rightly therefore become that differences in institutional quality can to social objectives. Such indicators would change implies new demands on resources and a part of today’s conversations. A dashboard explain differences in productivity in the help make value judgements transparent prioritization within a sustainable development of indicators need to be generated and used context of Asian economies. in prioritizing action. International agenda. Tackling climate change has become for public policy decision making. The introduction of market based and national agencies could help in in some sense the single most dominant But this needs to be explored further. mechanisms for mitigating climate change accumulating evidence and transferring paradigm for ensuring planetary welfare as Notwithstanding which of the philosophical is a case in point. A well regulated carbon knowledge on these and setting standards evidenced through global initiatives such as debates can best explain status or market, where revenues raised from taxes or for ensuring the engagement of civil society the Paris Agreement, its mainstreaming into conspicuous consumption, from achieving an emissions trading scheme are utilised for in determining what aspects of welfare the United Nations’ Sustainable Development societies to affluent societies to analyses policies that are targeted towards sectors matter most for a specific population. Goals. In a sense, it has played a role in based on the role of the burgeoning middle and sub-populations that may suffer costs Given the considerable overlap focusing attention of policy makers on the class, the reality of growing inequalities in the from the imposition of such policies promotes between the determinants of economic importance of distributional concerns from very same economies who aspire to eliminate well-being in a typical developing economy growth and the markers for social the perspective of political prudence. multiple prevailing deprivations is alarming. context. The revenues can be used to reduce progress aligning the two in policy-making It must be noted though that the Some of the larger economies in Asia distortions in existing taxes or finance new could be the best way forward for ensuring fundamentals for operationalization of today, are grappling infrastructure planetary welfare as well. These include sustainability remain far from resolved, with this reality. and social sector population stabilisation, the accumulation in spite of recent attempts to articulate China and India ... dissatisfaction with provisioning in health of human capital and education, enabling these, for instance in the form of SDGs. Social for instance make and education. technological change, and judicious use progress for most economies in Asia, involves interesting contrasts GDP in particular The market design of resource endowments. Promoting the not just redistribution of an existing pool, but with China moving can promote right actors, institutions and politics such active engagement to improve the livelihoods much faster on [has led to] attempts to efficiency amongst as those which facilitate collective action of specific sections and sub-populations poverty eradication the economic or enforce individual rights would also that suffer from multiple deprivations. This but with a relatively measure non-marketed agents involved, be fundamental for ensuring growth exacerbates the distribution issue, and also higher GINI. In encouraging with social progress. lends credence to the need for enlarging the Asia specifically, aspects of well-being. technological change The challenge for policy makers size of the cake for several countries in the some countries and resource use is to mitigate the negative effects of region. For sustainable human development, have experienced efficiency. Success economic growth while preserving the both have to go hand in hand.4 economic growth based on their industrial will depend largely on getting the political positive effects. It must be recognised sectors, while for others it has stemmed factors and governance structure right. that social welfare is itself a composite from the services sector. Both sets have Environmental policies in general do create and the social objectives themselves Enabling social progress gained from globalization, international winners and losers and specific policies are have synergies and trade-offs which and planetary welfare with trade and capital flows and the availability required to ensure that the livelihoods and public policy has to be sensitive to. of technology options, although techno- consumption of poor and underpriviledged Policy that promotes the quality of economic growth logical diffusion has not happened at the sections of society are not harmed economic growth, uses it as a means of The evidence so far is undoubtedly expected rates always. The point to note (for instance, the consumption of energy overcoming trade-offs and mitigating in favour of furthering economic growth, is that most economies also put in place intensive products by the poor when a carbon conflicts among these objectives. in particular for regions and economies policies to regulate openness and guard price is imposed). Increasing public investment (financing where a lack of goods and services persists. against market failures and propagation Capitalism itself has been credited with investment in health, education, energy, An increase in output contributes to increasing of external shocks. There is a learning enabling innovation, diversity and democratic transport through non-distortionary the share of those who are deprived, provided that has already taken place in terms of institutions, when fostered by enabling taxes on externalities for instance), of course distribution is a high priority. adopting policies to local and regional institutions. In contrast, an absolute focus on an effective environmental policy Evidence also clearly indicates that the contexts. the size of the cake alone or ‘growth-focused (Pigouvian taxes for internalising social challenge lies in integrating dimensions Economic growth is thus not only good capitalism’ leads to increased wealth inequality, costs of natural capital depletion, of well-being into an economic growth or only bad. The how we grow question has overuse of natural capital, unrestricted direct restoration of natural capital), agenda, and certainly not in arguing for the gained increasing importance in the context corporate power and too narrow a focus on international cooperation (to address de-escalation of economic growth itself for of concerns for good health, air and water material consumption. It is how we grow and abusive corporate power through Asia for instance. While reducing growth may pollution, biodiversity conservation, food not economic growth itself that matters. international standards and agreements) and redistribution policies (reduced inequality of opportunity such as inheritance taxation, reduced rent income, enhanced public investment, workplace democracy) are some ways of making more equitable and environ- mentally sustainable.

Purnamita Dasgupta Chair in Environmental Economics and Head of Environmental and Resource Economics Unit at the Institute of Economic Growth, University of Delhi; [email protected]

Notes

1 Stiglitz, J., Sen, A. & Fitoussi, J.P. 2009. Report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress. 2 Sen, A. 2004. ‘Capabilities, Lists, and Public Reason: Continuing the Conversation’, Feminist Economics 10(3):77-80. 3 IPCC. 2014. Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5 IPCC. 4 Piketty, T. 2014. Capital in the Twenty- First Century. Harvard University Press. 5 Fleurbaey, M. 2009. ‘Beyond GDP: The quest for a measure of social welfare’, Journal of Economic Literature 47(4): Solar Power Project in Thailand. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of the Asian Development Bank on Flickr. 1029-1075. 36 A collective and interdisciplinary The Focus analysis of social progress

Mother and child, Maternal & Child Health Training Institute for medically needy, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of UN Photo on Flickr. These achievements set countries up well for future advances in public health and social progress. However, a range of complex factors challenged the MDG dream – including the political economy, conflict, climate change, and social unrest. In the Western Pacific Region, much of the success in regional targets can be explained by improvements in poverty reduction and life expectancy in China. Experiences from the MDGs also pointed to problems with the approach, including limitations of stand-alone health and disease programmes working in silos, weak health systems and a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach that didn't take account of local contexts. By 2015 it became clear that the world had to grapple with these more fundamental issues to achieve economically, socially and environmentally sustainable development.

The SDGs build on lessons from the past In 2015, UN Member States adopted a new agenda for development to 2030.8 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a new era for public health and social progress. They recognize that today's health and development challenges are complex and interlinked. The SDG paradigm addresses past problems with programme specific interventions in health and adopts a 'social determinants of health' framework. Reflecting this, there are 17 goals and while Goal 3 focuses on health and well-being for all, core health issues can be found in other goals. Health influences and is influenced by all SDGs. Moreover, the 2030 agenda is at its core ambitious and does not shy away from ‘wicked’ problems, but rather embraces their complexity, requiring intersectoral partnerships for action. This is timely given the realities of Public health and public health and social progress in countries of the Western Pacific Region. Stark inequities persist in health and access to care in countries of the Region. Up to half the population in some countries are missing social progress out on essential health services. More deaths of children under 5 occur in poorer or remote households. Populations most affected by HIV are disproportionately in need of testing and Vivian Lin, Britta Baer Attention to social, economic, environmental and political determinants treatment. Chronic rural–urban inequities and Kate Silburn persist in, for instance, access to safe drinking of health is not new. In the 19th century, scholars such as Friedrich Engels, water and sanitation. These inequities are Rudolf Virchow and others documented the relationship between often exacerbated by rapid urbanization and environmental degradation. Even where MDG ill-health, working conditions and poverty. Historically we have seen targets were achieved at the population level, strides in population health when there are improvements in housing and not all groups benefitted equally. Income inequality increased in some countries despite working conditions and access to food. McKeown, for example, argued economic growth. Up to 60% of people living that population growth and declines in mortality were due to economic in some countries of the Western Pacific Region lack coverage with essential health services, growth and related improvements in socioeconomic conditions, rather and many households report spending more than specific health interventions.1 This broad understanding of health than 10% of their income on health services, leading to financial hardship.9 In South-East is also recognized by the WHO Constitution of 1946 which defines health Asia, over 800 million people do not have full as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely coverage with essential services, and at least 65 million people are pushed into extreme the absence of disease. Health is therefore strongly influenced by the poverty by costs for health care.10 These and broader cultural, economic, political and social environment and in turn other shortfalls point to need for interventions at a service delivery level, at a community influences the attainment of peace, security and economic, political and public policy level and the importance of and social development. Good population health improves productivity, connecting the local and the global. sustainability and the economy, across sectors and society as a whole. Leave no-one behind Attention to equity in health is central to the principle of leaving no-one behind at the heart hese linkages between public health Dramatic improvements investments during the MDG era resulted in of universal health coverage (UHC). Translating and social progress have been reiterated great improvements at the population level. this commitment into policy and programme through more recent scholarship. The in health and the economy The WHO's Western Pacific Region did priorities requires working in different ways, T 4 WHO Commission on Social Determinants Countries in the Asia Pacific Region made particularly well, reaching all but two of the including collaboratively across government, of Health drew attention to the ‘causes of the remarkable progress in past decades with health-related MDG targets and making with stakeholders beyond government and causes’ – the social factors that determine how many experiencing rapid economic growth and significant progress in the remaining two.5 with affected communities, to both address people grow, live, work and age – and that impressive increases in GDP.3 This economic For example, the prevalence of underweight the social determinants of health equity and needed to be addressed to reduce health progress has been particularly notable in East among children under five decreased from to establish systems and service delivery inequities between and within countries.2 and Southeast Asia, where increases in health 13.5% in 1990 to 2.6% in 2014. The estimated models that are integrated, people centred and The social gradient of health has now been status and life expectancy generally went maternal mortality ratio decreased by 64% equitable. It also means stronger leadership to demonstrated to be fairly universal across had in hand with decreases in poverty and between 1990 and 2015. Malaria cases and TB improve governance at different levels of the countries and health conditions and can improvements in housing and education. This incidence decreased, access to antiretroviral system to deliver UHC policies and strategies. be mitigated through improved access to perspective linking poverty, economic progress therapy increased for people living with HIV. The WHO regional framework on “Universal primary health care, public policy focused on and health was also core to the Millennium Almost 100% of the population now uses an Health Coverage: Moving Towards Better the social determinants of health and targeted Development Goals (MDGs). improved drinking water source, up from 71% Health”, provides a broad foundation for a health and social development interventions. The MDGs were programmatic, indicator- in 1990. In the WHO South-East Asia Region,6 comprehensive, whole-of-system approach This understanding is echoed by many driven, led by UN agencies and focused on progress was more nuanced, with four targets to health and development.11 UHC is a specific national health strategies and socioeconomic priorities for which effective interventions met and progress made in another six.7 target of the SDG agenda as well as a development plans of countries, which have were available for scale-up. The idealism at Significant achievements were for example platform bringing together disparate health long recognized that health and sustainable the time was that poverty could be eradicated made in the area of communicable disease and development efforts and for achieving development are interlinked and interdependent. through scale up of such interventions. Global control and access to safe drinking water. equitable and sustainable health outcomes. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 A collective and interdisciplinary 37 analysis of social progress The Focus

More broadly, the SDGs recognize that environment and ensure health as a resource their adaptation to different contexts and in this increasingly complex world new for future generations. This means stronger advancing the SDGs requires understanding approaches are required to work across leadership to improve governance at different what interventions will be effective under sectors, stakeholders and borders to leave no- levels of the system to deliver policies and what conditions. In addition to intervention one behind. Partnerships between health and strategies across sectors and borders. and implementation research, better linkages other sectors can result in multiple benefits. across disciplines and between information For example, tackling air pollution, a growing systems across sectors will be required. Recent challenge in the Region, is a shared interest Monitoring progress – early reports on monitoring and evaluation of UHC for both the health and environment sectors. and the SDGs in the Western Pacific and Similarly, promoting healthy diet for children, lessons from the global level South-East Asia regions acknowledge the need a public health priority in the Republic of Korea, One of the successes of the MDGs was to expand our understanding of monitoring relies on collaboration between three Ministries the consensus on clearly defined targets public health and social progress, including by and local government and this multi-sectoral and goals that could be monitored at local, improving collection, analysis and use of equity approach has led to co-benefits across sectors provincial, national, regional and global levels, indicators, applying a more sophisticated Notes and for children’s health and well-being. with clear divisions of responsibility. The SDGs understanding of social determinants and their similarly underline the importance of timely, interactions and building system capacity 1 McKeown T. 1976. The Role of Medicine: high-quality data, translating information for equity analysis.16 Dream, Mirage or Nemesis? London: Applying lessons from health into policy and action and using it to assess Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust. progress and guide planning. At the global 2 WHO Commission on Social Determinants in all policies for improved of Health. 2008. Closing the gap in a level, the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) impact Way forward for health generation: health equity through action under the auspices of the UN Economic and and other sectors on the social determinants of health. The interplay between multiple social, Social Council, is a central platform for annual Final Report. economic, environmental and political factors, follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda. If the 2030 Agenda is to be realised, synergies 3 Asian Development Bank. 2017. coupled with the rapid pace of change in Between 2016 and 2019, 14 Western Pacific enabled through whole of government, whole Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific the Western Pacific Region, highlights the Region Member States completed or committed of society action will need to be maximised. 2017. importance of identifying critical junctures to participate in voluntary national reviews To this end and in response to requests by 4 The 37 countries and areas of the where action can be most effective. The feeding into the UN HLPF.15 Despite the diverse Member States, the WHO Regional Office for WHO Western Pacific Region are: opportunity to promote action on the social approaches adopted by different countries the Western Pacific developed the Regional American Samoa (USA), Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, determinants of health through implementing some common lessons have emerged, including Action Agenda on Achieving the Sustainable Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia health in all policies (HiAP) – working across the importance of building on existing policies Development Goals in the Western Pacific in (France), Guam (USA), Hong Kong SAR 17 sectors for mutual gain, including in improving and structures and fostering strong partnerships 2016. This agenda identifies 12 action domains (China), Japan, Kiribati, Lao People’s population health – has never been better. across sectors and with stakeholders. across four guiding questions – on monitoring Democratic Republic, Macao SAR (China), HiAP is not a new concept, and there is a Common challenges pertain to achieving and evaluation, policy and programme priorities Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Federated long history globally as well as many useful policy coherence and implementing whole-of- for leaving no one behind, implementation States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, lessons that policy-makers can draw on.12 government approaches. Improving capacities options and health sector capabilities. While New Caledonia (France), New Zealand, For example, Thailand is a well-known and for coordination across sectors and monitoring this agenda focuses on the health sector, Niue, Commonwealth of the Northern comparatively mature example of HiAP, complex and dynamic trends are shared each sector will need to reflect on and develop Mariana Islands (USA), Palau, Papua New with its National Health Assembly providing a priorities across countries. Several reviews capabilities to address similar questions. For Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands (UK), Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, platform for participatory governance, citizen also emphasise the need to build institutional example, how will monitoring frameworks be Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, engagement and intersectoral collaboration. capacity of local governments who are at the revised so to enable collection of data useful Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Wallis and In China, Healthy China 2030 frames health forefront of implementation of many goals. for informing action and tracking progress Futuna (France). as a whole of government priority, with the across the SDGs, and in particular for equity 5 WHO Regional Office for the Western involvement of over 20 ministries as well as focused monitoring and evaluation? How will Pacific. 2016. Achieving the Health- local governments, private institutions and Monitoring for improved equity issues be addressed and how can public Related Millennium Development Goals social groups. It is informed by continuous financing be most effectively utilised for health in the Western Pacific Region. monitoring, experimentation and development impact on the ground and social equity? How can enabling conditions 6 The 11 Member States of the WHO to reach “a prosperous society, fulfil the While the SDGs have provided countries and institutional arrangements be structured to South-East Asian Region are: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic SDGs and modernize society”. with a new shared global goal, one of the maximise conditions for realisation of win-wins of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Not only do we have significant evidence defining characteristics of the 2030 agenda through intersectoral action and how can Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, that such approaches work for health and is its emphasis on country ownership and communities and civil society organisations Timor-Leste. provide co-benefits for other sectors, we know country impact. Early experiences in countries be better engaged to inform development 7 WHO. 2015. Health in 2015: from MDGs, that the most pressing health challenges can underline the alignment of laws, policies and priorities and actions? How can we develop the Millennium Development Goals to SDGs, only be addressed if we develop a different kind plans with the SDGs, supported by localised institutional, workforce and research capacities Sustainable Development Goals; WHO of approach involving a wide range of partners. monitoring and financing mechanisms. for these new ways of working? Regional Office for South-East Asia. 2016. For example, the Asia Pacific Parliamentarians At least 15 Member States have incorporated Health in the Sustainable Development Forum on Global Health provides a mechanism the SDGs into their national development Goals: where are we now in the to engage directly with parliamentarians plans. The processes of SDG localisation are Conclusions South-East Region? What next? 8 The United Nations. 2015. Transforming to exchange ideas, build political support, as much characterised by commonalities The SDGs place renewed demands on our world: the 2030 Agenda for strengthen capacities, and foster collaboration across countries and country specificities. Member States, on WHO and partners in the Sustainable Development. Resolution in driving sustainable action for health. For example, in Cambodia, SDG localisation Asia Pacific Region. Finding entry points for adopted by the General Assembly It is a key component of WHO’s long-term was led by the Ministry of Planning using change is not always easy. Lessons from the on 25 September 2015. A/RES/70/1. strategy to support existing national social determinants of health and HiAP fields 9 WHO Regional Office for the Western Member States in technical working can be adapted and expanded to address the Pacific. 2017. Monitoring universal health the Western Pacific ... health as a state group mechanisms. SDGs, and vice versa. This challenges us to coverage and health in the sustainable Region to strengthen Targets and look beyond the narrow target that we may development goals: baseline report for legal frameworks indicators were be focused on to the broader development the Western Pacific Region 2017. of complete physical, 10 WHO Regional Office for South-East challenges that we can only move forward in the SDGs through selected through a Asia. 2018. Annual report on monitoring whole-of-government mental and social multi-partner process collectively. Reorienting our health systems progress on UHC and the health-related approaches. and financing and to better respond to the changing economic, SDGs. Working paper for the Seventy-First The SDGs not only well-being, not merely monitoring strategies political, demographic and environmental Session of the Regional Committee for aim for mobilizing for advancing these realities in the Region, through timely policies South-East Asia, SEA/RC71/12. a wide range of the absence of disease. goals and targets and better coordination and collaboration 11 WHO Regional Office for the Western different players, were identified. across sectors without leaving anyone behind, Pacific. 2016. Universal health coverage: they also stress the Multiple Cambodian is at the core of progressing the development Moving towards better health. importance of taking action at multiple levels of policies and strategies incorporate a focus agenda. The strength of the SDG framework – 12 WHO and Government of South Australia. 2017. Progressing the Sustainable governance. For example, urban health offers on the SDGs. In the Philippines, a focus and arguably its greatest challenge – lies in its Development Goals through health in opportunities for bringing different government was placed on translating the SDGs into emphasis on a different way of thinking and all policies: case studies from around sectors together under a shared vision at the actionable goals and targets under the working on public health and social progress. the world. local level.13 The Western Pacific Region has Philippines Development Plan (2017-2022). 13 WHO Regional Office for the Western a long history of promoting healthy cities to SDG 3 falls under the second pillar of the plan Vivian Lin Professor of Public Health, Pacific. 2016. Regional Framework for create co-benefits between health and other on “inequality reducing transformation”, and La Trobe University; and Director, Health Urban Health in the Western Pacific city policies. The important role of cities and more specifically in relation to accelerating Systems Division, WHO Regional Office 2016-2020: Healthy and Resilient Cities. communities was reiterated in 2016 by the human capital development in recognition for the Western Pacific. 14 WHO Regional Office for the Western Shanghai Consensus on Healthy Cities. that better human development outcomes Britta Baer Technical officer, WHO Pacific. 2017. Antimicrobial resistance Other major priorities for the Region – such are attained by reducing inequalities in the Regional Office for the Western Pacific. in the Asia Pacific region: a development Kate Silburn Senior Project Manager, agenda. as addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Filipinos’ ability to stay healthy and continue La Trobe University; and Coordinator, 15 2016 (China, Philippines, Republic of and climate change – require action across learning throughout their lives. Equity and Social Determinants, WHO Korea, Samoa); 2017 (Japan, Malaysia); borders. For example, the Biregional Technical More fundamentally, there is a need for Regional Office for the Western Pacific. 2018 (Australia, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Consultation on Antimicrobial Resistance more granular monitoring to identify where to Singapore, Viet Nam); 2019 (Fiji, Palau, in Asia and the resulting Tokyo Communique focus attention, in what order to tackle public © 2017 World Health Organization; Philippines, Vanuatu) (2016) stressed the importance of tackling health and social progress questions, where licensee The Newsletter. This is an open 16 Ibid. note 9; WHO Regional Office for AMR as a development issue through systems to invest resources, and how to determine access article distributed under the terms South-East Asia. 2017. Monitoring Health strengthening and effective national, regional what will make a difference. This provides an of the Creative Commons Attribution IGO in the Sustainable Development Goals: and global governance mechanisms for multi- opportunity for academics and civil society to License. In any reproduction of this article 2017 update; WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia. 2017. UHC Technical sectoral collaboration.14 Similarly, the SDGs engage in analysis of what is happening and there should not be any suggestion that WHO or this article endorse any specific Brief: Strengthening health information and agreements, such as the Paris Agreement to draw out the lessons learned for improved organisation or products. The use of systems. on climate change and the Manila Declaration country impact. While there has long been the WHO logo is not permitted. 17 WHO Regional Office for the Western on Health and the Environment (2016), evidence of the importance of the social Pacific. 2017. Regional action for achieving provide leverage points to prioritize actions determinants of health, many questions remain This notice should be preserved along sustainable development goals in the that produce co-benefits for health and the about the effectiveness of interventions and with the article's original URL. Western Pacific. 38 A collective and interdisciplinary The Focus analysis of social progress

Classroom, Chennai, India. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of UK Department for International Development on Flickr. Key educational issues in the Asia region The nature of educational concerns varies across the countries depending upon specific priorities and needs in each country. The reasons are compelling, ranging from economic to geographical to socio-cultural factors such as poverty, lack of resources, social exclusion, inequity, urban-rural divide, lack of adequate education programs, gender disparities, and repressive cultural practices like child marriage that make the picture look bleaker, especially for the OOS children in the region. Enrollment in formal schooling system does not guarantee that learning needs are met. Recent achievement tests show an alarming percent of students who have been in the school for three or more years who still have not mastered the basic skills of reading and writing. Some of the most pressing issues concern the following: - provision and access to inclusive quality education services with particular reference to the needs of the marginalized and disadvantaged groups; - active involvement of the community in the ownership of schools and training institutions; - greater attention to the role of teachers as agents for educational progress and social change; - effective use of information and communication technologies in schools; Sustainable social progress - updating of the curriculum and pedagogy; - paying greater attention to the needs of youth by providing quality skill training, relevant and diverse secondary education, begins with education: current since this is a key factor for social and economic development; and - expansion of higher education with improved vocational and educational perspectives on the Asia region training facilities. As reiterated in the IPSP report, the education curriculum is a key driver for the development of lifelong perspectives Suman Verma Education has been recognized as a fundamental human right. among students on issues related to peace, The transformative power of education is widely acknowledged as a means justice, and citizenship among others. A recent UNESCO MGIEP report (2017) on for people to realize their capabilities and move towards social progress. Rethinking Schooling for the 21st Century In the year 2000, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) prioritized the reviews the extent to which concepts and competencies associated with SDG (Goal 4.7) completion of a primary school cycle. Based on the success of the MDGs, are mainstreamed in education policies and curricula in 22 countries across Asia.5 Against in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reiterated that the backdrop of the political, economic and education is not only an end in itself but also a means to achieving the cultural contexts in Asia, this report provides the state of education for peace, sustainable 2030 global agenda. The premise is that societal sustainable development development and global citizenship across and social progress is only possible through comprehensive cross-sector schools. Key findings suggest: (i) a greater focus on the instrumental role efforts that begin with education. of education in developing national identity and human resources with concepts associated with gender equality, peace, and global citizenship primarily absent he education chapter in the IPSP report In this article I briefly examine some of South-East Asia has already achieved from education policy as well as curricular; highlights how educational opportunities the recommendations with a special focus the level of quality education (SDG 4) (ii) a greater focus on skills and competencies Tand achievement lead to social progress.1 on the Asian region along with the recent required by 2030 and North and Central that tend to ensure a flow of human The authors examine multiple perspectives shifts in the strategic perspectives of the Asia are also progressing apace towards resources for enhancing economic and goals of education (economic, civic, local governments with regard to achieving this goal. East and the North-East Asia competitiveness such as critical thinking, humanistic, and equity promotion) including inclusive quality education for all. sub-region show that the largest SDG 4 problem-solving, empathy; educational governance, institutions, progress gaps exist in reducing gender- (iii) a need to promote a participatory model facilitators and barriers, curriculum and related educational inequalities. of curriculum development; and pedagogy. Key recommendations include The Asia region: diverse Progress is slower in South and South-West (iv) a need to rethink the fundamental educational governance reforms that Asia which is below the regional average priorities of education policy and reassess are sensitive to the institutional, political, demographic patterns in gender equality and access to quality international emphasis on monitoring cultural, and social contexts; facilitate Countries in Asia have seen widening education.3 South Asia also lags behind and measuring educational outcomes. transnational processes of communication income disparities. This geographically on many human development indicators. on evidence-based research connected to diverse region is home to close to 60% of Many countries in South Asia are fraught societal progress; and professionalization of the world’s population with socio-economic, with low literacy rates and life expectancy. Emerging positive trends educators and educational institutions. Since cultural, and political realities that reflect There are an estimated 11.3 million The advocacy with the Education for educational institutions have an important on the current state of education in many primary and 20.6 million lower secondary All (EFA), MDGs, and now the SDGs has led role to play in social progress, access to of the Asian countries. The latest United out-of-school (OOS) children in South Asia.4 to a proliferation of legislation, programs and quality education from early childhood Nations SDG report on the Asia-Pacific,2 The situation is further aggravated in projects resulting in an increase in resource years must be assured to all, without any reports that implementation across the many low- and middle income countries allocation to education in many Asian discrimination. The education content and SDGs needs to be scaled up substantially, (LMICs) in Asia with inequalities in access countries. Despite these initiatives universal pedagogy is the main shaper of the schooling namely on reducing inequalities and on to basic education, low resource allocation primary education continues to remain elusive experiences that have implications for lifelong promoting peaceful societies, access to in support of quality education, and even in countries with high participation rates. learning, value formation, a sense of peace justice and strong institutions. The region socio-cultural factors that fail to fulfill The gender gap in literacy persists in favor and justice, constructing citizenship and civic has made good progress on eradicating the education rights of children, especially of males. However, despite these challenges, responsibilities, well-being and preparing poverty (Goal 1) and promoting good health girls. There exists an urgent need to address all countries in the Asia region are investing for productive adult roles for societal and well-being (Goal 3), and is on target the persisting challenges of OOS children in sustainable human development, justice development. Pedagogy has the potential to to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality and learning along with early childhood and equity in all respects with a greater focus uphold rights, address complex issues related education and lifelong learning opportunities development and gender equity through on investing in education quality, effectiveness to equity, peace and justice, and encourage for all by 2030 (Goal 4), provided the primary and secondary education and and relevance of education and schooling. critical thought processes in a culturally existing momentum continues. Efforts to alternative learning pathways. Education The reform is receiving attention from govern- sensitive framework. Therefore, curricular widen the access to pre-primary education policies that promote equity and support ments in the region. reform is required to balance core subjects and strengthen the quality of teacher disadvantaged students in achieving There is a shift in focus from schooling with new 21st century skills required for the training have been particularly successful. better academic outcomes need more to learning. The need is recognized that future generation. However, regional variations persist. effective implementation. all learning needs must be accompanied The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 A collective and interdisciplinary 39 analysis of social progress The Focus

by alternative, tailor-made, non-formal Doing his homework. Photo taken in Kolkata, India © Ashok Nath Dey, submitted to the IIAS photo contest 2014. the methods of credentialing students. learning methods. This has resulted in some The various ways in which students are judged countries (Indonesia, India, the Philippines) (testing, report cards, evaluations) and the experimenting with systems in which basis for awarding diplomas at all levels participants of non-formal programs are need to reflect the reformulation of outcomes allowed to cross laterally into the formal of learning towards sustainability. The system. And as the non-formal sector becomes competency based assessment in education more formalized, conversely the formal sector in Bhutan demonstrates how if education is is becoming more informal or less rigid by to be of any relevance and importance to adopting mother tongues in the first few years learners of this century, which demands a or incorporating an eight week pre-school workforce with diverse skills and competencies, package at the start of the primary cycle conventional assessment practices must be as in the Philippines.6 replaced by competency-based assessment, The drive towards universal primary so that learners are prepared to face globalized education in Asia has tended to favor quantity opportunities and challenges.11 or expanded access. However, in the long Given that scarce resources are a political run this has not translated into more educated reality, better data are essential to target those students. As evident from many countries resources towards the most severe problems and in South Asia, there is low participation and towards context-relevant interventions that have attendance when school is perceived to be been shown to be effective. There is pressing of little relevance or quality. Paradoxically, need for better data on specific barriers that improving quality also enhances quantity; confront marginalized children. These include providing trained and motivated teachers, more rapid and flexible assessment of the adequate learning materials, and most of needs of children caught up in fast-moving all curricular content that meets the needs conflicts and greater disaggregation of data and aspirations of the local communities to see how gender discrimination shapes is the best way to guarantee expanded and school attendance and performance. We need sustained school attendance.7 close scrutiny of the ways in which child labor Across the Asia region, governments and non-attendance reinforce each other are aware that education reforms face and how the language children use at home multiple challenges that require long-term can become the language they use at school. vision, political will and ability to innovate, Finally, we need a concerted and global and the financial resources to support effort to ensure comparable and standardized the implementation of effective education definition of disability, based on social rather policies. Policy makers need to have easy than medical models, to end the ‘invisibility’ access to evidence on the impact of policies of children with disability in the data and and programs designed to improve education classroom.12 Local governments, schools, and outcomes. The Global Monitoring Report communities have a crucial role to play in 2016 includes studies assessing the impact identifying and providing coordinated support of 216 programs implemented across 52 to OOSC and those at high risk of dropping low-and middle-income countries (LMICs).8 out. Measures to ensure inclusion and address It moves beyond examining whether a program the specific barriers to children’s schooling works or not by examining multiple factors through the reforms of education systems can that influence the effectiveness of education only succeed when matched by democratic programs, and by getting into the details measures to address wider disadvantage of the program operations it offers many to be sufficiently sensitized about the multiple problems of today’s world. This is true both and to smooth out inequities linked to valuable lessons for all those who are working dimensions of environment and development. within education, where interdisciplinarity income poverty, gender, ethnicity, language, in the education sector across the world. A major concern for education across Asia is is slowly and with difficulty gaining ground, geographic location and disability. From the perspective of the Asia region, environment education. Its pursuit in schools and between the spheres of education, which has the huge challenge of making is a relatively new phenomenon. In the context work and leisure as lifelong learning emerges Suman Verma Former Head, Department education a real pathway for social progress of global warming and climate change, as a key concept for planning and developing of Human Development & Family for its entire people, we need critical Asia's late industrial growth presents a major democratic educational systems. It is also Relations; Government Home Science insights on the effectiveness of structured challenge to education. Example of Bhutan is true as concerns the most important College, Panjab University, Chandigarh, pedagogic programs, additional instructional inspiring wherein working in close collaboration boundary of all: that separating those India. [email protected] time, remedial education and community with the Ministry of Education, the Environment included in education systems from those I am grateful to Christiane Spiel engagement. This review of programs Education Program has developed an extensive who are excluded from them. (University of Vienna) and Krishna Kumar provides evidence on the effects of a range network of Nature Clubs. In addition to being In the Asia region, in spite of the (Former Director of NCERT, Delhi) for of education interventions in LMICs.9 Analyses a focal point for environmental awareness considerable progress that has been made, their inputs. of the effectiveness of these interventions in among school and college students, the Nature there are still enormous barriers to reorientation improving children’s enrolment, attendance, Clubs engage local communities in a number of formal education to sustainability, barriers completion and learning outcomes in primary of practical conservation activities, including that cannot be addressed by the efforts of and secondary school reveal interesting studying and promoting solutions to local individual teachers or even schools, no matter Notes results. The results provide important findings environmental issues.10 how committed they might be. Effectively to inform future programs. These results As the national governments work on overcoming such barriers requires commitment 1 Spiel, C. et al. 2018. ‘The contribution demonstrate that programs can improve strategies for meeting the SDG 4 and targets by society as a whole to sustainable develop- of education to social progress’, school participation and learning outcomes by 2030, the need is there for increased use ment and social progress. Such commitment International Panel on Social Progress: Rethinking society for the 21st century. in LMICs. Programs typically improve either of evidence when deciding on education would involve facilitating democratic processes Cambridge University Press. school participation or learning outcomes, investments. To ensure inclusive and equitable that include all of society’s stakeholders 2 United Nations. 2018. Asia and the but not both. The exceptions are community- access to quality education for all, we need to work collaboratively and in partnership, Pacific SDG Progress Report 2017; based monitoring, school-feeding and to work both on generating and using more including industry, business, grassroots https://tinyurl.com/UNapsdg2017 multi-component interventions. The evidence and better evidence. organizations and members of the public, to 3 idem suggests these interventions have improved develop policies and processes which integrate 4 UNICEF. 2017. Education - UNICEF both school participation and learning social, economic, cultural, and political goals. South Asia Progress Report 2017; outcomes in some contexts, although more Concluding comments A socially progressive society will be one in https://tinyurl.com/UNsapr2017 evidence is needed to confirm this finding. Moving towards the goal of sustainability which all aspects of civic and personal life are 5 UNESCO MGIEP. 2017. Rethinking schooling for the 21st century; There is strong and consistent evidence requires fundamental changes in human compatible with sustainable development and https://tinyurl.com/UNrs212017 that cash transfer programs have relatively attitudes and behavior. Progress in this all government departments work together 6 Pereira, J. D. 2016. ‘Equity, access large positive effects on school participation direction is thus critically dependent on to advance such a society towards progress. and educational quality in three outcomes, while structured pedagogy education and public awareness. The key The role of formal education in building society south-East Asian countries’, The Head programs have the largest and most consistent to sustainable, self-reliant development is is to help students to determine what is best Foundation, accessed 25 June 2018; positive effects on learning outcomes. Children education – education that reaches out to all to conserve in their cultural, economic and https://tinyurl.com/linkjdp face multiple barriers to school participation members of society through new modalities natural heritage and to nurture values and 7 Ordonez, V. & Maclean, R. 2000. and learning. Educational programs may be and new technologies in order to provide strategies for attaining sustainability in their ‘Education in Asia: some current issues, more effective if the design is informed by genuine lifelong learning opportunities for local communities while contributing at the concerns and prospects’, Prospects an analysis of the main barriers to improved all. Therefore for social progress, all countries same time to national and global goals. XXX(3). 8 Snilstveit, B. et al. 2016. The impact of outcomes in a particular context, including need to reshape education so as to promote Another major area of structural reform education programmes on learning the capacity of other parts of the school economic, civic, humanistic, and equity is the development of new ways to assess the and school participation in low- and system closely linked to an intervention. promotion goals conducive to a culture processes and outcomes of learning. Such middle-income countries: a systematic Such analysis will allow new programs to of sustainability. Promoting sustainable reform may be inspired by what people want review summary report, Systematic target the main constraints and therefore development, whose close interrelationship from their educational system, as well as Review Summary 7. London: International achieve better outcomes. We need more with democracy and peace is increasingly what society needs. Learning needs to be Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie); studies of programs that target teachers, recognized, is one of the key challenges of seen as a life-wide process that empowers https://tinyurl.com/3ieImpact2016 studies that use more rigorous designs to our time; and education in all its forms is vital people to live useful and productive lives. 9 idem assess the effects of intervention, target to addressing it successfully. The reorientation of education along these 10 https://tinyurl.com/rspnbhutanenviron 11 https://tinyurl.com/UNBhutanAssess different sub-group or populations, as Reorienting education to sustainability lines – and in anticipation to the extent possible 12 UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) and well as studies of process, implementation requires recognizing that traditional com- of future needs – is fundamental for sustainable UNICEF. 2015. Fixing the Broken Promise of and costs. partments and categories can no longer development, including its ultimate objective Education for All. Findings from the Global The pursuit of sustainable development remain in isolation from each other and that not only of human survival but especially of Initiative on Out-of-School Children; and environmental conservation policies, we must work increasingly at the interface human well-being and happiness. Similarly, http://dx.doi.org/10.15220/978-92-9189- objectives and targets requires the public of disciplines in order to address the complex there also needs to be a revamping of 161-0-en 40 A collective and interdisciplinary The Focus analysis of social progress

Rohingya Camp in Cox's Bazar. Reproduced under a CC license courtesy of Mohammad Tauheed on Flickr. religious groups, state forces and post-colonial however, there are on-the-ground initiatives critics who feel that attempts to change where faith-inspired actors engage actively for religion (even if through religious law) reeks of social change and progress. Much of this work colonial practices and privileges a top-down involves attempting to advance development approach to change, that seldom serves the goals as well as through inter-faith dialogue target population effectively.10 Such attempts and religious peacebuilding. Some notable to change ‘religious’ ideas are thus labelled as organizations in Asia engaged in religious ‘modernist’ and are consequently discredited peacebuilding are Mindanao Peacebuilding as privileging modern notions of the individual Institute Foundation,16 CARITAS, World Vision good over more traditional ideas of individuals and the Mennonite Christian Commission. in collectivities. Groups such as Musawah In the Middle East, where religious values have disavow the allegations to argue that their exacerbated political and territorial conflicts, claims are very much grounded in the everyday there are attempts to mobilize religious values realities of women for whom religious customs to broker peace by groups such as the Iraq Inter- and laws exert tenacious pressures that are Religious Congress, Jerusalem Peacemakers, difficult to overcome without a concerted effort. the Mosque Protection Committee in Palestine Groups such as Musawah argue that their work and Oz’V Shalom/Netovot Shalom in Israel. constitutes that very effort.11 Many of these groups argue for ‘religiorelative’ In situations of more pronounced conflict values over ‘religiocentric’ ones.17 A change will religion intersects with identity politics even require broad-based religious literacy as well more intensely, giving rise to debates around as less of a divide between the religious and citizenship, and causing displacement and even secular worlds. genocide. Violence entwined with religion is In Asia, amidst the tide that brings in rapid neither exclusively an Asian phenomenon, nor economic changes on the one hand, and unique to any religion in particular. In fact, the ethno-religious conflicts and marginalization Religion and social symbolic or physical deployment of violence has on the other, perhaps a redefinition of been present in all religions and across many secular modernity as it morphs under current historical periods. A recent case in point is the global conditions of millennial capitalism, plight of the Rohingya, where conflicts over a re-evaluation of secular dispensations flourishing in Asia resources and power are deeply intertwined with through legal frameworks and constitutionalism, conflicts over values and identity, leading to and a bringing together of religious as well the forced displacement of very large numbers secular communities, may prove productive in of Muslim Rohingya.12 This crisis of citizenship revitalizing religion and placing it in a dynamic Samia Huq The existence of multiple religions and is rooted in partition realities after the British conversation with the various contours, left the Indian subcontinent, in the military approaches and complexities that underlie expressions of faith make Asia a colourful and who has systematically privileged a Burman the meanings of social progress in the complex religio-cultural entity. Asia Pacific nationalism, in the failed post-colonial attempt 21st century. is the world region with the most religious at democracy, and in the country’s economic interests as it opens its doors to the external Samia Huq Associate Professor diversity.1 Its breadth of religious forms is world. In addition to the existing humanitarian of Anthropology, Department crisis, it is feared that one of the fall outs of of Economics and Social Sciences, matched by an expansive geographical Myanmar’s tyranny against the Rohingya could BRAC University, Dhaka landmass. Accompanying the territorial be the intensification of groups such as Arsa, with their increased links to other transnational stretch are the histories of communities, travel, groups such as Al-Qaida and ISIS.13 Notes exchanges, the struggles for independence Religion’s use of violence to resist state encroachment spans across Asia, from the 1 https://tinyurl.com/diplodivers from colonialism, and more recently the 2 For a longer discussion of how religion Middle East to China. Much of this violence, may be defined in relation to social economic growth and possibilities that shape which causes ethno-religious marginalization, progress, see Davie, et al., 2018: ‘Religion the contours of this continent. Considering can also be attributed to deep-rooted and social progress: Critical assessments cultural clefts. In 2015 in Aceh Indonesia, and creative partnerships’, Rethinking the wide array of issues, and for the purposes Muslim opponents threatened to burn down Society for the 21st century vol. 3. churches, which they alleged were operating Cambridge University Press. of brevity, I will restrict my discussion to a without permits, resulting in the shutting 3 See Asad, T. 2003. Formations of the few exemplary events that are entangled with down of many churches. While incidents secular: Christianity, Islam, modernity. such as these are fuelled by Islamist politics, Stanford University Press. 4 https://tinyurl.com/hrwage social progress in a way that brings to the there are also deeper cultural clefts once 5 https://tinyurl.com/bdnage forefront the relationship between religion fostered by colonial processes that still plague 6 For a discussion of religion’s relationship and individual and societal flourishing.2 the imaginary of religious communities. with early marriage, see Karam, A. 2015. In Indonesia, Dutch officials wielded their ‘Faith-Inspired Initiatives to Tackle the secular authority to demarcate areas Social Determinants of Child Marriage’, according to religion. Therefore, the presence The Review of Faith and International eligion is ever changing; it lives in Muslim adolescent girls, on the other. Studies of churches outside their ‘appropriate location’ Affairs; https://tinyurl.com/tandfage everyday life and is so embroiled in state, show that practices of child marriage, more incites a sense of righteous indignation. 7 See Khalid, S. 22 August 2017. ‘What national and transnational politics that prevalent in Asia (and parts of Africa) than In many of these places, ‘religious’ violence is Triple Talaq or Instant Divorce?’, R Aljazeera, https://tinyurl.com/aljdivorce the ‘religious’ cannot be parsed out from the other places, causes an education-lag for is entangled with questions of religious 8 http://www.majlislaw.com ‘secular’ in any meaningful manner. These women, thereby stifling their decision-making diversity and rights to religious freedom. 9 http://www.musawah.org imbrications do not suggest that the religious and political potential, and increasing poverty Studies suggest that in addition to colonial 10 For a critique of groups such as and the secular are indistinguishable, but through frequent child birth, poor reproductive legacies and enduring cultural clefts, the Musawah, see Abu-Lughod, L. 2015. rather that both are products of (state) practices and bad health in general. While modalities of dispensing religious freedom Do Muslim women need saving? regulation that produces what we understand many kinds of religious norms have a bearing are also important for an assessment of how Harvard University Press. to be in the realm of the religious and the on early marriage, Muslim customs have a ‘religious’ violence is incited under modern-day 11 For a discussion of the Global Lifestories secular.3 Thus when an event explodes as special relevance given the fact that family conditions, much of which is framed by the Project that grounds Musawah’s work religious, there are many kinds of energies that laws enfold all decisions and negotiations self-professed values of a secular modernity. not in some abstract modernist approach, fuel it, inciting different reactions from actors related to marriage. The resulting tenacity Whether in India or Egypt, modalities and but in the everyday lived realities of Muslim Women across the Muslim world, who are inspired by faith, as well as those who of norms that promote early marriage, thus, legalities around religious diversity and see http://www.musawah.org/global-life- are not. Each event, thus, has different roots, require various levels of intervention, including freedoms are political questions, not only stories-website different affective attachments and different those that speak to religious/Muslim family because of the law’s failure in becoming 12 For a review of the current Rohingya crisis, kinds of solutions brought to it. law, social practices and customs that operate partisan to religious politics, but through the see Abdelkader, E. 2017. ‘The History of In 2017, the ‘secular’ Bangladesh on a certain authority as ‘religious’.6 This, manner in which the law has thrived through the Persecution of Myanmar’s Rohingya’, government lowered the minimum age of however, is no easy task; bringing changes the legal discourse of secularism. Scholars The Conversation, 21 September 2017; marriage for girls from 18 to 16, supposedly to to family laws, especially on women’s issues, have argued that the destruction of the Babri https://tinyurl.com/conrohin save girls who choose to marry early from the touch the nerves of too many people, with Masjid mosque in India, because it stood on the 13 See Edroos, F. 13 September 2017. ‘Who disrepute caused by elopement.4 Much of the too many histories. Hindu God Ram’s birthplace, served the Hindu are the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army’, ensuing uproar alleged that the government Another recent case in India, involving legal right through secular tenets of tolerance and Aljazeera, https://tinyurl.com/aljrohin 14 14 For a discussion of how the law ended was pandering to Islamist forces, thereby reform to ban the Muslim triple Talaq (divorce right to religious freedom. Others also argue up serving Hindu majoritarianism, allowing a Muslim majoritarianism to rise in after the triple pronouncement of divorce by that religious majoritarianism is not carried see Kapur, R. 2014. ‘“The Ayodhya Case” 5 an otherwise self-avowed secular country. the husband) bears testimony to the politics, in forward by the religious right exclusively, but Hindu Majoritarianism and the Right to Religious majoritarianism is not unique to this case of a Hindu majoritarianism, that legal in how they are placed either within secular law Religious Freedom’, Maryland Journal Asia, however, the way in which it feeds into reform carries in its wings.7 However, just as or in political systems governed by autocratic of International Law 29(1), article 14; gender politics is quite unique to certain parts secular and religious forces globally are active regimes.15 In explaining the conflicts between https://tinyurl.com/mjil14 of Asia where domestic decisions are governed in reducing human suffering and promoting Coptic Christians and Muslims in Egypt, Saba 15 Fox, J. 2000. ‘Is Islam more conflict by religious law. Colonialism, which coded human rights and (gender) justice vis a vis early Mahmood writes, “secular governance has prone than other religions? Cross- personal laws, left a legacy of ossified edicts marriage, there are also groups in Asia who contributed to the exacerbation of religious sectional study of ethnoreligious conflict’, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics 6(2):1-24. that continue to pass in religion’s name. The work on bringing about changes in religious, tensions … hardening interfaith boundaries 16 https://www.mpiasia.net legitimacy or the lack thereof to the idea of family law. Notable amongst these are Majlis and polarizing religious differences”. 17 For the place of religion in the Israel- 8 9 ‘child marriage’, is thus linked to the validity in India, and Musawah in Malaysia. However, Digging through many layers of political Palestine conflict, see The British of colonial/religious laws on the one hand and their encroachment into the ‘religious’ realm also and cultural history to ascertain the role Academy. 2015. The Role of Religion the effects of the politics of legal formulation means that many obstacles are placed in their that religion, politics, and violence play for in Conflict and Peacebuilding; and reformulation on the lives of young way, ranging from objections from conservative social progress in Asia, may be discouraging, https://tinyurl.com/bapeace The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 41 The Adspace

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Becoming a scholar in Cambodia: After much discussion, I was eventually PhD in Paris, work admitted, but the teachers remained Struggles and ambitions sceptical. Fortunately enough, classes in Cambodia were very irregular due to frequent strikes, My wish to pursue a PhD in Sanskrit and this opened an unexpected opportunity epigraphy became a reality in 2009, when Kunthea Chhom to study Sanskrit outside the classroom Prof. Gerschheimer at the École Pratique in a most effective way (more below). des Hautes Etudes in Paris, and in charge of Secondly, due to the strikes, I couldn’t the project ‘Corpus des inscriptions khmères’ collect my monthly ICCR stipends, which project, accepted me as his PhD student. involved three consecutive cheques Unfortunately, health issues prevented him uch of the literature about ‘Angkor’ attending class and in the afternoon between different offices (always a from directly supervising my research for has been produced by foreign receiving private lessons. In 1994, I passed time-consuming process – so much time many years. Finally, at my request, my case Mscholars. Academically well educated, the high school entrance exams. That year, was lost, but so much patience gained). was transferred to Prof. Dominic Goodall, yet some of their analyses may lack a the failure rate was extremely high (over 85%) I only survived thanks to the extra in charge of the Pondicherry Centre (India) valuable local perspective that could be due to anti-corruption (exam) reforms. I took CKS grant. of the École française d'Extrême-Orient. provided by home-grown scholars. With this the national baccalaureate exam in 1997, While classes were suspended, I looked Working together intensively, I was ready article, I aim to draw attention to the position that year delayed due to the 5-6 July for other ways to learn what I had come for my defence in December 2016. of (aspiring) scholars in Cambodia and invite ‘coup-d’état’. Next, I passed the entrance for. I was again aided by Prof. Sahai, who After my PhD, I returned to Cambodia early readers interested in my field of research exams of the French (1997) and English introduced me to master Chandrashekhar 1997, where befell me the great honour of a to contact me. (1999) departments of the Royal University Mishra, known widely as ‘Guru Ji’ in his Royal Audience in Phnom Penh. His Majesty of Phnom Penh. Admission to the Department town Gaya, where he ran a Sanskrit school, the King congratulated me for my perseverance I am a full-time researcher with the of English was especially competitive, with called ‘Samskrit Vidyapitha’ (‘Seat of Sanskrit and expressed His generous support for my Apsara Authority in Siem Reap (responsible only 100 scholarships for 3000 candidates. knowledge’). Guru Ji was happy to have life mission of ‘Sanskrit study and research’. for the protection of the Angkor World I was introduced to Sanskrit and epigraphy a disciple from Cambodia, but he had one Today, next to my work with the Apsara Heritage site, Ed), specialised in Cambodian during my BA in French (majoring in condition: “Don’t ever ask me to teach Authority, I teach Sanskrit to a group of high and Southeast Asian Epigraphy. Earlier this Linguistics). So moved by the language, according to the syllabus of the university. school teachers and monks, paying particular year, I spent three months at the International I asked my teacher, Prof. Sylvain Vogel, You are here to learn what is to be learned”. attention to Sanskrit loanwords in the Khmer Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) with a grant to continue to teach me after graduation Now, I was learning Sanskrit the traditional language, both at the Royal University of from the J. Gonda Foundation to work on (in both fields). The informal classes continued way, counting to and from one hundred in Fine Arts in Phnom Penh and Wat Reach Bo a chapter of my thesis, focusing on Sanskrit right up to my departure to India in 2005, Sanskrit and Hindi, memorising proverbs and Buddhist High School in Siem Reap. elements in the Old Khmer language. to pursue my graduate studies there. songs. After chanting the whole morning, A discussion I had at IIAS with the staff, I copied Sanskrit essays with their Hindi about what it takes to become a humanities renderings and, after class, participated in Looking into the future scholar in Cambodia, led to this article. MA in India, work the Śri Durgā Pūjā (Worship of the Goddess Whenever I am in Phnom Penh, I try to Even I, raised in Phnom Penh in somewhat Durgā). I also joined an intensive Sanskrit organise meetings between Cambodian privileged circumstances, would not have in Cambodia speaking course at a Hindu temple that epigraphists. It is my further ambition to been able to arrive where I am now without In 2004, I took part in a conference made us speak and dream in the language, create an international ‘Epigraphy Club of the special help that came my way. I share organised by the Center for Khmer Study allowing only Sanskrit and body language. Cambodia’ that can link Cambodian and my story, both to draw attention to the (CKS) in Siem Reap to raise awareness for To further improve my Hindi, I promptly foreign researchers, holding regular meetings position of scholars in Cambodia and to my the urgent need to train a Cambodian accepted Binod Babu’s generous offer to between them. Such meetings, I believe, are burgeoning initiative to bring Cambodian generation of Sanskritists. In my talk, come live with his family. His wife, a teacher essential in helping reduce misunderstanding and international scholars into contact with I expressed my wish to study in India. CKS of Hindi, volunteered to answer all my and even antagonism between both groups. each other in an international 'Epigraphy Director Philippe Peycam (now IIAS Director) questions and correct my pronunciation. The idea of some local researchers that ‘foreign Club of Cambodia'. promptly took me on his motorbike, riding By the time the university was functional scientists lack local knowledge’ may be true, along the enclosure wall of Ta Prohm Temple, again, I had caught up with my classmates. but at the same time, some of the same local which he knew was being visited by then Aiming to excel, not just for myself but also researchers should also improve their academic Cambodia Indian Ambassador H.E. Pradeep Kapur, who out of respect for Guru Ji, I worked twice as skills, and have the means to do so. Much ink has flowed writing about the might help with a scholarship. It worked, and hard and challenged myself not to cheat in When the ‘Epigraphy Club’ grows and Khmer Rouge Regime in Cambodia. Yet, the with the intervention of Professor S. Sahai, the exams, as so many students did. As a gains recognition on an international level, state of education during its aftermath has former Vice-Chancellor of Magadh University result, I graduated top of my class, making I intend to organise international seminars gained little attention. The Khmer Rouge in Bodh Gaya, India, I was admitted to Guru Ji proud, to whom by Guru-śis.ya and conferences. I hope that my initiative will regime (1975-1979) devastated the education the MA in Sanskrit with a scholarship from relation I was his daughter. He told me to entice you to contact me and will be met with system, and the study of Sanskrit and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations be patient about the 'Gold Medal' I won encouragement from the Royal Government of epigraphy, which had only just begun to take (ICCR, Government of India). with this; he had to wait (and ask) 27 years Cambodia, not only for epigraphic research but shape, was abandoned entirely. It should be In Bodh Gaya, I was at the same time before he got his! also for research, and researchers, in general. noted here that, after the fall of the Angkor amazed and ‘shaken’ by this ‘diversity- After graduation, I started working Empire in the 14th century, Sanskrit ceased in-unity’ country. Immediately, I faced in Siem Reap for the Apsara Authority, Kunthea Chhom to be used in Cambodian epigraphy, thereby two problems. Firstly, my admission responsible for the protection of the Angkor is a researcher with the Apsara Authority (Siem Reap, largely obscuring Sanskrit culture, although was questioned by the acting Head of World Heritage site. I chose to work in Siem Cambodia). From 2014-2018 she was Sanskrit loanwords have continued to be used the Department of Sanskrit; according Reap because of the presence in this region also the director of the Preah Norodom in the Khmer language as evidenced from to regulations, a BA in Sanskrit was of the numerous stone inscriptions from Sihanouk-Angkor Museum in Siem Reap. written documents, inscriptions and palm- required, which I did not have. I was the Khmer empire, more than half of [email protected]; leave manuscripts. Sanskrit was only offered asked to change studies but persisted. which in Sanskrit. www.iias.asia/profile/kunthea-chhom again as a field of studies from the beginning of the 20th century, mainly to Buddhist monks, to be abandoned again in the 1970s. Sanskrit was re-introduced in the 1980s at Buddhist schools and Sihanoukreach Buddhist University and public universities such as the Royal University of Fine Arts and the Royal University of Phnom Penh. However, without considerable support from the government – giving priority to more ‘urgent’ fields – for such a highly specialised area (and, more generally speaking, the Humanities) it is often quite impossible for scholars in these areas o succeed. Some children born in the 1980s were lucky enough to receive education from primary school through to a university bachelor level, but they still had to go abroad for postgraduate training, with only a few master's courses available in Cambodia itself. No doubt, in Cambodia, they were exposed to a relatively poor classroom experience, both materially and intellectually. Recall that many intellectuals had fallen victim to the 1975-1978 genocide; it took an enormous effort, repairing buildings and rewriting textbooks (often 'enriched' with communist ideologies). I was one of the fortunate children to enjoy the above-mentioned communist- oriented education, while many others, especially those in the Khmer Rouge autonomous zone, hid under their houses instead of going to school. In war-torn Cambodia, I went to school, in the morning Kunthea Chhom and other researchers working on a problematic inscription at the National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 Displacement in New approaches for the study 43 South Asia of residential segregation in India Report The Network

Mapping, sensing, moving: Workshop Spatial methods for divided Leiden University landscapes 14 June 2018

Sanderien Verstappen

Pablo Holwitt argued that residential s Indian cities, towns, and villages segregation is motivated by attempts to are transformed by shifting patterns order and homogenise everyday experiences Aof residential segregation, researchers and to keep potentially unsettling sense- addressing these transformations are worlds at bay. Given the relevance of confronted with violent histories, contended acoustic, visual and olfactory phenomena narratives, stereotypes, and with delicate in studies on communal violence and research challenges of method, conceptual- ethno-religious enclaves – manifested in isation, and ethics. These challenges were debates about noise pollution or the presence discussed during a workshop on New of non-vegetarian food – how can sensory approaches for the study of residential methods be used to study these sensorial segregation in India at IIAS on 14 June 2018, dimensions further? Pablo discussed several with participation from Raheel Dhattiwala Workshop in the IIAS lecture room. methods of sensory anthropology – e.g. (University of Amsterdam), Pablo Holwitt sensewalks, sensory diaries, listening sessions (Leipzig University), Radhika Gupta, Ajay and Muslims after Independence. Given for-granted categories. Second, attendance – to assess their applicability in studies of Gandhi, Cristiana Strava, and Sanderien the violent imposition of the ‘Hindu-Muslim’ to everyday life in all its complexity and residential segregation. The discussion raised Verstappen (Leiden University). This workshop binary in the past and its high currency in fluidity enables attendance to the way in further questions about how to address the was part of a two-day conference Modalities contemporary politics, with the categories of which the Hindu-Muslim binary appears fragility of regulatory attempts, and how to of Displacement in South Asia (14-15 June) in the ‘Hindu’ and the ‘Muslim’ being inscribed and disappears as one of multiple modes engage shared dispositions towards noise the framework of the Leiden University project onto a range of urban and rural spaces, of differentiation – this draws attention to and smell. ‘Postcolonial Displacement’, which is the scholarship into these matters requires a ambiguous moments of unpredictability and My research demonstrates how mobile subject of the second article on this page. careful handling of the ethics of academic instability, to the unfinished character of methods can provide much-needed spatial representation, and a particularly critical boundary-making, and to connections that contextualisation in research on residential consideration of the concepts and categories persist despite the politics of division. During segregation. Mobile research offers a powerful Beyond implicit assumptions through which interlocutors are addressed. the workshop, we explored the potential of way of studying everyday practices of In India, the Anglo-American phrases Is it possible to speak about a politics of spatial methods to engage more closely with differentiation as well as connection. How do of the ‘ghetto’ – to refer to the clustering of separation without reiterating its premises? these everyday experiences. We considered people move in and out of different spaces? Muslims in the urban peripheries - and the How can we study, instead of assume, the three methodologies of space: cognitive How do they give names to objects and ‘gated community’ – to talk about class- relations between spatial reorganisation, mapping, sensory exposure, and mobile people encountered along the way? How do based forms of segregation in the city – social-cultural differentiation, and political ethnography. they change their demeanour, adjust clothes, have found their way into the vocabulary of polarisation? These questions were the express feelings? Experiences of anxiety and many people. These words signal deepening starting point for the workshop New familiarity that come within the scope of the patterns of residential segregation, which approaches for the study of residential Mapping, sensing, moving research in this manner do not map neatly alter and sometimes replace older modes of segregation in India, to discuss the conceptual In her presentation, Raheel Dhattiwala onto the ‘Hindu-Muslim’ dichotomy, thus residential clustering based on occupation/ and methodological challenges of studying explained how she uses ‘sketch maps’ as a bringing to the surface a wider set of divisions caste, language, and regional identity. residential segregation in India, and to participant-empowered mode of visual data and connections that matter to the residents. These processes are related with unequal look critically at implicit assumptions that generation in riot-affected neighbourhoods distribution of resources and services, gradual may otherwise remain unquestioned. The in Ahmedabad.2 Provided with a blank paper processes of discrimination on the housing discussion stemmed from a desire to move and pen, residents were asked to sketch a line Discussion market, and exclusive visions of city-making, beyond the ‘ghetto effect’ in urban research to link their own house with the house of their How can researchers address a politics of and with dramatic episodes of expulsion – following Radhika Gupta’s provocative ‘favourite neighbour’. This method of mapping separation without reiterating its premises? in the form of communal violence, slum argument that a ‘ghetto effect’ is co-produced eased the tension of doing research in a Spatial methods are no comprehensive removal, and displacement. and even exacerbated by the research methods violence-affected neighbourhood, because answer to this question – reflection on the While debates about residential used by anthropologists.1 The ‘ghetto effect’ the focus of the interlocutors moved away researcher’s positionality and scrutiny into segregation in American and European appears when researchers and/or interlocutors from the researcher, whose position of ‘insider’ the historicity of cultural categories remain literature stem from concerns about race and subconsciously apply internalized stereotypes or ‘outsider’ was a source of concern for the a condition for critical scholarship. Still, the class inequalities that become expressed of the ‘other’ that express and perpetuate power residents. Mapping also became a valuable methods of mapping, sensing, and moving and aggravated through spatial modes relations, and that structures interactions with alternative to conventional interview methods. constitute practical tools and techniques that of exclusion, a South Asian perspective on the ‘other’. When this happens, the risk is that While interviews and focus group sessions can contribute new insights into multi-layered residential segregation demands engagement the research reproduces rather than scrutinises reveal norms of ‘neighbourliness’, cognitive experiences, overlapping understandings, and with the regional history of ‘Partition’ – the stereotypes. maps help to cross-verify these generic competing narratives that exist in Indian cities separation of India and Pakistan on the basis Broadly, two research strategies are responses and to capture in a more concrete and towns, while also forwarding insights into of the idea that a separate homeland was available to escape such implicit assumptions. way how residents perceive of abstract abstract notions of neighbourliness, spatial required to guarantee safety for both Hindus First, history is a way to de-naturalise taken- notions of neighbourliness and proximity. regulation, and navigation.

Places and pedagogies: makes us rethink the fixities and tenuousness the Institute of Cultural Anthropology and of ‘place’ itself as a frame, raising questions Development Sociology (CA-DS), and the rethinking Area Studies through about notions of place and loss, practice International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) and labour, temporality and spectrality. at Leiden University, the Netherlands. ‘Postcolonial Displacements’ The displacement of large numbers of people is a central feature of the rapid economic Erik de Maaker Institute of Cultural expansion that characterizes contemporary Anthropology and Development Erik de Maaker, Sanjukta Sunderason and Sanderien Verstappen South Asia. Rooted in violent processes Sociology, Leiden University. of state formation, including partition, militarization, and the repression of regional Sanjukta Sunderason Leiden Institute for Area Studies (LIAS). secessionist movements, South Asia’s modern he project ‘Postcolonial Displacements’ Verstappen (LIAS/IIAS), have been working polities are actively consolidating and Sanderien Verstappen postdoctoral has been running at Leiden University with approaches that are drawn from incorporating erstwhile economically and researcher in the Anthropology of Tsince 2015, funded by the (Leiden) Asian regionally rooted theories and knowledges politically marginal spaces. These processes Modern South Asia at Leiden University Modernities and Traditions fund (AMT), with – not to withdraw into provincialism, of consolidation have been accompanied (LIAS), and fellow at the International an aim to re-imagine research and pedagogies but instead to nurture wider transnational by religious nationalisms and ethnic identity Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), around ‘other places’ – framed as ‘Area conversations. We have been addressing politics that legitimize the ideological or [email protected] Studies’ in the university. Using the thematic urgent themes that emerge from the even physical segregation of ‘others’, of ‘displacement’, the project seeks to explore various research sites in which we work, conjoining land struggles and development new entries into institutional and pedagogical to then think from the specificities of these projects with socio-cultural contestations Notes negotiations at the university around subjects positions about conceptual, disciplinary, around home and belonging. To interrogate and scopes, interdisciplinarity, and theoretical and methodological questions. these complexities, the project stimulates 1 Gupta, R. 2015. ‘There must be some way orientations. The conference Modalities of Displacement conversations across disciplines and out of here: Beyond a spatial conception in South Asia, held in Leiden in June 2018 and institutes to initiate new understandings of Muslim ghettoization in Mumbai?’ Ethnography 16(3):352–370. We, the project coordinators, Erik de the course Displacement and Development: about ‘displacement’ in its multiple vectors, 2 Dhattiwala, R. 2017. ‘Mapping the self: Maaker (Institute of Cultural Anthropology Anthropological Perspectives on South Asia, modalities and possibilities. challenges of insider research in a riot- and Development Sociology), Sanjukta running since Autumn 2017, are pilot projects The conference was supported by the affected city and strategies to improve Sunderason (Leiden Institute for Area Studies, for developing this thematic approach. Asian Modernities and Traditions fund (AMT), data quality’, Contemporary South Asia LIAS) and project research fellow, Sanderien The critical thematic of ‘Displacement’ the Leiden Institute for Area Studies (LIAS), 25(1):7-22. 44 Collaborative Understanding a lived city The Network Report teaching in a foreign country

Collaborative Collaborative teaching teaching program Ambedkar University between cultures and fields Delhi, Fudan University, and the Curation of the photo exhibition ‘Dilliwale’ in Shanghai IIAS ‘Humanities across Borders’ Xiaomei Zhao and Surajit Sarkar program (HaB). 9-13 April, 2018

Scene 1 Teaching between cultures Scene 2 Teaching between fields Surajit Sarkar Xiaomei Zhao

It was during a walk with two dozen students ‘Dilliwala’ is the common name for a person from through a lilong in the French concession in Delhi. In plural, it becomes 'Dilli-wale'. We use Shanghai that I learnt that Lu Xun had lived in such the plural form to indicate the different stories a neighborhood. It reminded me of my teaching of the people in Delhi. That’s what this exhibition past in another milieu, when Lu Xun’s writing ‘Dilliwala: Dilliwale through the lens’ is about. on education suggested a way of looking at teaching-learning in a primary schoolroom The curation of the exhibition was a task for the in rural Central India. students. The instructors presented the exhibition photos in groups according to where they were The old buildings of the lilong, nestled together, taken. However, the students, more interested human scale and friendly looking, were visually just in people’s lives and stories rather than physical a hiccup between the high-rises. It was then that spaces, did not accept this framework. Gladly a question put forward by a student earlier that respecting the students’ perspectives, the final week came back, “How are we, living in Shanghai, outcome was an exhibition of the lived experiences supposed to make sense of Delhi? We have never of the people in Delhi, and how they accommodate even seen the place?” Which begged the question, themselves in this fast-changing city. The students’ “How will I as a first time visitor to Shanghai make interpretation was a pleasant surprise to me, sense of what I am seeing in the lilong?” a researcher on architectural history.

he photos of Delhi, on display from 25 May to 9 September 2018 at Fudan TUniversity Museum in Shanghai, were collected from local neighborhoods by the Center for Community Knowledge (CCK) at Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD); the photo exhibition was curated by the junior students from the Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology, Fudan University (FDU). It was the outcome of a collaborative teaching program between the two institutes in India and China, funded by FDU and the ‘Humanities across Borders’ (HaB) program of IIAS, Leiden.

Teaching about urban space between cultures and fields The current exercise was to develop a method of looking at ‘urban space’ through Top left: Workshop interpreting the photos (photo by Xiaomei Zhao, 2018). Top right: Students tour the exhibition (photo by Xiaomei Zhao, 2018). the curation of a photo exhibition, allowing Below: Students on the neighborhood walk (photo by Surajit Sarkar, 2018). students to develop an understanding of The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 45 Report The Network

a lived city in a foreign country, along with its exercise, would help in reading the photographs. historical pasts. The students would develop The first exercise for the students would be to a narrative, highlighting an alternative view make a presentation on Urbanization, Heritage of the lived city that challenges the dominant and Everyday Life. This would lead to describing narratives in the production of urban space. Delhi through the typology of its built urban This exercise, to visually communicate the environment – both through history and story of a city and its people, has rhetoric at habitat. A subsequent workshop to describe its heart, and students learn how to develop the photographs, would help draw connections an imagination required for logical and between tangible and lived heritage. It would reasoned arguments. also bring the cross-national element in by The challenge of collaborative teaching developing a comparative look at urban spaces lies in two perspectives: firstly, the Chinese and transformations from a lived perspective. students acting as curators have never been The second exercise involved ‘Developing to the city of Delhi where all the photos were Visual Literacy’: knowing how to decipher a taken; secondly, the students major in photograph. This encourages slowing down and museology and lack the knowledge of urban paying attention, and demands that students studies. Nevertheless, these challenges are step back from the hyper cultures of the internet potential strengths. In addition, the students age, to look closely, observe and engage. Visual have the empathy of the audience, who literacy is about understanding what we see are Shanghai residents, unlikely to have with our eyes, our minds, and our hearts. This visited India, yet interested in India’s history process began by describing the photographs Above: Indian henna tattoos to and culture. To convert the challenges into of Delhi from 1880 to 1980, focusing on the built visitors (photo by Xiaomei Zhao, 2018). strengths, the collaborative teaching combines environment, objects, other tangible worlds Right: Banner of the exhibition different teaching methods such as lectures, and intangible memory, lived histories and on campus (photo by Xiaomei Zhao, 2018). workshops and city walks, provided by experiences. Finding and deciphering visual instructors from India and China in the fields clues, and recognizing the visual elements of community studies, architectural history, in these images, was central to the exercise. landscape, museology and anthropology. Borrowing from urban visual ethnography, we Keeping this in mind, the urban space was started by discussing the photos that portrayed presented from the perspective of public space everyday life in the last century. Guided by analysis, which shows multiple imaginations specific sets of questions, ranging from Food, and representations of space. This includes Clothing, Housing, Water and Land, the within it non-discursive forms of meaning- photographs emerged as reading guides for the making, like language and images, but also city. These at times even entered the intangible emotion. Both are integral to inventing and world, of Memories and Experiences, Stories, composing, and there is a connectedness Urban Legends and Local Myths. the many ways in which people adapt their Conclusion between cognitive processes and development, After it was decided to include a walk as everyday lives due to rapid changes of society With the increasing popularity of global and production, as well as imagination. In this part of the workshop, we needed to select the and the city around them. At times they don’t studies and world history, it makes sense way, the teaching process attempted to draw a appropriate location. A neighborhood in the just cope, they in fact lead the ever-changing to emphasize the unique role that cities play. balance between representing the city formally old city, which is encircled by rapid change, trends, as shown in the first three units. The As urban studies today direct the analytic and informally; between a conventional urban was chosen. The preserved historic sites are left fourth and fifth units reflected the need to sing gaze beyond Euro-America, to cities at the heritage pre-occupation with recovering the standing in the middle of surrounding high-rise for the pleasure in everyday life; they showed edge of the western world that were once past and appropriating the present; and using buildings; the remaining residents, who are games in diverse urban places, and festivals ‘off the map’, it examines the interconnections oral interviews of memory and experience to mostly older, find the encroachment to be including both the religious events and national and congruence between them. Recognizing develop a critical reflection of the present in daunting. The walk provided opportunities for memorials. The last unit compared the changes the commercial, cultural, and intellectual speculation of the future. conversations with locals, for example, when of use in the river and monumental spaces, networks grounded in cities, and capturing students discovered an organic vegetable shop as a space of reflection. The epilogue was their expressions in everyday life, brings on the street, whose owner lived elsewhere and a summary of the stories of the people living together photography and urban scholarship Collaboration objectives invited them to meet at a less busy hour. During in Delhi and Shanghai, reminding the visitors to analyze the history of an uneven global the walk, the students wondered how ‘not so of their own stories in their own cities. urban fabric. – the background rich’ people could be living in buildings of quite Alongside the exhibition, other academic The process of creating ‘Dilliwale’, the photo The collaborative teaching exercise was some grandeur. They came to understand that and educative activities were ongoing, exhibition of the unfamiliar city of Delhi, by developed to help students at FDU Shanghai the old and the new in the neighborhood had including public lectures about Indian culture, students in Shanghai, none of whom had ever curate a photo exhibition of archival photo- their own story, as many of the not so rich lived visits by groups of primary school pupils, as seen Delhi, led them to discover other ways of graphs of life in Delhi in the twentieth century. in shared accommodations, which looked like well as a photo contest on India and urban looking at their own city. The process evolved The aim was to familiarize students of museo- preserved heritage properties from the outside, life. Indian henna tattoos were applied to interdisciplinary ways to look at the city – from logy with a conceptual understanding of but certainly not on the inside. the hands of those visitors who wanted to architecture, history, small trades to crafts, urbanization and people, and engage them Besides the physical buildings or urban experience more about Indian art. along with images of the city’s past made by in urban oral histories through interpretations infrastructure, the relationships between residents and local associations. In this way, of each photo and walks in their own city that residents of a neighborhood are equally the participants of the exercise, along with draw attention to processes and practices significant. Residents or families living together Inspiration visitors, discovered a way of looking at and of everyday life. in an area for a long period of time experience This collaborative teaching program inspired understanding the city that goes beyond the As part of this process, a visiting faculty a very different set of relationships than those both the students and instructors. The visiting monumental and the planned. member from AUD Delhi (Surajit Sarkar) would found in localities comprising mostly new instructor Surajit Sarkar from Delhi presented As an example of collaborative teaching accompany the collection of photographs, to residents who have little in common culturally his views through lectures about Indian history between different cultures and fields, the describe these both literally and contextually. or linguistically. Consequently, the students and culture, while he also talked of how to ‘see’ focus of the Dilliwale exhibition moved on Because Surajit was visiting Shanghai for were able to add a layer of lived experience a city you do not know. It was his first visit to from history and memory, and the politics of the first time, he had to start his explorations through oral narratives to bring about a China and his own experience of an unknown representation to what ‘counts as knowledge’ by knowing what to ask. Two sources of human-centered way of looking at the city. urban place inspired the students to imagine in humanities and beyond. Even as participants information on Shanghai are works of fiction Delhi, reading the city through the photo wondered how they would recognize and set in the city, and scholarly writings on the exhibition. Students learned how to read a city interpret the cultural differences between city. Yet the best source emerges from the city The photo exhibition through people, through their everyday lives, the two cities involved, what emerged was itself, in the form of a walk into neighborhoods, through their own eyes and experiences and the universality of the urban experience - the smallest social sphere of a city. It is here as the main outcome through the narratives of others. It is about how an articulation that was made meaningful that we can walk, touch, feel, smell, talk and The students were divided into five groups, to respect history and places, and reflect on as the Dilliwale exhibition drew on portraits hear about the spaces of human residential respectively in charge of: content, design, our own city and neighborhood. of Shanghai to describe the process of city and livelihood settlements. Consequently, products, communication and educative For example, one of the students, half making to an audience, curious about their a pre-visit discussion between the instructors activities. Inspired by the workshop and the Japanese and half Chinese, living in neighborhood, but unfamiliar with it. led to a plan to include a city walk of a city walk, the students picked up threads of Shanghai, knows the city well but had never neighborhood as a learning method, during everyday life from the photos, rather than thought about how others see his city. ‘Others’ Xiaomei Zhao Lecturer at Department which the students would escort the visiting typologies of city habitation. The students does not only refer to immigrants or visitors of Cultural Heritage and Museology, faculty and discuss what they saw. This placed the photos into six units, each of which but also people who have been living here for Fudan University, way, the streets, lanes, shops and residences gave one perspective of people’s lives in Delhi. long and who have witnessed the changes. [email protected] presented a framework for observation, in Some students had pondered, “We’ve never seen This student was so inspired by the program which the visiting faculty could learn about Delhi or India, how can we understand Delhi that he now plans to interview his family and Surajit Sarkar Associate Professor, an unfamiliar place by asking questions, without comparing with Shanghai?” Therefore ask them to tell their stories about their shared Centre for Community Knowledge while the students in turn learned what is we introduced old Shanghai photos as parallel memories and places. (CCK), Ambedkar University Delhi, worth asking, and from whom. Suddenly, stories to understand lives and lifestyles, so that We, the instructors, were also inspired by [email protected] everyone involved discovered how a quiet exhibition visitors could make sense of what they this teaching approach. It connected lectures, city street may not be so silent after all. were seeing; to help them bridge the two cities, workshops and site visits. It linked a city the two cultures, and also to show how the same where we live and a city that we have never The collaborative teaching program process of urbanization has been adapted been to. We worked together to get to know would not have been realized without the Urbanization and photo- by residents while creating a new life. each other and each other’s cities. We also support from faculties of FDU and AUD, graphs: making cross The resulting units were titled: ‘The Chair’s worked together to assemble the fragments the researchers at CCK, AUD and the Revolution’, ‘A Cobbler’s Success’, ‘When Mules of the cities in our own fields, the history, Humanities Across Borders program (HaB). Special thanks to Prof. Zhaohui Liu, cultural comparisons are Unnecessary’, ‘The Song of Ferris Wheels’, the architecture, the monuments and the Dr Saiping Ma and Dr Ding Shi from FDU, Recognizing that curating a photo exhibition ‘Celebration of Tilaka’, and ‘Spiritual Oasis for landscape, thus integrating the fragmentized Dr Aarti Kawlra and Dr Philippe Peycam requires an ability to imagine across cultures, Wanderers’. A prelude, shown ahead of the six images of the cities from different fields and from HaB. We appreciate the wonderful the faculty from both institutions believed units, displayed the history and demographic views, through the lens of different people who students who have curated the exhibition that using a hands-on, place-based learning information of the city. All units presented lived, live and will live in these great cities. and made everything possible. 46 The Moving Target A workshop on Chinese poetry The Network Report and translation

Workshop Leiden University The weird third thing 1-2 June 2018 Report on a workshop on Chinese poetry and translation

Lucas Klein and Maghiel van Crevel About halfway through ‘The Moving Target’, a workshop on Chinese poetry and translation convened by the authors of this report at Leiden University on 1–2 June 2018, Nick Admussen said he found the community represented here to be inspirational to his work as a translator, a scholar of Chinese poetry, and a thinker on and through translation. As a recent example he mentioned the Journal of Modern Literature in Chinese double (JMLC, issues 14-2 and 15-1, edited by Maghiel van Crevel), with papers presented at Lingnan University last year by several of those who had now come to Leiden. What Nick said about community echoed Eleanor Goodman’s earlier observation that her paper was inspired by an essay in which Nick digs into a mistake he made while translating a poem by Ya Shi and the ensuing correspondence with the author—who did not consider it a mistake. “Translators translate through their libraries”, Joseph Allen said after Eleanor’s paper. But it is equally true that translators translate, and scholars write, through personal relationships with one another. The topic of Chinese poetry and translation is a case in point, and the workshop reaffirmed that the community in question is, well—kind of happening right now.

discussions of the These included norms, ethics, and functions special attention to the ‘difficulty’ of this translational turn in the of translation (with functions including uses poetry and its foreign inspirations in the humanities. Second, as and effects, e.g., what happens in the target source text, as one example of the catalytic we observed at Lingnan culture), valuation (e.g., asymmetrical power effect that translations of foreign texts have University and in JMLC relations between source and target), but had on modern Chinese poetry per se, a topic last year, coupling also the all-pervading presence of gender that returns in the next section. translation with poetry issues—in what we study and how we study it, ‘Theoretics’ starts with Nick Admussen’s will trigger claims the right up to the workshop itself—and a vision of (Cornell University) proposal of embodiment size of office blocks, all translation as creative nonfiction. The latter as a concept that challenges dated yet the way from Robert offered plenty of space for the time-honored popular assumptions of objective method Frost—censored here, genre of reflection by the translator on their and linguistic interoperability as cornerstones as in Corine Tachtiris’ strategies, choices, and mood swings. of (Chinese) poetry translation. Next, Jacob astute visual summary Looking forward to the edited volume Edmond (University of Otago) asserts of the debate (fig.1), we intend to publish (Amsterdam University the (generally neglected) importance of which accompanies Press, 2019), the challenge now becomes poetic theory in the practice and the study this report—to Eliot creating sensible chapter groupings our key of translation, with reference to Russian Weinberger’s “Poetry concepts can run through. The sequence of the formalism and Bei Dao’s translations of Boris is that which is worth papers during the workshop loosely traveled Pasternak. Zhou Min (who recently obtained translating”, in his from ‘Then’ to ‘Now’ and from interlingual her PhD from the Chinese University of Nineteen Ways of to cultural translation, but the dynamic of Hong Kong) investigates the tendency for Looking at Wang Wei. the conversation gave us the conceptually translators into English to narrativize their Third, add Chinese to stimulating design for the book we were looking translations of Song-dynasty ci poetry, in the mix, and things get for—which is what we offer in this report. Of contradistinction from a widely assumed Fig.1: On poetry and translation. By Corinne Tachtiris. even better. The script course, multiple groupings of this kind could opposition of lyric and narrative poetic and its myths and have resulted from the process that started modes. Focusing on Qu Yuan, known as truths, the question of with the call for abstracts, and we claim no ‘China’s first poet’ even though his life in n this way, translation and writing about whether texts used at the imperial court in necessity or inevitability or self-evidence for the the Kingdom of Chu predates the empire, translation are even more intertextual and antiquity are at all relatable to what today’s table of contents now emerging. Nonetheless, Nicholas Morrow Williams (University of Hong Irelational than is commonly assumed, migrant workers post on social media beyond the tentative line-up for publication we drew Kong) raises the fundamental question of and our meeting bore this out. Participants the fact that both are called ‘poetry’, the up when debriefing works toward a whole word-level consistency in translation—and comprised poets, translators, and junior and stubborn, sheer specialness of the genre in that is more than the sum of its parts, and will says no. ‘Theoretics’ concludes with a paper senior scholars from PhD students to emeritus various Chinese settings, and so on. interface well with (Chinese) translation studies by Lucas Klein (University of Hong Kong) that professors affiliated with thirteen universities So the last thing we aspired to was full as well as (Chinese) literary studies. Below, complicates and reorients the authenticity in eight countries on four continents, with coverage (a scary notion at any rate). Instead, with apologies for the enumerative mode we claims that have been built into the discourse fifteen papers selected from close to forty we trusted the triptych’s ability to make us are about to enter, we introduce the papers around both the Shijing and migrant worker responses to an open call. Topics ranged visible and legible to one another and we along these lines, in three sections provisionally poetry, a discourse that contains many from a queer-feminist engagement with some worked toward establishing connections. One called ‘The Translator’s Take’, ‘Theoretics’, moments of intralingual, interlingual, and of China’s newest poetry to a philologico- crucial condition was everyone’s commitment and ‘Impact’. cultural translation. philosophical approach to some of its oldest, to submitting a full draft paper six weeks ‘The Translator’s Take’ opens with Section three, ‘Impact’, begins with Liansu from Charles Baudelaire and Paul Celan in ahead of time—and then reading everyone Jenn Marie Nunes’ (Ohio State University) Meng’s (University of Connecticut) linkage Chinese to the Song-dynasty lyric in English else’s full draft paper at some point in those unconventional renditions of poetry by Yu of Chen Jingrong’s influential translations —and yet all became part of one ongoing, six weeks. Thus, presentations were brief, Xiuhua, who catapulted to fame when her of Baudelaire to Chen’s development of her expanding conversation. with authors just summarizing key points, blog went viral in 2014—and an elaboration of own eco-feminist poetics in the mid-twentieth responding to initial written comments from Jenn’s queer-feminist translational approach. century. Another debt owed to translation So how does this hang together? Of course, the conveners, and saying what they would This is followed by poet and translator Eleanor comes to the fore in Chris Song’s (Lingnan we could have chosen to tread safer ground like to get feedback on. This then led up to Goodman’s activist perspective on the work University) discussion of the Chinese- than the vast, fissured spaces offered by the the real gig, meaning extensive discussion of of poetry and of translation, noting that language debut of American modernist poetry triptych of poetry + translation + Chinese. For each paper based on the prep work done by literary translation does many things, from in Hong Kong and its effect on the local poetry instance, by limiting ourselves to a subgenre, the other workshoppers—and, increasingly as enabling the practice of comparative literary scene, from the early years of the Cold War a historical period, or the good old question we went along, the exploration of connections studies to the representation outside China of era onward. The postwar Taiwanese poetry of how to reconcile the phenomenon of poetic between the papers. poetry by Chinese migrant workers in today’s scene is a prime example of the fact that form with the arbitrariness of the sign across We worked through eight papers on global-capitalist world. Next, Joseph Allen translation and its impact come in ‘vertical’ languages. But what we were after was day one and seven on day two. Both days (University of Minnesota) takes the ‘Take’ (or indigenous) varieties as well as ‘horizontal’ precisely the un-safeness offered by leaving concluded with roundtable sessions kicked off back—and forth—across great distances (foreign) ones, and Tara Coleman (LaGuardia things wide open between three words-and- by Wilt Idema (Harvard University and Leiden in space and time, illustrating a range of Community College) employs the notion things people have talked about (and will University), which helped us realize how much practical and theoretical issues that come of lyrical montage, with reference to film continue to talk about) forever—and then the we were not doing (see coverage disclaimer, to the fore in his new, in-progress translation theory, to consider Ya Xian’s poetry in terms dialogue that this might yield. above; but a useful realization nonetheless). of the Shijing (also known as the Classic of of a juxtaposition of equivalences rather First, the horizon of translation has widened But also, complementing the discussions of Poetry or The Book of Songs), especially than an opposition of ‘the original’ and ‘the over the past decades, and translation studies individual papers, they showed what might intralingual interpretation and commentary. translated’. Joanna Krenz (Adam Mickiewicz is a bubbly, contested, interdisciplinary be some of the nodes of the conversation: We then bounce back to the contemporary University) reads three dueling translations enterprise whose diversification worries some key concepts that kept recurring and that our in Christopher Lupke’s (University of Alberta) of Celan into Chinese for what they reveal and thrills others. Witness, for example, work was apparently organizing itself around. paper on translating poet Xiao Kaiyu, with about debates on poetry and poetics, and The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 47 Report The Network

Fig 2: Pop-up exhibition of unofficial poetry journals from China. Photograph by Erik Weber. on translation, in mainland China today. Rui There is much to unite these arguments and A collection of Chinese and Anglophone explains the full name of our book, which we Kunze (University of Trier) traces the various more to interlink them, within and across the poets ‘in mutual translation’, edited by intend to call Chinese Poetry and Translation: cultural translations of Liao Yiwu’s poetry into sections. If the key concepts identified above Yang Lian and W.N. Herbert, is called Rights and Wrongs, after a suggestion by English and German, in a tight entanglement and the groupings that emerged from the The Third Shore, and as Tara Coleman Jacob when we were brainstorming titles. of literature and politics that starts with the workshop share any underlying themes, these reminds us in her paper, for Walter Rights and Wrongs may sound like a suppression of the 1989 Protest Movement include a resounding affirmation of what we Benjamin the meaning of a word exists in binary at first, but it is ‘rights and wrongs’, in China and extends to a complex dynamic know about binaries in the humanities: they a third space beyond (but not above) the after all, not ‘right or wrong’. Like the surface engendered by publishers, prize institutions, usually don’t work. This is not unrelated to our two languages that meet in translation. dualism under which translation’s thirdness and prestigious cultural figures, revealing the plans to organize the contents of the book Translation’s proximity to transplantation hides, then, our subtitle signals polyvalence, difficulty of communicating trauma between under the three section headings outlined troubles our reliance on simplistic affects a multifacetedness that insists that the East and West. Maghiel van Crevel (Leiden above. As in Daoism, where it is the three that of love or rejection. We are not sure which binary would be one of the wrongs. Or, there University) shows that Chinese-to-English gives birth to the ten thousand things—after of our categories—poetry, or translation, is no one correct or ‘right’ translation, even if offers a fascinating case study for the genre being engendered by the two and the one or Chinese—is the weird third thing, or that there may be no end to wrong translations. of the multiple-author translation anthology, and, before that, the Dao—in our volume’s title any one of them should always be (they This is not to say that we do not critically because of continuing tumult on the Chinese a triptych also produces a myriad: poetry + could take turns, right?). But we know that assess translations, but we do so with the poetry scene, foreign readers’ unfamiliarity translation + Chinese. there being a third thing is trouble enough, awareness that we are at some level doing with this poetry, and profound changes in The move to push past binaries, then, and a wonderful kind of trouble. Thirdness it wrong ourselves if we fail to recognize the positionality of anthologists in the early explains the title of this report, ‘The destabilizes the symmetry of the binary, that the exploration of translation’s uses twenty-first century. Weird Third Thing’—which will hopefully opening up multiple possibilities. There is as interesting, and as important, as the metamorphose into the may be two sides to a coin, but there are exploration of its ontologies. Juxtaposing volume’s introduction once more than two sides to a coinage, as there ‘rights’ and ‘wrongs’ in our title can reveal the revisions are in and the are usually more than two sides to an their duality to be structurally in flux, and manuscript is ready for argument—especially an academic productively unstable. submission. The specifics of argument. The weird third thing relinks In this way, we hope our title will do what the Weird Third Thing come translation to Homi Bhabha’s ‘third space’ some of the best (Chinese) poetry and some from an anecdote Jenn related and the ‘in-between’ of postcolonial of the best translations do. Ernest Fenollosa, during one of the roundtable theory, and it articulates our approach: whose notebooks played a crucial role in sessions. In the ‘Mamma exploratory, in progress, embracing of Ezra Pound’s vision of Chinese poetry and Mia’ episode of the American uncertainty, and nimble, mobile. of modernism, wrote that in the “process of sit-com 30 Rock, comedy Thirdness also means there is more than compounding, two things added together do writer Liz Lemon persuades her a simple ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, with obvious, not produce a third thing but suggest some boss, Jack Donaghy, to tell his immediate relevance to translation. To what fundamental relation between them”. We see long-lost birth father the truth extent is the role of the scholar of translation this to be that weird third thing. of his identity. “You’re gonna to judge translations right or wrong— be okay”, she tells Jack: his technically, ethically, or otherwise? Can a We thank the Leiden University Institute father will either reject him or translation wrong a person or party, and can for Area Studies (LIAS), the Leiden embrace him. “One of those it be right if it does so? If a translation is right, University Foundation (LUF) / Mr. J.J. two things is gonna happen. is its rightness forever and for always, or only van Walsem Fonds, and the International There’s no weird third thing.” Liz for a certain purpose, time, or place? What Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) for funding the workshop; we thank Corinne Tachtiris and Jack orchestrate a contest rights does the translator have to respect in for permission to use her Batman-inspired of three potential fathers (à order for their translation to be right? What rejoinder to Robert Frost for publicity; we la Mamma Mia! – hence the rights does the translator have, full stop—or thank Marc Gilbert and his colleagues episode’s name) in which the rather, full question mark? What are the in the Special Collections department of true father will be revealed. valences of aesthetics, ethics, and philology the Leiden University Library for providing What happens, however, as they intersect in translation? How audible a perfect venue and hosting a pop-up is neither all-obliterating is the homophony of right and write—and exhibition of the unofficial journals that rejection nor all-healing of rite, in a vision of a text’s translation as a have played a key role in the development embrace. Instead, it turns out rite of passage: think recognition, and entry of contemporary mainland-Chinese poetry (figs. 2 and 3), and for providing Jack’s real dad . . . needs a into another community than that which now access to the full collection to Chris and kidney transplant. And guess starts being called the source? Our questions Liansu, who arrived early to make the who he is looking to. are not uncommon in the field of translation most of their visit; and we thank Wang Mi Isn’t there always some studies as it turns to ethics and aesthetics, and Zheng Yanming for expertly guiding Fig 3: The first issue of Not-Not (Feifei, 1986), an unofficial journal weird third thing—not least but we see the Daoist weird third thing our guests through Leiden and handling out of Sichuan province. when dealing with translation? producing its myriad before us. This stuff logistics, without missing a single paper. 48 The Network New Publication

say the final prayers. Walking from the temple, we arrived at the cremation ground, to be told that despite the long queue, our turn would come soon since a relative had ‘speeded things Waiting and not waiting up’ and had negotiated a VIP cremation slot for us. Not-waiting ‘too long’ would ‘speed up’ the cremation rituals and time spent grieving there at the site. The fraught wait, while the Manpreet K. Janeja The recently published volume Ethnographies of Waiting: Doubt, Hope and elders debated who would perform the last Uncertainty explores the social phenomenon of ‘waiting’ and its centrality in rites, ended with me, as the eldest sibling, being accorded the right to do so, in a stunning human society.1 The book investigates how modes of waiting are negotiated inversion of conventional gendered norms that in various ways. Examining the politics and poetics of waiting, it offers fresh regulate Sikh (and Hindu) cremation rituals, in which women do not cremate.9 My endless perspectives on waiting as the uncertain interplay between doubting and hoping, waiting for gender equality, while contesting and negotiating patriarchal norms in a society and asks, “When is time worth the wait?” Waiting thus conceived is intrinsic deeply calibrated by them, ended in a moment to the ethnographic method at the heart of the anthropological enterprise. when I least anticipated, expected, or indeed, wanted it. I ended up sharing this moment This piece draws on the volume while examining the poignancy that modalities of equality with my two younger sisters, and of waiting may acquire when death becomes a form of waiting out time. the three of us performed the last rites with a cousin (brother), my brother’s best friend. The performance of the symbolic rites having been completed, the body was swept into the welfare benefits or housing, illustrates this. simply an endurance of time that falls away furnace, with the men waiting behind for hours Or indeed, the case of ever increasing numbers from illusory circuits of meaning and intent”.8 to collect the funerary urn with the ashes. The of displaced people – migrants, refugees, and Fostering a conversation between the politics four of us who had performed the symbolic last asylum seekers – waiting for rescue in cities and poetics of waiting as uncertain interplays rites then set out with the urn on a boat with such as Homs and Aleppo in Syria, in camps between hoping and doubting, without my mother, waiting for the majhi (boatman) to in Jordan, Turkey, Kenya or Bangladesh, or according primacy to one dimension over the slowly take us to the middle of the river, to pour drowning in the waters of the Mediterranean other, enables us to critically approach the the ashes into the waters of the Bhagirathi- Sea en route to Europe. Thus, waiting, as an precariousness of existence. Hooghly, a (dis)tributary of the river Ganga imposed form of sanctioning, used to exercise which is believed to be the Hindu sacred site control over other people’s time3 or slow down of mortal, temporal, and cosmic transition movement across space of marginalized An auto-ethnography of for the departed.10 Together with the families groups who are made to wait, emerges as a of others who died in the same accident, our technology of governance. Waiting can also death as waiting out time Kafkaesque waiting before the law continues – be an active political strategy of defiance While waiting for the volume to arrive in print for the man who crashed the car, yet survived, aiting is a pervasive phenomenon by some migrants for example, or a basis for from the publishers, the unexpected happened. to be formally charged. across human societies. We all political mobilization and democratic politics My 34-year-old brother died in a car crash Care of the dead by “a social network of Wwait – in traffic jams, passport as in the case of Jeffrey’s ethnographic study on 15 December 2017. The politics and poetics hands” makes and marks the deceased as offices, queues, for better weather, an end to (2010) of ‘chronic waiting’ among unemployed of waiting came together in death. Various “grievable”. Life that is grievable is “life that fighting, peace. It could be said that waiting lower middle-class young men in the Indian members of the immediate and extended matters”,11 and is socially valuable, resting on is integral to the fabric of human life. Waiting city of Meerut, thereby highlighting the mutual family in grief and shock entreated airlines a particular notion of the social.12 Compared is a particular engagement in, and with, time. interaction of creative agency and broader and travel agents, rushed to board airplanes, to biological death, which takes place in a The various modes of waiting can range from social structures.4 waited at airports, dashed through security relatively short period of time, social death a passive or inert waiting to a purposeful or An examination of the politics of waiting checks and passport control queues, uncertain takes longer – we have to wait for the tear in active waiting for something.2 In other words, must be complemented with a focus on and doubting yet hoping to catch connecting the social fabric to be rewoven13. This auto- the concept of waiting enables us to explore the poetics of waiting, which refers to the flights and make it to the cremation on ethnographic reflection on death as waiting ethnographically what forms of thinking, existential affordances of the engagement in, 18 December. Flying across, and through, out time could be read as such. acting, and relating are possible, or overlooked, and with, time where the outcome is uncertain, space and time zones, while journeying through in different engagements in, and with, time, where people’s doubts coexist with potentials a past, and memories of a life together now across varying social and cultural contexts. of hope.5 Whatever has placed an individual cut short, we somehow all landed in the city of Manpreet K. Janeja is a Affiliated Fellow What happens when waiting shifts from or a collective in a situation of waiting, such Calcutta, where the rest were waiting for us. at IIAS, Leiden, and Visiting Fellow at being a temporary phenomenon to a ‘chronic’ a situation brings forth different attitudes and While various others had negotiated different the Department of Social Policy, London or more permanent feature, where it even social energies, ranging from hope, patience bureaucratic forms of waiting in identifying School of Economics. Her research becomes an indefinite way of life itself? When, and urgency to apathy, paralysis and inertia, the body at the crash site in a remote corner interests include: anthropology of food and eating; trust; gender; migration; for instance, the signing of a ceasefire between and often leads to existential questions and of India, signing legal documents after the religion; cities; youth; public health. two warring groups marks the end of a period doubts. As in the case of migrants caught post-mortem, and arranging for the coffin to She is the author of Transactions in Taste of waiting for peace, but a peace which is up in protracted periods of waiting, who may be flown to Calcutta. We underwent rituals of (2010) and The Aesthetics of School Meals always fragile, with people then waiting for find themselves in a situation of ‘stuckedness’,6 purification as we waited for the body bag to (forthcoming), co-editor of Imagining this peace to end any moment. How is waiting characterized by invisibility, immobility, arrive at the house, with tea and coffee being Bangladesh (2014) and Ethnographies itself calibrated and regularized by particular uncertainty and arbitrariness, with the act served to shore up a semblance of ‘normality’ of Waiting (2018). cultural norms, ideals, and gendered roles? of waiting in transit paradoxically expanding in the midst of the ongoing lamenting rituals. How can the ethnographic method, and the time but compressing space for them.7 We followed the hearse, as it waited in the various forms of waiting it entails (e.g., waiting Or the experiences of waiting endured by the infamous traffic-jams of the city, to arrive at Notes for interlocutors to show up during fieldwork; parents of a dying child, where “waiting is the temple where we waited for the priest to 1 Janeja, M.K. & A. Bandak. 2018. waiting for ideas and projects to mature like Ethnographies of Waiting: Doubt, Hope old wine and ripened cheese; short, medium and Uncertainty. London: Bloomsbury. and longer term engagements with mind notes, 2 Marcel, G. 1967. ‘Desire and Hope’, in older field notes), be used to explore the social N. Lawrence & D. O’Connor (eds.) Readings phenomenon of waiting? How are we to assess in Existential Phenomenology, pp.277-285. when something is worth the wait, and how do Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall Inc.; we act, think, and relate while we are at it? Hage, G. 2009. ‘Waiting Out the Crisis: On Stuckedness and Governmentality’, Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot in G. Hage (ed) Waiting, pp.97-106. Carlton: Melbourne University Press. dwells on the notion of waiting, an indefinite 3 B ourdieu, P. 2000. Pascalian Meditations. waiting for someone who never comes, London: Polity Press, p.228. and for something that never happens. 4 Jeffrey, C. 2010. Timepass: Youth, Class, Franz Kafka’s Before the Law depicts a and the Politics of Waiting in India. man from the countryside who is endlessly Stanford: SUP. waiting to gain entry into the law, but is 5 ‘In troduction’, in Ibid., note 1, p.3,5. ‘not yet allowed’. The anthropological and, 6 Ibid., Hage 2009. more generally, social science literature, 7 Br edeloup, S. 2012. ‘Sahara Transit: has relatively neglected the concerted study Times, Spaces, People’, Population, Space and Place 18(4):457–467, p.465. of waiting as a phenomenon, with a few 8 Bissell, D. 2009. ‘The Poetics of Waiting recent notable exceptions which have Without Value: Harold Schweizer, predominantly focused on the ‘politics On Waiting’, Time and Society 18:410-413, of waiting’. p.411. 9 Cf . Clark-Decès, I. 2005. No One Cries for the Dead. Oakland: UCP. 10 Cf . Parry, J. 1994. Death in Benaras. Politics and poetics Cambridge: CUP. of waiting 11 Butler , J. 2009. Frames of War. When Is Life Politics of waiting refers to the engagements Grievable? London: Verso, p.14. 12 Allison, A. 2018. ‘Not-Waiting to Die Badly: with the structural and institutional conditions Facing the Precarity of Dying Alone in that compel people to wait. The precarious Japan’, in Ibid., note 1, p.189. situation of vast swathes of the world’s human 13 Cf . Laqueur, T. 2015. The Work of the Dead. inhabitants forced to wait, often indefinitely, A Cultural History of Mortal Remains. for food, education, health care, employment, Waiting in the boat on the Bhagirathi-Hooghly, Calcutta, 18 December 2018. Princeton: PUP, p.10. The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 49 Announcements The Network

New Titles in the AUP/IIAS Series on Asian Studies Building the New Silk Road: China’s Find full details for these titles, including Belt and Road purchasing options, on www.aup.nl Initiative in context Urban Development in the Richard T. Griffiths Margins of a World Heritage Site: In the Shadows of Angkor

Adèle Esposito Asian Cities Series ISBN 9789462983687

this. They are already there. For example, This volume addresses the relationship between the UNESCO international development banks are World Heritage Site of Angkor (Cambodia), and the nearby town of financing highway construction and railway Siem Reap. While previous work on heritage sites has mainly focused electrification projects across Central Asia on protected areas, this book shifts the attention to the margins, and the Caucasus. The European Union is where detrimental, tourism-driven urban development may take he International Institute for Asian pouring billions into improving the transport place. By delimiting a protected site, a non-heritage space is Studies (IIAS) has recently started infrastructure of new member states and created in which spatial fragmentation, disruptive development Ta new project of interdisciplinary the western Balkans. Japanese firms hold processes, and unjust power plays can occur. In post-war research aimed at the study of the Belt and contracts for the construction of High-Speed Cambodia, liberalization and collective aspirations for progress Road Initiative of the Chinese government, railways in India and Thailand as well as have provided a strong incentive for modernization. Controversial with special attention on the impact of the for the modernisation of the harbour in interests compete in the arena of urban development, and real estate ‘New Silk Road’ on countries, regions and Jakarta. By leaving all of this out of the story development prevails over planned growth. At the same time, Siem peoples outside of China. The project will and concentrating solely on China, we are Reap’s marginal position allows for some freedom in architectural be directed by Professor Richard Griffiths, creating our own nightmare. Add a twist of and urban design. In the shadow of institutional control, this affiliated fellow at IIAS. wicked intention to the mixture, and it is little architectural space expresses alternative visions of the Khmer wonder that we have trouble sleeping. heritage and connects them with images of urban modernity. Since President Xi Jinping’s speech IIAS is creating a new pillar devoted to in September 2013 announcing China’s interdisciplinary research on the topic of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative (BRI), it has scarcely New Silk Road. In line with IIAS’ inclusive, been out of the news. It has also attracted experimental approach, the IIAS New Silk Road Visual Arts, Representations and analysis and commentary from academics initiative seeks to develop a de-centralised, and think-tanks throughout the world. trans-sectoral network of local partners, able Interventions in Contemporary China: In China, the reception has been not only to work within the Social Sciences Urbanized Interface overwhelmingly positive, rarely straying and Humanities, but also with practitioners on far from official policy pronouncements. the ground (municipalities, local stakeholders, Minna Valjakka and Meiqin Wang (eds) In the West, opinion has been mixed. Most NGOs, artists and cultural actors, community Asian Cities Series security analysts frame the analysis in organisations, businesses, trade unions, etc.). ISBN 9789462982239 terms of ‘China’s rise’ and the threat that it Moreover, and whenever possible, the projects poses to US military hegemony and to the within this initiative will engage with existing This edited volume provides a multifaceted investigation of the established international order in general. IIAS programmes under the Institute’s three dynamic interrelations between visual arts and urbanization Most economists have been cautionary, thematic clusters: urban, global and heritage in contemporary Mainland China with a focus on unseen highlighting the perceived risks in some studies. Partners involved in network platforms representations and urban interventions brought about by the countries of over-borrowing. In almost every such as the Urban Knowledge Network Asia transformations of the urban space and the various problems case, September 2013 is the starting point (UKNA), the European Alliance for Asian associated with it. Through a wide range of illuminating case for analysis, as though China’s BRI is the Studies, the International Convention of Asia studies, the authors demonstrate how innovative artistic and only event of any relevance. China’s BRI Scholars (ICAS) and the ‘Africa-Asia, A New creative practices initiated by various stakeholders not only raise differs from its earlier ‘go global’ policy, Axis of Knowledge’ and Cultural Heritage critical awareness on socio-political issues of Chinese urbanization whereby Chinese firms were encouraged Studies platforms, will also be mobilised. but also actively reshape the urban living spaces. The formation of to seek investment opportunities abroad, The programme plans to establish formal new collaborations, agencies, aesthetics and cultural production through its focus on connectivity and links with research institutes in China to sites facilitate diverse forms of cultural activism as they challenge infrastructure, and through its restricted encourage the widest exchange of information the dominant ways of interpreting social changes and encourage geographical definition. China has defined and opinions. It will also create a ‘news page’ civic participation in the production of alternative meanings in the Belt and Road as involving 64 countries for the notification of seminars, workshops and of the city. Their significance lies in their potential to question with 40% of the world’s population and 20% and conferences. In addition, within the current values and power structures as well as to foster new of world trade. That area includes the entire programme, IIAS intends to launch a business subjectivities for disparate individuals and social groups. land mass between China and Central- /academic alliance for sharing up-to-date Eastern Europe and within it, China intends expertise and insights, and to enhance the to build roads and railways, ports and power effectiveness of policy advice. stations and to expedite the movement of In order to promote interest in the subject, Heritage and Romantic Consumption goods across frontiers. Of course, much of IIAS and Leiden University are planning to that infrastructure and much of that trade release a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) in China serves China’s interest. As the world’s second entitled Building the New Silk Road early in 2019. largest economy and second largest trader, The MOOC will be free, and it will be hosted by Yujie Zhu it would be surprising if it didn’t. And that the Stanford-based Coursera, which, with 33 Asian Heritages Series is China’s ‘belt and road’. million enrolled users, is the largest educational ISBN 9789462985674 Nobody ‘owned’ the ancient silk roads platform of its kind. To further help promote The drums beat, an old man in a grand robe mutters incantations and nobody ‘owns’ the new silk road of the advanced teaching on the subject IIAS will and three brides on horseback led by their grooms on foot proceed 21st century. The trucks journey on existing host an ‘electronic library’ of online resources to the Naxi Wedding Courtyard, accompanied, watched and roads, the trains run along existing lines, that can be used as teaching materials and as photographed the whole way by tourists, who have bought tickets the container ships that plough the oceans starting points for student essays and theses. for the privilege. The traditional wedding ceremonies are performed already exist, and businesses fill them Furthermore, the new initiative will organise for the ethnic tourism industry in Lijiang, a World Heritage town in and the transport industry makes it all work. strategic meetings during the ICAS conference southwest China. This book examines how heritage interacts with Of course, it can all work better by building in Leiden, 16-19 July 2019. social-cultural changes and how individuals perform and negotiate better highways, by electrifying railways their identities through daily practices that include tourism, and by improving the flow through borders To signal your interest in joining on the one hand, and the performance of ethnicity on the other. controls. Moreover, it is not as though this initiative contact me, with the The wedding performances in Lijiang not only serve as a heritage these countries don’t need infrastructure. header ‘New Silk Road’ at 'product' but show how the heritage and tourism industry helps Recently the Asian Development Bank [email protected] to shape people's values, dreams and expectations. This book calculated that Asia requires $1.5 trillion a also explores the rise of 'romantic consumerism' in contemporary year in infrastructural investment if it is to website: https://newsilkroads.iias.asia China. Chinese dissatisfaction with the urban mundane leads to sustain a viable development trajectory. At Richard T. Griffiths is an affiliated romanticized interests in practices and people deemed to be natural, present, it is only capable of financing half fellow at IIAS and author of the book ethnic, spiritual and aesthetic, and a search for tradition and of that sum itself. China’s help is needed, Revitalising the Silk Road. China’s Belt authenticity. But what, exactly, are tradition and authenticity, and but it is not enough. Indeed President Xi has and Road Initiative, Leiden, 2017. what happens to them when they are turned into performance? exhorted other countries to join in building the ‘belt and road’. He did not need to do Illustration: ‘The New Silk Road’ by Luke Sky. 50 The Network Digital Resources

international relations from the University of databases, to over 3,000 titles of printed Ljubljana – began to meet regularly to reflect books and other materials and is also a on the academic landscape in Slovenia and lively social place, where students, scholars, the neighbouring countries with regard to practitioners and interested public from Digital studying the East Asian region. They agreed the region meet. that there were several study programmes The EARL is yet another embodiment of the devoted to East Asia in the region, however, conviction that Humanities and Social Sciences they have comparatively speaking relatively must go hand in hand to understand what Resources modest support in literature and in primary is going on around us and how we got there. sources. To access these (re)sources, students Interdisciplinarity matters. One might have and experts need to travel to East Asia. So the the most detailed knowledge about politics group started wondering: if all these resources or social fabric of any corner in this world; yet, are difficult to reach, why not bring them if one does not understand the culture and closer to us? speak the language people speak in one part With technological advances, the idea how of the (East Asian) region or the other, one shall to make ‘smallness’ irrelevant seemed doable. never have a full understanding of it. In modern After all, digital databases already cover social sciences and humanities, it is safe to most of secondary sources, and digitalisation say that this kind of thinking has not yet been of primary sources is progressing rapidly. internalised. The EARL is built on the premise Hence, with the support of experts on digital that the 'wall' between social sciences and databases, a concept of a regional hub for humanities is not really high if we use the right resources devoted to East Asia started to take ladder, the one which is built from the wealth shape. By the end of 2015, work on the EARL of interdisciplinary knowledge and experience began. Its mission has been embraced and of scholars coming out from the two branches supported by the University of Ljubljana’s of science. Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social Sciences. In conclusion, let us go back to the Both faculties are large teaching and research reflection on size. We see the EARL not in terms institutions (https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/en/ of the small, landlocked room, but, in terms home; and http://www.ff.uni-lj.si/an). what it really offers. It is a large port, with On 17 May 2016, the Deans of the two access to the open sea of resources, going Faculties signed an agreement to establish into millions of books, articles and historical the East Asia Resource Library – EARL documents. In international relations, Open East Asia Resource Library in Slovenia: (https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/en/library/earl). Sea signifies a space with no borders. In our The EARL was structured as follows. world of science and teaching, knowledge Open a matchbox and access global Symbolically, the EARL signifed a region. It is our ocean. This is why EARL’s motto is: provided designated spaces for each of the knowledge knows no borders. It is in this knowledge of the region participating institutions, which are also vast space that people with knowledge meet, called ‘corners’. Officially, the ‘corners’ are compare notes, and discuss. With this in named as follows (in alphabethical order): mind the EARL hosts presentations, lectures, Zlatko Šabič and Mirjam Kotar China Corner Reading Beijing, Japan galery, cultural events, and also academic, Corner, Korea Corner, and Taiwan Resource professional and unoficial meetings. A very Centre for Chinese Studies. Each section is special value of the EARL is the unreserved n September 2017 a delegation from a We, too, were taken a bit by surprise by organised differently. Embassies from Korea commitment of our partners to provide the Chinese institution came to visit the location such an observation, but we also took a lesson and Japan in Slovenia serve as facilitators EARL with the very best the region as a whole Iof the East Asia Resource Library (EARL), from that impression. Since then, we never fail of information and contacts with the Japan can offer. In trying times like the ones we live which is hosted by the University of Ljubljana’s to explain to our guests that the word ‘space’ Foundation and the Korea Foundation that in today, access to resources and a possibility Faculty of Social Sciences, in Slovenia. This is has different meanings in different contexts. provide the financial support for electronic to compare them is the only way forward a modern, spacious building, home to about In Slovenia, which given its geographical databases, books and other resources. The to bridge irrational political differences and 3,000 students, researchers and faculty and determinants belongs to a group of smaller EARL also collaborates extensively with the discuss the region with only one vision in a venue for countless events at all levels. The countries on this planet, physical size does not Capital Library of China, with the Taiwan mind: to assure and sustain lasting peace. delegation could hardly hide their surprise matter much. There are many determinants Resource Centre for Chinese Studies and when they realised that the EARL was made that relativise it. What follows is a story that various nonprofit institutions from East Asia. Zlatko Šabič Director General of the up of three rooms which barely exceed 200 proves this. All these institutions contribute to the unique East Asia Resource Library (EARL). square meters. They thought that the entire In November 2015, a group of four scholars concentration of knowledge about the region. Mirjam Kotar Head of the Central Social Faculty of Social Sciences was the ‘Library’. – synologists, japonologists and experts in EARL offers access to several East Asian Library, Chief Coordinator of the EARL.

as the recognized text. Furthermore, users can download a high quality OCR-PDF of the Naval Kishore Press – digital: facsimile from the project website where the text is also fully searchable in both scripts. From hidden treasure to open access The annotation tool implemented in DWork allows scholars worldwide to work collaboratively on a text or text corpus Nicole Merkel-Hilf independent of place and time. Each annotation can be entered comfortably via a web form, is provided with the name of its he Naval Kishore Press was established From the mid-19th century author and can be reliably referenced and in the north Indian city of Lakhnau onwards wood pulp paper was used quoted by being assigned a DOI. Revisions Tin 1858 by Munshi Naval Kishore for printing which tends to be acidic are saved as new versions, while earlier (1836-1895). In the following decades it grew and therefore paper deterioration is versions remain still visible and can be to one of India’s most important publishing a problem for the printed part of the accessed through the revision history. houses. During Naval Kishore’s lifetime the collection. For reasons of preservation press published around 5,000 titles covering the Naval Kishore Press – digital Both resources can be accessed literature in Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, Persian and project was initiated by the SAI library on CrossAsia: Sanskrit on subjects as diverse as religion, and Heidelberg University Library.1 https://themen.crossasia.org education, medicine, school-books, popular Within this project, selected Hindi editions of Sanskrit literature, and much more. and Sanskrit titles in Devanagari script from the to train a recurrent neural network to get a data Nicole Merkel-Hilf Chief coordinator The library of the South Asia Institute (SAI) at Naval Kishore Press collection are digitized, but model to automatically transcribe more texts “South Asia” FID Asien, SAI Library. Heidelberg University holds a representative the primary aim of Naval Kishore Press – digital from the Naval Kishore Press collection. With cross section of the Naval Kishore Press’ is to offer scholars more than a digitized image an error rate of 5,59% on a random test set the publications with 1,400 titles in print and facsimile. The goal is to produce machine- results are very promising and we are using the around 700 titles on microfilm. readable texts that can be further edited online model now on the digitized Hindi and Sanskrit by using digital editing techniques. texts of the Naval Kishore Press collection. Notes In order to make this treasure more Suitable OCR software especially for South For the web presentation of the digitized visible for scholars the Naval Kishore Press Asian scripts has long been unavailable due images and the OCRed full-texts created with 1 Nav al Kishore Press – digital is Bibliography has been set up by using the open to the complexity of the writing systems and Transkribus the software ‘DWork – Heidelberg part of a larger, three-year project source software VuFind. The bibliography is has turned out often to be unsuitable for mass Digitization Workflow’ is used, an in-house ‘Fachinformationsdienst Asien’ intended as a provenance database and aims digitization projects. For the Naval Kishore development by Heidelberg University (FID Asien), funded by the Deutsche to provide access to bibliographic records as Press – digital project two text recognition Library. It provides a variety of functions for Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) until well as digitized online editions of works issued methods have been used – the OCR software the use of digital copies, such as thumbnail the end of 2018. The FID Asien project by the Naval Kishore Press that are distributed for Hindi and Sanskrit developed by ind.senz overview, zooming in and out, full text search, is cooperatively carried out by the State in libraries worldwide – and not only to the and, more recently, a data model trained by and various navigation features as well as Library in Berlin, Heidelberg University 2 Library and the South Asia Institute. SAI library collection. Currently we are Transkribus. For the training of the model 200 components for annotations. The web portal CrossAsia is used as the enriching the bibliography with 1,200 title pages of a so-called ‘ground truth’ transcription Words or phrases from the Hindi and central access point to the project results records from the Bodleian Library in Oxford. was produced, i.e. an accurate representation Sanskrit texts can be searched in Devanagari and for scientific information in Asian The bibliography will then contain more than of the text on the image facsimile. The ground script or in Latin transliteration and the results studies (https://crossasia.org/en). 3,500 entries from eight different libraries. truth transcription and the images are then used are highlighted in the image facsimile as well 2 h ttps://transkribus.eu/Transkribus The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 Celebrating 200 years History and scope of Oriental 51 Studies in Russia Announcement The Network

200 years Oriental Studies in Russia Call for Papers Symposium: The Institute of Oriental Studies against the background Open Pages in of Russian history South Asian Studies,

Dina V. Dubrovskaya Gauhati University, Assam, India his year marks the 200 Years Anniversary 22-23 January 2019 of the Institute of Oriental Studies (Russian TAcademy of Sciences, RAS). To celebrate this grand achievement, we gladly share this fascinating account of the history and scope of Organisers Oriental Studies in Russia. The Symposium is organised by In 1818, the Asiatic Museum, founded in the The Centre for South East Asian Studies capital of Saint Petersburg as a continuation and the Department of Foreign of Russian pursuits in Oriental research (in Languages at Gauhati University, India Moscow, Kazan and elsewhere), became the and the The International Centre for new platform of academic endeavour in all During World War II, IOS/SAS continued and epigraphic sources, linguistics, literature South Asian Studies and the Faculty of things Asian, from numismatics to linguistics, its work, both in besieged Leningrad (Saint and culture, vast expeditionary activities, International Relations and Area Studies to history. For the Russian Empire, this interest Petersburg), led by A. Boldyrev, and led by translations of works of the East and Africa at the Russian State University for the was not recreational. Since before Peter the Struve, ‘in evacuation’, a time passed mainly in and the composition of dictionaries, the most Humanities, Moscow, Russia. Great, Russia’s orientation was towards the Tashkent (Uzbekistan), where Soviet scholars famous being the legendary Big Chinese- East. It bordered on Turkey, China and Russian did their best to both carry on their general Russian Dictionary. After twenty years, Central Asia, embraced Georgia and Armenia, studies and help the country with up-to-date Gafurov was followed by a very special person Themes and thus had a burning need to understand research, such as Fascist Escapade’s Collapse in Soviet history: Evgeny Primakov (1929-2015), Ethno-linguistic pluralism is both ‘the East’. The Asiatic Museum’s first home was in Iran by G. Gelbras, German Imperialism brilliant political scientist, journalist, diplomat a hallmark of South Asia and a prime Peter the Great’s Kunstkamera (1714), one of in the Far East by A. Guber. Meanwhile, the and the future Foreign Minister and Prime factor of contentious relations among the oldest world museums. Its first Director Moscow Group of IOS/SAS emerged, headed Minister) of Russia, and famous for his drastic its countries and of intra-country was Christian Martin Frähn (1782-1851), who by another outstanding scholar, Academician U-turn over the Atlantic Ocean during the conflicts. Terrorism further derails mutual acquired the outstanding Arabic manuscripts, and Arabist Ignaty Krachkovsky (1883-1951), Yugoslavian Crisis of 1999 (Primakov’s Loop). understanding and harmonious relations. medals and book collection of the French who soon gathered the main orientalist forces In spite of Brezhnev’s stagnation period, Border conflicts make the region volatile diplomat Jean-Baptiste-Louis-Jacques of the country around the Moscow-based Primakov’s years of the second Post War and migrations across borders are an Rousseau (1780-1831). It was thanks to Frähn research of Asia and Africa, including Iran- Renaissance proved to be quite productive issue of contention. Neo-liberal economic that the future of Oriental research could take specialist V. Gordlevsky, Indologist I. Reisner for the Soviet Oriental Humanities. Producing policies have brought both opportunities shape, supporting researchers in both capitals. and Byzantologist N. Pigulevskaya, and many numerous situational analyses for the Foreign and challenges. Progress in terms of GDP From this foundation, the Asiatic Museum others. Affairs Ministry, the Institute’s prestige are accompanied by inequality in income steadily grew in numbers of researchers as In the summer of 1950, IOS/SAS moved soared. It became an eminent think-tank, and social security domains, leading well as materials, including Chinese and to Kropotkinskaya St.12 on the banks of the both profiling modern political problems and to popular outrage. The growing Mongolian collections, the Buddhist collection Moscow River, as per usual absorbing a number producing research in the ‘traditional cycle’ of privatization of essential services raises of Pavel Schilling von Cannstatt, those of of institutions along the way (most notably Oriental Studies. Led by Primakov (from 1979 concerns over ecology and common the Caucasian Fund as well as Armenian the famous SAS Pacific Ocean Institute). After Academician of SAS), IOS/SAS was awarded resources. and Georgian collections, up to the October several other directors, it was finally headed, the Order of Labour Red Banner, with many The symposium cum workshop aims Revolution of 1918. in 1955, by the truly exemplary scholar of its scholars also winning other prestigious to deliberate the following issues and The second Director (1876), Boris Dorn, and Southeast Asia specialist Alexander awards and distinctions, both Soviet/Russian areas, both from the perspective of started the publication Mélanges asiatiques, Guber (1902-1971). Unfortunately, events and international. countries and South Asia as a the first Russian scholarly periodical (in of the liberating 20th CPSU Congress once From 1987, the Institute was led by the transnational region: (1) Understanding French), followed by many other orientalist again shook the Institute hard when Party Sinologist and former Deputy Foreign Minister South Asia as a region; (2) Cultural realm journals. In 1876, the Third International functionary Anastas Mikoyan declared that Mikhail Kapitsa (1921-1995). Economic of South Asia, including religious diversities, Congress of Orientalists was held in Saint “the Orient has woken up, while the Institute of problems had a major impact; together with linguistic and sociological mosaics; Peters, and by the end of the century the Oriental Studies still keeps sleeping”. He was the whole country the Institute survived rather (3) Common Historical Connections; Russian school could boast scholars of neither right, nor helpful. Both young and older than thrived. Yet, somehow, Chernyshevsky’s (4) Linkages of the South Asian region; international merit, including Directors Victor communists-scholars of the Institute had been principle of ‘the worse, the better’ proved to (5) State processes and development Rozen, Ferdinand Videman, Wassily Radloff discussing Khrushchev and his responsibility be true when the Third All-Union Congress of experiences in South Asia; (6) South Asian and Karl Zaleman as well as other eminent in Stalin’s terror. Director Guber was forced to Orientalists in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, declared Regionalism and Integration: Trends, scholars. resign and Party functionary and Soviet Orient its most inclusive umbrella theme ‘Interaction Problems and Prospects; (7) Engaging In order to survive the October 1918 turmoil, expert Bobodjan Gafurov took over, well- of Cultures and Civilizations‘. After Kapitsa, Russia in South Asia. ‘Oriental Studies’, in part, followed the new known in the USSR and abroad as a wise man, the most notable Director of IOS, now part Soviet government to Moscow, where the diplomat and a perfect ‘Oriental sage’. of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was Moscow Institute of the Orient (МИВ) was Gafurov’s time was the first period after the Vitaly Naumkin (presently Scientific Director), Proposals established. In Saint Petersburg, Oriental war that the Institute flourished, profiting from established Arabist and Yemeni history Speakers will be given 15 minutes Studies embarked on a new chapter in 1930 Khrushchev’s Thaw and blessed with manifold researcher and author of the acclaimed for their presentation, followed by under its present name of ‘Institute of Oriental theoretical discussion, new breakthrough ‘Corpus of Soqotri language’, declared the 10-15 minutes for discussion. The working Studies’ at the then Soviet Academy of Sciences scholarly journals, its very own publishing second most important scholarly achievement language of the workshop will be English. (IOS/SAS), led by the outstanding Orientalist house and a massive increase in personnel. The of 2014. Postgraduate students are encourage and Head of the Russian Buddhology School, Institute thrived under Gafurov. Many liberal Since 2015, the Institute is headed by to participate as well. Academician Sergey Oldenburg (1863-1934). intellectual leaders (among them J. Brodsky Professor Valery P. Androsov, notable The 1930s were a very difficult and tragic and A. Solzhenitsyn) gave talks at the Institute. Buddhologist, Sanskrit specialist and author Abstracts can be sent to any period for Soviet Oriental Studies, attacked Soviet orientalists participated in all orientalist of many books. Nowadays IOS/RAS holds of the following: both theoretically by the Leninist-Stalinist scholarly activities of the time. In 1960, Moscow numerous domestic and international Prof Kandarpa Das demands of Marxist approaches to the hosted the 25th International Congress of conferences, undertakes expeditions in Egypt, Head Dept. of Foreign Languages, Humanities and by up-front attacks: arrests, Orientalists with about 1400 visitors from Sudan, Yemen, the Crimea and Central Asia, Gauhati University prosecutions, exiles and executions of scholars, around the world, and in 1964, 38 Soviet and publishes multiple journals (among which [email protected] or under false pretences. One victim was the next scholars participated in the 26th International the Journal of IOS/RAS, whose Executive [email protected] Director of IOS/SAS, Academician/Turkologist Congress in Delhi, publishing their talks and Editor is the author of this article) as well as Prof Nani Gopal Mahanta Alexander Samoilovitch (1880-1938). Accused articles in English and French. numerous monographs and edited volumes. Director CSEAS, Dept. of Political of being a Japanese spy, he vanished in In 1977, IOS/SAS moved to the centre of Most importantly, the Institute is raising new, Science, Gauhati University 1937 and was shot in 1938. His successor, Moscow, where it still resides today in the old young scholars in the field of Oriental Studies [email protected] Egyptologist Wasily Struve, managed to spacious mansion on Rozhdestvenka Street 12. to carry on our 200 years of research, service Prof Alexander Stolyarov establish a shaky balance between the This period is marked by scholarly discussion, to the Humanities and to the country, and our Director Centre for South Asian Humanities and the regime by putting forward thousands of publications, the establishment of love for the Orient. Studies, Russian State University the pseudo-Marxist idea of the ‘Five-part leading Schools of Sinology as well as Arabic, for the Humanities Theory’ of socio-economic formations. It was Turkic, Indian, Pakistani, South-East Asian, Dina V. Dubrovskaya PhD, Senior Research [email protected] so highly appreciated by Stalin that Struve was Japanese, Israeli, and Middle Eastern Studies. Fellow, Institute of Oriental Studies, RAS, elevated in the Academy ’on the basis of merit’. Their activities include research of written Moscow. [email protected] 52 The Network Announcements

rganised by The Centre for South East Asian Studies and the Call for Papers ODepartment of Foreign Languages IIAS Celebrates at Gauhati University, India and The Inter- Symposium: national Centre for South Asian Studies and 25 years the Faculty of International Relations and Open Pages Area Studies at the Russian State University for the Humanities, Moscow, Russia. in South Asian This interdisciplinary symposium cum he official opening of the International workshop aims to address a number of Institute for Asian Studies took place on Studies critical contemporary issues from the T13 October 1993. We will be celebrating perspective of the respective countries the Institute’s past quarter of a century as well as from the perspective of South during this upcoming year, starting on the 22-23 January 2019 Asia as a transnational regional entity. same date with the publication of this issue Gauhati University, of The Newsletter; followed shortly thereafter Assam, India For more information, by our Annual Lecture by Ruben Terlou on Symposium: see page 51 of this issue. 20 November, and culminating in our biennial conference ICAS, which next year July will Water Heritage return to the Netherlands, where it had its in Asian Cities first instalment in 1998. See page 4-5 for more details concerning IIAS 25 Years. 29 Nov - 1 Dec 2018 Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, IIAS Annual Shanghai, China Lecture 2018

he symposium is a collaboration between the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences T(SASS), the Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) of the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), New York University Shanghai and Fudan University, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology. 20 November 2018 Current policy discourses on water in cities Ruben Terlou tend to treat water narrowly, as a threat and an Chinese Dreams. The New Silk Road: element to engineer against and overcome, or as The human face of a resource to be managed and regulated. What changing China. China's Belt and is missing in this rather uni-dimensional and Rode Hoed, Amsterdam, technocratic approach is an appreciation of the © Merlijn Doomernik The Netherlands Road initiative in multiple engagements between human beings and water in historical context. If water is part context of a socio-ecological system, its challenges and his year's International Institute In his address, Ruben Terlou will share opportunities must be addressed in a multi- for Asian Studies Annual Lecture his thoughts on modern-day China, his disciplinary fashion, connected to social, Twill be delivered by Ruben Terlou. personal experiences and his photographs. economic, political as well as ecological Ruben Terlou is a Dutch documentary Most importantly, he shows what fascinates he International Institute for Asian Studies considerations. filmmaker, photographer and medical and drives him most: the human condition, (IIAS) has recently started a new project The event features four panels, each of doctor. He has worked extensively as a the adaptability of the people to the enormous Tof interdisciplinary research aimed at which examines a different dimension of urban photographer in China and Afghanistan, changes taking place, while simultaneously the study of the Belt and Road Initiative of the water heritage in Asia, in relation to ancient winning several Dutch Silver Camera showing how they stay faithful to their Chinese government, with special attention for as well as contemporary cities. Each panel is Awards and the prize for Innovative culture and all things in which they believe. the impact of the ‘New Silk Road’ on countries, organized by one of the organizing institutions. Photojournalism. He is also well-known regions and peoples outside of China. for his television documentary series Also see page 5 of this issue. More information: https://iias.asia/event/ ‘Along the banks of the Yangzi' and Information and registration: For more information, water-heritage-asian-cities 'Through the Heart of China'. https://iias.asia/chinese-dreams see page 49 of this issue.

IIAS offers an annual award for the best national master’s thesis in the broad field IIAS National of Asian Studies, in the Netherlands The Award

• The honorary title of ‘Best Master’s Master’s Thesis’ in Asian studies • A maximum three month stipend to work at IIAS, in order to write a PhD project proposal or a research article Thesis Prize Criteria • The master’s thesis should be in the broad field of Asian Studies, in the humanities or social sciences • The thesis must have been written at a Dutch university 2018 • Only master’s theses which have been graded with an 8 or higher are eligible • The thesis must have been evaluated in the period 1 Oct 2017 – 31 October 2018 • Both students and their supervisors can apply

Submission

Please submit four hard copies of the master’s thesis and a cover letter including the grade awarded and your contact details.

Photography © Ania Blazejewska Photography Submissions should be sent to: Secretariat International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) Application deadline: 1 November 2018, 9:00 am P.O. Box 9500 2300 RA Leiden For further information email: [email protected] The Netherlands The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 53 IIAS Fellowship The Network

IIAS Fellowship Along with the research fellows who are attached to one of the IIAS research programmes, the Institute yearly hosts a large number of visiting researchers (affiliated fellows) who come to Leiden to work on their own Programme individual research project. In addition, IIAS also facilitates the teaching and research by various professorial fellows as part of agreements with Dutch universities, foreign ministries and funding organisations. Meet our fellows at www.iias.asia/page/fellows

In the spotlight

University, where especially enjoy The most dominant Xiaosen Song the new, beautiful and well-equipped Daniel Mekonnen discourse on Africa-China ‘Asian Library’. IIAS supports me in relations is one, which is my wider data collection from various mainly concerned about institutions in the Netherlands and China’s aggressive financial in Europe. IIAS Director Dr Philippe flow to Africa. My research Peycam, my supervisor here, helps makes a conscious departure Research School for Southeast Asian Studies, me to explore the treasure collections at Eritrean Law Society (ELS); from this, by emphasising on the unfolding Xiamen University, China the National Library of France. Moreover, IIAS/ASCL joint fellow paradigm shift in China’s foreign policy. Vietnamese women in the process of modern benefiting from the international and China’s First-Ever Military Base Abroad: The launch of China’s first ever military Vietnam's nation-building interdisciplinary platform that is IIAS, I have Implications for Regional Peace and Security base abroad (of July 2017) raises critical the opportunity to meet and communicate in the Turbulent Horn of Africa questions due to the fact that the military My research concerns the existence, with excellent scholars from various fields base is located in a region (the Horn of Africa) perspective and role of Vietnamese women of Asian studies and to experience the My 6-month research project at IIAS described by some experts as the most “in the early 20th century to 1975. During boundlessness of their knowledge. is partly a follow-up to my most recent conflict-ridden part of the world since the which period, Vietnamese women emerged as In addition to the academic glory, Leiden “publication dealing with the law of end of WWII – at least in terms of frequency a power with their own patriotic contributions also impresses me with its nature-loving visiting forces in a Pan-African context, of armed conflicts. in the process of modern Vietnam’s nation attitude. Ancient buildings and vibrant floral a chapter I contributed to a volume edited This being a joint fellowship of the building and nation defending. Various kinds vines bring out the best in each other, even by Dieter Fleck, The Handbook of the Law of African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL) and of women’s organizations with different if the ‘cute’ seagulls can turn to be quite Visiting Forces (Oxford University Press, 2018, IIAS, it offers me unique opportunity in terms purposes and backgrounds appeared. Printing aggressive around the fish stores on the 2nd. end., pp. 526-532). This contribution of benefiting from the broad network of materials such as newspapers and journals Saturday open market along the canals in the focused on the evolving norm of a Pan-African scholars and researchers that are affiliated as well as memoirs of the people who lived city centre. It is impossible to feel aesthetic collective military cooperation. My current in different ways with these two major during that period can help us reconstruct fatigue in the Netherlands. Thanks to the research project deals with the establishment European centres of excellence. They come the image of women’s involvement in that outing activities organized by IIAS, we, as of the first ever military base of China abroad, as ideal host institutions for a comparative huge undertaking. Considering both personal fellows, enjoyed various forms of art, from which happens to be in Djibouti. Over and study on Africa-Asia relations. The resourceful factors, such as origin, career and marriage, the sculpture garden in the Kröller-Müller above addressing the implications of this library of the ASCL is another additional and external factors, including the revolution museum in the national park ‘De Hoge Veluwe’ development for regional peace and security factor, proving my research stay in Leiden need and various mobilization propaganda to the tulip fields in the ‘Keukenhof’. At the in the ever turbulent region of the Horn of rewarding. schemes from different regimes in Vietnam, suggestions of the most friendly staff in IIAS, Africa, my research will also address the other Some of my preliminary research findings I will analyze the views of Vietnamese women with my public transportation and museum question of: how this issue will be seen in the will be tested in the second edition of the on nation building and nation defending. cards, I can visit a lot of great places in the context of the newly introduced concept of ’Africa-Asia: A New Axis of Knowledge’ Pursuing a PhD at Xiamen University in Netherlands. One year’s life in Leiden is an the African Peace and Security Architecture conference, taking place at the University China, my fellowship with IIAS is a great extraordinary experience for me. The impact (APSA), the umbrella term for the key AU of Dar es Salaam in late September 2018, support. I have access to the extensive will surely last until the next trip to the same mechanisms for promoting peace, security paving the way for the targeted end result collection of books at the libraries of Leiden destination. and stability in the African continent. of a peer-reviewed journal article.

IIAS Fellowship possibilities and requirements

Apply for an Apply for an IIAS fellowship IIAS-ASCL fellowship

The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) in Leiden, The IIAS-ASCL joint fellowship is intended for researchers the Netherlands, invites outstanding researchers to apply specialising in Asian-African interactions. for an IIAS fellowship to work on a relevant piece of research in the social sciences and humanities. Application deadlines: 15 March & 15 September

Combine your IIAS fellowship with Apply for a two extra months of research in Paris Gonda fellowship When applying for an IIAS Fellowship, you have the option of simultaneously submitting an application for an additional For promising young Indologists at the post-doctorate level two months of research at the Collège d’études mondiales of it is possible to apply for funding with the J. Gonda Foundation the Fondation Maison des sciences de l’homme (CEM-FMSH), of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) in Paris, France, immediately after your stay in Leiden. to spend three to six months doing research at IIAS. Application deadlines: 1 March & 1 October Application deadlines: 1 April & 1 October

Information and application forms: www.iias.asia/fellowships 54 The Network Research

he Urban Knowledge Network Asia (UKNA) is an inclusive network that brings Ttogether scholars and practitioners engaged in collaborative research and events IIAS Research, Urban Knowledge on cities in Asia. It seeks to influence policy by contributing insights that put people at the Network Asia (UKNA) centre of urban governance and development strategies. The emphasis is on immediate Networks, problem solving as well as on the identification of long-term, transformative processes that increase the scope for the active engagement of people in the creative production and and Initiatives shaping of the city in Asia. The UKNA Secretariat is at IIAS, but the network comprises universities and planning institutions across China, India, Southeast Asia and Europe. Its IIAS research and other initiatives current flagship project is the Southeast Asia are carried out within a number Neighbourhoods Network (SEANNET). of thematic, partially overlapping Next symposium: Water Heritage in Asian Cities, Shanghai, China, 29 Nov. - 1 Dec. 2018. research clusters in phase with See page 52 of this issue. contemporary Asian currents and built around the notion of social www.ukna.asia Coordinator: Paul Rabé [email protected] agency. In addition, IIAS remains Clusters: Asian Cities; Asian Heritages open to other potentially significant topics. More information: EANNET is a four-year project www.iias.asia (2017-2020), supported by a grant Sfrom the Henry Luce Foundation Southeast Asia (New York, USA) that seeks to develop a multi-disciplinary body of knowledge Neighborhoods on cities in Southeast Asia through the IIAS research clusters prism of the neighbourhood. Through Network (SEANNET) case study sites in six cities (Mandalay, Myanmar; Chiang Mai and Bangkok, Asian Cities Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; This cluster deals with cities and urban Manila, Philippines; Surabaya, Indonesia), in-situ roundtables and workshops, academic cultures with their issues of flows and fluxes, SEANNET seeks to engage the humanistic social conferences, publications, and new forms of ideas and goods, and cosmopolitism and sciences in a dialogue with urban stakeholders pedagogy developed in collaboration with local connectivity at their core, framing the existence as co-contributors of an alternative knowledge institutions of learning. The second ambition of vibrant ‘civil societies’ and political micro- on cities. It seeks to achieve this through a of SEANNET is to help shape and empower cultures. Through an international knowledge combination of participatory field-research, a community of early career scholars and network, IIAS aims to create a platform for practitioners working on and from Southeast scholars and urban practitioners focusing on Asia. To that effect, SEANNET research teams in Asian cities ‘in context’ and beyond traditional the six neighbourhoods comprise international western norms of knowledge. and local scholars, students from local universities, and civil society representatives, working together with neighbourhood Asian Heritages residents. This cluster focuses on the uses of culture and cultural heritage practices in Asia. In particular, www.ukna.asia/seannet it addresses a variety of definitions associated Coordinators: Paul Rabé with cultural heritage and their implications [email protected] for social agency. The cluster engages with and Rita Padawangi Singapore a broad range of related concepts and issues, University of Social Sciences including the contested assertions of ‘tangible’ [email protected] and ‘intangible’, concepts such as ‘authenticity’, Cluster: Asian Cities ‘national heritage’ and ‘shared heritage’, and, in general, with issues pertaining to the political economy of heritage. IAS supports the work of the Indian Medical Research Network, which Global Asia Iaims to stimulate social-cultural and Indian Medical Asia has a long history of transnational social-historical research on Indian linkages with other parts of the world, thereby medical traditions such as Ayurveda, Research Network shaping the global order, as much as the world Unanitibb, Siddha, Yoga and Sowa Rigpa. at large continues to shape Asia. The Global Of special interest is the integration of Asia Cluster addresses contemporary issues Indian medicine in Indian public health related to Asia’s projection into the world as well and its role as second resort for as trans-national interactions within the Asian middleclass Indians and Europeans. region itself. In addition IIAS aims to help develop a more evenly balanced field of Asian Studies www.iias.nl/indianmedicine by collaborating in trans-regional capacity Coordinator: Maarten Bode building initiatives and by working on new types [email protected] of methodological approaches that encourage Cluster: Asian Heritages synergies and interactions between disciplines, regions and practices.

nitiated by IIAS, this programme involves Leiden University in the Netherlands, two IInstitutes at National Taiwan University Double Degree in in Taiwan and one at Yonsei University in South Korea. Discussions with other possible Critical Heritage Studies partners in Asia are ongoing. The programme offers selected students the opportunity to of Asia and Europe follow a full year study at one of the partner institutes with full credits and a double degree. The curriculum at Leiden University benefits from the contributions of Prof Michael Herzfeld (Harvard) as a guest teacher and the Senior Advisor to the Critical Heritage Studies Initiative of IIAS.

www.iias.nl/critical-heritage-studies Coordinator: Elena Paskaleva [email protected] Cluster: Asian Heritages The Newsletter No. 81 Autumn 2018 55 Research The Network

Asian Borderlands Research Network (ABRN)

his network focuses particularly on the border regions Leiden Centre for between South Asia, Central/East and Southeast Humanities across TAsia. The concerns are varied, ranging from migratory Indian Ocean Studies movements, transformations in cultural, linguistic and Borders: Asia & Africa religious practices, to ethnic mobilisation and conflict, marginalisation, and environmental concerns. ABRN in the World organises a conference in one of these border regions he Leiden Centre for Indian Ocean every two years in co-operation with a local partner. Studies brings together people and Tmethods to study the ‘Indian Ocean www.asianborderlands.net World’, aiming to co-organize conferences, Coordinator: Erik de Maaker workshops and academic exchanges with o-funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation [email protected] institutions from the region. Together with (New York, USA) this new IIAS programme (2017-2020) Cluster: Global Asia IIAS, the Centre facilitates an inclusive and Cfor global collaboration on humanistic education is global platform bringing together scholars carried out by a consortium of twenty-three leading institutes and institutions working on connections in Asia, West Africa, Europe and the United States, and their and comparisons across the axis of human local partners in Asia and Africa. Its goal is to mobilise the interaction with an interest in scholarship development of a global consortium of universities and their that cuts across borders of places, periods local partners interested in fostering humanities-grounded and disciplines. education. Its substantive vision is that of an inclusive and Energy Programme expanded humanities. To this end, the program will initiate www.iias.asia/research/leiden- methodological interventions in teaching and research Asia (EPA) centre-indian-ocean-studies to surpass narrow disciplinary, institutional and ideological Cluster: Global Asia agendas. The programme facilitates border-crossing meetings, workshops and other collaborative pedagogical formats in its partner geographies. Jointly conducted, these events aim he latest and second joint to shape a curricular matrix and framework for humanistic research programme of the education across borders. TIIAS Energy Programme Asia carried out with the Institute of West Follow the stories on the Humanities across Borders Blog Asia & African Studies of the Chinese Centre for Regulation www.humanitiesacrossborders.blog Academy of Social Sciences was entitled The Transnationalization & Governance (CRG) www.iias.asia/hab of China’s Oil Industry (2013-2017). Clusters: Global Asia; Asian Heritages It analysed China’s increasing involvement with governments, local institutions and local stakeholders he IIAS Centre for Regulation and in the energy sectors of a number Governance in Asia is engaged in of resource-rich countries in Africa, Tinnovative and comparative research on Asia and Latin America. theories and practices – focusing on emerging Publication: Geopolitical Economy of Energy markets of Asia. Its multi-disciplinary research Africa-Asia, and Environment China and the European Union undertakings combine approaches from (Medhi P. Amineh, Yang Guang, 2017). political economy, law, public administration, A New Axis of criminology, and sociology in the comparative www.iias.nl/research/energy-programme- analysis of regulatory issues in Asia and in Knowledge asia-epa developing theories of governance pertinent Coordinator: M. Amineh to Asian realities. [email protected]; [email protected] Cluster: Global Asia Cluster: Global Asia frica-Asia, A New Axis of Knowledge’ is an inclusive transnational platform that convenes scholars, artists, ‘A intellectuals, and educators from Africa, Asia, Europe, and beyond to study, discuss, and share knowledge on the intricate connections and entanglements between the African and Asian world regions. Our aim is to contribute to the long-term establishment of an autonomous, International intellectual and academic community of individuals and institutions between two of the world’s most vibrant Convention of Asia continents. We aspire to facilitate the development of research and educational infrastructures in African and Scholars (ICAS) Asian universities, capable of delivering foundational knowledge in the two regions about one another’s cultures and societies. This exchange, we believe, is a prerequisite for a sustainable and balanced socio-economic progress of the two continents. It is also an opportunity to move ith its biennial conferences, Ten conventions have been held since 1997 beyond the Western-originated fields of Asian and International Convention of Asia (Leiden, Berlin, Singapore, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, African area studies—something that would benefit WScholars (ICAS) is the largest Daejon, Honolulu, Macao, Adelaide, and Chiang Mai). Asian, African and Western scholars alike. global forum for academics and civil society exchange on Asia. Founded in 1997 at the ICAS 11 will be held in Leiden, the Netherlands, www.africasia.org initiative of IIAS, ICAS serves as a platform 16-19 July 2019. Cluster: Global Asia for scholars, social and cultural leaders, and institutions focusing on issues critical to Asia, Website: www.icas.asia and, by implication, the rest of the world. IIAS/ICAS secretariat: The ICAS biennial conferences are organised Paul van der Velde [email protected] in cooperation with local universities, cities and institutions and attended by scholars and other experts, institutions and publishers from 60 countries. ICAS also organises the biennial ‘ICAS Book Prize’ (IBP), which awards the most prestigious prizes in the field of Asian Studies for books and PhD theses in English, Korean, Chinese, French and German (more language editions are planned for the future). 56 Asian art Exploring exhibitions of Asian art The Portrait all over the world

drawing; she excelled at figure painting, which foreshadowed her signature mature works of female nudes. Yet, it was not so long ago that life drawing was still banned from women, as it was considered morally improper. Art historian Linda Nochlin identifies this restriction as a significant obstacle to women’s artistic potential, because the highest forms of painting all require mastery of painting the human figure. The taboo of life drawing in China continued through to the 1930s and Pan constantly had to confront and overcome the contentious emancipation of the female body in her art-making.

The exhibition: Song of Spring In search of creative breathing space, Pan returned to Paris in 1937 to find new inspiration Above: Song of Spring (Three Ladies), 1941; 45 x 54 cm, for her own visual language. The many striking Oil on canvas. Top right: Two Girls Dancing with Fans, portraits she completed in this period opens the Undated; 33 x 24 cm, Oil on wooden board. Below left: exhibition, entitled: Song of Spring: Pan Yu-Lin Song of Spring: Portrait of Three, 1940; 60 x 50 cm, Oil on canvas. Bottom: Self-portrait in Red, c. 1940; 90 x 64 cm, Oil on in Paris. In western art history, portraiture had canvas. All images, courtesy Anhui Provincial Museum. historically asserted the status of the sitter. The fact that Pan, a Chinese woman artist, Pan Yu-Lin in Paris often depicted herself at the easel is an assertion of her individual identity and the appropriation of western art modality for new expression in modern Chinese art. Pan’s iconic works of the nude continue the exhibition. Depicted in sketches, ink and color, and oil, Pan’s female nudes reveal how she could 12 September 2018 – 6 January 2019 capture natural expression of the body involved in various activities, with her subjects often Chantal Miller Gallery, oblivious to our gaze, completely at ease in their physicality. Many of Pan’s nudes combine the Asia Society Hong Kong Center (ASHK), fluid lines of Chinese calligraphy with western pointillist approach to color, creating a unique https://asiasociety.org/hong-kong modern aesthetic that bridges eastern and western sensibilities. Pan also often represented women of color, speaking to her experience as an émigré artist in France. The exhibition concludes with Pan’s humanistic vision in a sia Society Hong Kong Center’s ‘20th The second exhibition in ‘the Series’ modernization influenced by western science series of dancing women that spotlight free Century Chinese Female Artists Exhibition focuses on the life and works of Pan Yu-Lin, and democracy. During the radical 1919 May expression of the female body in idyllic visions, ASeries’, the first of its kind in Hong Kong, and also includes educational talks and Fourth Movement, co-ed higher education and reveal her ability to translate the vitality aims to reclaim the story of Chinese female activities targeting participation from the was sanctioned and Pan seized the chance of three-dimensional human body on canvas. artists. By providing local Hong Kong audiences local community; these programs and to enter the Shanghai Art Academy, thereafter This first-ever solo exhibition of Pan Yu-Lin in with important examples of their artistic activities draw upon Pan Yu-Lin’s story of great traveled to France in 1921 on government Hong Kong brings treasured works, many grade accomplishments, we hope to honor these personal resiliency throughout her lifetime to scholarship to study fine arts. She spent one cultural relics, from the Anhui Museum female artists with the public recognition they exemplify the perseverance and outstanding almost a decade studying drawing, painting, to a local audience in a rare presentation. deserve for their contribution to the making achievements of women throughout the ages. and sculpture between Lyon, Paris, and Rome. The life and art of Pan Yu-Lin is invaluable for of modern China. From a wider community Through education programs for children, The cornerstone of her western training was life learning about the impact of Western painting context, ‘the Series’ fits into the discourse students, families, and the general public, we on modern Chinese art and the significance of on female empowerment and equality in will highlight achievements of women in various revolutionizing culture in the making of modern today’s Hong Kong, where research indicates industries while connecting to the lives and China. Pan’s embodiment of the learned and that women continue to face challenges in careers of the unique female artists presented independent new Republican woman also male-dominated industries as well as gender in the Series. speaks to the greater history of Chinese female stereotypes in the media and the workplace. emancipation and sheds light on contemporary gender discourses that are increasingly While the diverse achievements of female The artist: Pan Yu-Lin urgent today. talents across different fields have gained better Belonging to the first generation of light in recent years, female artists remain an Chinese students to study fine arts in France, under-represented and under-appreciated Pan Yu-Lin (aka Pan Yuliang, 1895-1977) was With thanks to segment in many societies and even more so a pioneer at a time when it was rare for Song of Spring: Pan Yu-Lin in Paris is across Chinese communities. Yet the emergence women to achieve independent careers as guest curated by Dr Eric Lefebvre, Director of female artists in 20th century China was a professional artists. Pan was distinguished of Cernuschi Museum in Paris, with Joyce testament to both the country’s social progress for her individual style that synthesized Hei-ting Wong (Chantal Miller Gallery, Asia and the various redefinitions of modernity eastern and western sensibilities as well as Society Hong Kong Center) as assistant that were adopted in a historical context her academic contributions as one of the first curator. In 2017, Joyce Hei-ting Wong was also complicated by wars and disasters. In scholastic female art professors in modern China. Unlike involved with the first instalment of ASHK’s studies and exhibitions, however, attention has most of her compatriots who built their careers ‘20th Century Chinese Female Artist Series’: been focused on modern Chinese male artists. back home after overseas education, Pan came Painting Her Way: The Ink Art of Fang Zhaoling. Exhibitions featuring the creative attainments to live and develop her individual style in the and influences of their female counterparts competitive Parisian art world until her death. Exhibition sponsored by The Hong Kong from the period are few and far between, Born in Yangzhou to humble origins, Pan Jockey Club Charities Trust, and part of ASHK’s and rarely in monographic presentations. came of age when China underwent rapid ‘20th Century Chinese Female Artist Series’.