Asian History

I would like to invite this to be a dialogue of sorts,...

Sat, 25 May 2013 04:22:00 -0400

I would like to invite this to be a dialogue of sorts, especially among myself and other history bloggers here on tumblr (but everyone in general), regarding their feelings about the meeting point between history and social media and what is appropriate.

This post started out with someone pointing out the new “History Meme” circulating parts of tumblr. Memes, by definition, are ideas and concepts that jump from person to person and by their very nature are appealing to pass around. This latest meme asks people to pick and choose their favorite historic events/people/moments and — I would like to say there is nothing inherently wrong with having favorite moments in history, even if those moments are not good moments. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with finding yourself intensely fascinated or engaged intellectually by some of the world’s greatest tragedies, wars, disasters, and so on.

However, this is where historicity comes in — in this case, I use the word not in the philosophical sense necessarily, but as the idea of separating legend and myth from fact and truth. It has been brought to my attention that this meme asks for the following:

And again, being fascinated or engaged with any of these things is not necessarily a bad thing on its own.

However — there’s been some problems. It’s easy to romanticize history when we place it in a memetic context. It’s extremely easy to become desensitized to war and genocide if we pick our favorites and post images of these wars (photographs if they exist) and do not examine them with a critical lens or with appropriate respect in regards to how we view these images. And as an art historian, I know all too well how easy it is to mutate and change meaning of images based on context, production, exposure, and alteration.

But this is where I think things get tricky: There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make graphics to explore your love of history, but I have heard complaints of using graphic images for this meme — which asks for “war, assassinations, natural disasters,” all of which are devastating and recall the imagery of devastation. I know that when I look at, say, the images of Buddhist monks who have set themselves on fire, or Soldiers with beheaded people, or other images of violence, war, gore, terror, humiliation, famine, disease, disaster, etc, I have to ask — very seriously — Is it necessary to distribute these images in order for the history to be told or understood? If I use these images, can something be gained from their use?

If you make a graphic set of World War II, how much are you separating from actual images of the war from images from films either ones that dated from that era, or ones that are more modern?

By the same token, if you choose to represent a King or Queen from India with a white-european model — understand that this is problematic. When you choose to “represent” history with someone or something of the modern era, you must understand that there is accountability within that representation. Yes, it is absolutely whitewashing to use a white woman to represent an Indian Queen.

And this rightfully upsets people, just as the callous use of images of dead soldiers on battlefields being used as backdrops for “favorite war” might upset people, or at the very least might seem distasteful. While some of these graphics for this meme are superbly well done, and honestly taking part in the spirit of history “geeking” I have to call into question the beautification and romanticization of violence, death, war, and the prevalence of glossing over the facts in favor of what “looks good” or what is readily available or easy seeming — especially when it comes at the expense of whitewashing or outright misleading history.

Please, there is no need to not celebrate and engage in history that you find fascinating. But as I scroll through this meme tag, I urge people to consider, and rethink how they might approach history and social media, especially when it glorifies violence by minimizing the historical context in favor of what are essentially graphic art exercises.

Ask yourself: How does the use of violent images in memes affect how we approach those histories? What is and is not appropriate when approaching such images? And how can we approach social media and reconcile it with thoughtful and contextualized historic engagement?

Indiegogo | Asianhistory | US History Minus White Guys

christiesauctions: A Rare and Important Pair of Imperial...

Fri, 24 May 2013 03:27:13 -0400

christiesauctions:

A Rare and Important Pair of Imperial Cloisonne Enamel ‘Dragon’ Vases, Fanggu

Reverence and Perfection - Magnificent Imperial Cloisonne Enamels From a Private European Collection

Are you able to keep the money you've funded so far after the deadline on indiegogo?

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:14 -0400

Yes! It is not an all or nothing campaign, unlike kickstarter. I chose this because I didn’t think I would meet the campaign goal, even now with 100,000 followers.

Wow! That came up a lot faster than I expected! Asianhistory has...

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:38:35 -0400

Wow! That came up a lot faster than I expected! Asianhistory has officially surpassed 100,000 followers — and the indiegogo campaign (while not likely to meet the goal) has hit $1,000 so thank you all!

I’d like to celebrate 100,000 follows, so if anyone has any great suggestions, please drop something in my ask.

Indiegogo | Asianhistory | US History Minus White Guys

malacanan: A quintessential component of summer in the...

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:34:00 -0400

malacanan:

A quintessential component of summer in the Philippines: ice cream on a cone from your friendly neighborhood sorbetero––a sentiment obviously shared by President Ramon Magsaysay (seen here sporting a breezy polo printed with jockeys, reminiscent of one of his most iconic photographs).

asianhistory: Asian History and US History Minus White Guys has...

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:13:06 -0400

asianhistory:

Asian History and US History Minus White Guys has officially started an Indiegogo campaign.

I’m trying to raise a minimum of $10,000 to pay off the rest of my semester’s tuition and next semester’s tuition so that I can spend more time, money, energy, and effort here and at USHistoryminuswhiteguys! I’m currently $31,410 in debt with student loans, and at the end of next year, will have $42,500 in debt. I work a part time job and intern, and unfortunately not even scholarships, pell grants, or jobs can cover all my bills.

That’s where I’m asking my followers to step in!

I would like to change that, but I need everyone’s help.

It’s possible if I have your help! Please reblog and consider donating. We have 9 days left! :)

Indiegogo | Asianhistory | US History Minus White Guys

I have two questions about the Edo period regarding the daily life in Edo (Tokyo), and I hoped you could help me with them. 1) How did the police force work? What did the members of the police force (like the yoriki, the doshin, etc.) do outside of work? The sources I found on this topics are few, contain little information which often conflict with each other on top of that. 2) Information on the daily spiritual life of the population. - Thank you very much for your time.

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:10:17 -0400

I get a few very specific asks like this from time to time, and I wish I could answer them better but more often than not, I can’t — especially if the questions are the sort of ones that could require serious research.

If you haven’t already, I’d advise you to peruse the various scholarly databases linked in the resources button on the top bar. These kinds of questions need major sifting (and frankly sound like research paper fodder, so I’m a little wary of doing the legwork for you). If sources are conflicting and any of the scholars are still alive, chances are you could look them up and shoot them an email!

Especially since I don’t know what information of value you’ve already run across, and what you haven’t, I’m not sure I can help besides pointing you towards the databases I use for research.

Choi Seung-hee was born into an upper-class family in Seoul,...

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:45:14 -0400

Choi Seung-hee was born into an upper-class family in Seoul, Korea during the Japanese occupation and was also known by the Japanese pronunciation of her name, Sai Shoki. After graduating from Sookmyung High School at the age of fifteen, she went against her father’s wishes to study under modern dancer Baku Ishii in Japan, where she distinguished herself as one of the most talented dancers. She developed her own modern dances inspired by Korean folk dances, which had been considered as lowly works. She was supported by Japanese intellectuals including Yasunari Kawabata.

She went to North Korea and got posts in the communist government. She was purged by the party and disappeared in the 1960s. In February 2003, she was rehabilitated and utilized for propaganda by North Korea, who announced that she had died in 1969. [Summary for The Story of a Dancer (DVD)]

This round's Indiegogo contributors!

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:35:00 -0400

For whatever reasons, images are slow loading for me today. That said, many thanks to:

sportygurl106, worldzend, and many Anonymous folk!

Your donations mean everything to me, and I am eternally grateful. I am also going to immediately unpack my stationary and return to mailing things out now that I’ve moved out of my dorm.

Thanks again!

P.S. Everybody: We’ve surpassed 98,700 followers recently! I would love to hit the 100,000 mark by the end of summer!

Indiegogo | Asianhistory | US History Minus White Guys

vintageindianclothing: These are examples of the nine-yard sari...

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:07:10 -0400

vintageindianclothing:

These are examples of the nine-yard sari as worn in Maharashtra. The lower half is like the dhoti i.e. the cloth is taken between the legs and tucked into the back and the upper half is left loose unlike in the south. It seems to have been worn by almost all sections of society and everything suggests it was a more practical garment than the modern sari given Maratha and Deccan queens hunted and fought in the garment.

On the other hand once the tucks and drapes are in place it is also a garment that looks elegant and beautiful - a fact much exploited in the paintings of the Ravi Varma school.

In its truncated form, it is also a “sexy” sari and it appears in simple early 20th century illustrations as well as in Hindi cinema.

A modern photograph that clearly shows how the sari is tucked in at the back.

asiasociety: Photos: Kyrgyz People Cling to Tradition in...

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:07:16 -0400

asiasociety:

Photos: Kyrgyz People Cling to Tradition in Forbidding Corner of Northern Afghanistan

Photographer Matthieu Paley spent more than a decade photographing the Afghan Kyrgyz people, who live in one of the world’s most remote and inhospitable areas.

Read the full story here

paper-dragons: The Mansoojat Foundation The Mansoojat...

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:48:40 -0400

paper-dragons:

The Mansoojat Foundation

The Mansoojat Foundation is a UK registered charity founded by a group of Saudi women with a passionate interest in the traditional ethnic textiles and costumes of Arabia.

Where We Go In The Future Is Determined
By Where We Have Been In The Past.

The Mansoojat Foundation’s mission is to revive and preserve the traditional ethnic designs and costumes of the various regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; to promote and conduct academic research important for the understanding of the history and culture of the region, and to raise public awareness for the appreciation of this unique heritage.

asianhistory: Asian History and US History Minus White Guys has...

Wed, 15 May 2013 23:25:00 -0400

asianhistory:

Asian History and US History Minus White Guys has officially started an Indiegogo campaign.

I’m trying to raise a minimum of $10,000 to pay off the rest of my semester’s tuition and next semester’s tuition so that I can spend more time, money, energy, and effort here and at USHistoryminuswhiteguys! I’m currently $31,410 in debt with student loans, and at the end of next year, will have $42,500 in debt. I work a part time job and intern, and unfortunately not even scholarships, pell grants, or jobs can cover all my bills.

That’s where I’m asking my followers to step in!

I would like to change that, but I need everyone’s help.

It’s possible if I have your help! Please reblog and consider donating. We have 16 days left! I would like to hit at least $1,000 before the time is up. :)

Indiegogo | Asianhistory | US History Minus White Guys

asean2015: ASEAN CommunityYakan people, Philippines Yakan...

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:31:33 -0400

asean2015:

ASEAN Community
Yakan people, Philippines

Yakan people are among the major indigenous tribes in Mindanao. Having a significant number of followers of Islam, it is considered as one of the 13 Moro groups in the Philippines. There are also a good number of Christians in this tribe as a result of the conversion of the line of Datu Kalun - Ruler of the Island of the Basilan and the Yakans in Mindanao, to Christianity. The Yakans mainly reside in Basilan but are also in Zamboanga City, Philippines.

beyankha:

Yakan

matteoricci: John Thomson: Chinese Women, 1869-72. John Thomson...

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:28:57 -0400

matteoricci:

John Thomson: Chinese Women, 1869-72.

John Thomson (1837-1921) was a pioneering Scottish photographer who, after traveling through various parts of Asia, settled in Hong Kong in 1868 and operated a studio there for the next four years. Using Hong Kong as his base, he traveled extensively throughout China and was the first known photographer to document the people and landscapes of China for publication in the western market. Returning to England, he published a four volume book entitled “Illustrations of China and its People” in London, 1873-1874.

Images courtesy of Yale University Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

I’ve heard of Wing Chun (詠春) before, and I think most...

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:14:08 -0400

I’ve heard of Wing Chun (詠春) before, and I think most people are familiar with it vaguely — Bruce Lee was known to have popularized the style and used it to formulate his own style of martial arts. I’ve also sat through the recent movies Ip Man and Ip Man 2 which are about one of the Grandmasters of the style.

That said, watching Bruce Lee or Ip Man isn’t what you’re looking for. Personally I would ask your instructor/teacher for recommendations. They’re probably an avid student of Wing Chun and have studied the history of it already. However, this following book pinged when I went looking for things, and seem to be of some interest:

Complete Wing Chun: The Definitive Guide to Wing Chun’s History and Traditions

However most books seems to be about the technique and practice and not as much of the history you’re looking for. I suggest perhaps looking for biographies of well known Wing Chun martial artists for perhaps the backstory of these people.

Perhaps also putting it to the public would help!

Indiegogo | Asianhistory | US History Minus White Guys

This blog is great and you are great and thank you for your resources page and the time and effort you put into this blog.

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:56:18 -0400

Thanks!

asean2015: ASEAN CommunityAncient temple ruins, Siem Reap,...

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:54:59 -0400

asean2015:

ASEAN Community
Ancient temple ruins, Siem Reap, Cambodia

gregpowell:

Beginnings. Siem Reap, Cambodia

martinekenblog: Beijing-based artist Huang Yan expertly...

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:08:11 -0400

martinekenblog:

Beijing-based artist Huang Yan expertly emulates traditional paintings from the Song Dynasty of Chinese landscapes on the human body. While the style and art of painting is a traditional practice, the choice to use the human form as a canvas adds new meaning to the works. The contemporary artist’s series, aptly titled Chinese Landscapes, presents a visual relationship between man and nature through his expert application.

(via)

There's a deeper meaning to "Bugeisha" than what the previous ask said. Bugeisha literally meant "one who practiced the art of war." Art, in this case, meant not just a "way of doing something," that would be budoka (one who practiced the way of war), rather, Bugeisha intends an aesthetic perfection through martial practices. It treats the martial arts as literally art on par with poetry and dance.

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:07:01 -0400

There may be a gendered component there, as I have rarely read of men being called “bugeisha,” though I don’t think it is impossible: “geisha” isn’t technically a gendered term, it merely refers to “one who practices the arts,” where art here meant aesthetic forms. However, there are some references in the Heike Monogatari to men being called bugeisha as opposed to “bushi” or “budoka.”

Finally, if we are to understand the full context of the word, “bugeisha” are those individuals who have incorporated a degree of self expression into the martial practice, or those so skilled at the martial arts as to elevate them to aesthetic representations, to make present a certain kind of feeling through the martial art.

The nuance seems a little deeper but in all honesty, someone who practices the art of war and is female generally seems to be the rough translation although each seems to add more depth I don’t think anyone has been wrong, necessarily?

Still, thank you.