Asiatica Association

We have just received the Sungkyun Journal of East Asian Studies, vol. 9, no. 2 (Oct. 2009). This is a research publication on Sinology written in English. It is published by the Academy of East Asian Studies of Sungkyunkwan University.

This issue includes the papers "The Advent of the Buddhist Conception of Religion in China and its Consequences for the Analysis of Daoism" by T. H. Barrett, "On the Origins of Detached Soul Motif in Chinese Literature" by Zhenjun Zhang, "Public Memory and Identity Politics at the Ruined Budhist Temple Kudaraji ato in Hirakata City" by Yoko Hsueh Shirai, "Screening Education: Schools on Film in People's Republic of China" by Xuelin Zhou, "The Play of Morality in Feng Xiaogang's Films" by Dian Li, "Toppling the Tiger, Devouring the Dragon: Alternative Readings of Korean History through the Muhyop Genre" by Remco Breuker, and two books reviews.

As agreed by the International Association of Sanskrit Studies (IASS) at its 14th
World Sanskrit Conference held in Kyoto (Japan), in 2009, the 15th World Sanskrit
Conference will be held at Delhi (India) from the 5th to 10th January 2012. The
conference will be hosted jointly by the IASS and the RSKS [Rashtriya Sanskrit
Sansthan (Deemed to be University under Ministry of Human Resource Development,
Government of India), New Delhi.)

The 1st circular, including the sections and the conveners, can be downloaded here.

On December 31, 2009 has been published a thick issue of Limes, the international magazine of geopolitics directed by Lucio Caracciolo, wholly dedicated to India. 

Editorial by Lucio Caracciolo (titled The good giant); papers by Francesca Marino, Enrica Garzilli, Beniamino Natale, Marco Restelli, Raimondo Bultrini, Meghnad Desai, K. P. S. Gill, Ajai Sahni, Kanchan Lakshman, Daniela Bezzi, Bhikhu Parekh, Chitvan Gill, Luca Muscarà, S. D. Muni, Paola Tavella, Alberto Bracci Testasecca, Parag Khanna, P. R. Chari, Ezio Ferrante, Vijay Prashad, Nirupama Subramanian e Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ayesha Siddiqa e B. Raman, Praveen Swami, John C. Hulsman, Matteo Tacconi, Marco Ansaldo, Raymond Barre. Here  the summary of papers.

The paper by Enrica Garzilli, titled Gandhi Dynasty, can be read here.

Posts and short analysis on Indian phenomena, such as the history of the Naxalites by Marino, can be read here.

Enjoy!

The Power of Tantra. Religion, Sexuality and the Politics of South Asian Studies, by Hugh B. Urban, paperback, London, I. B. Tauris, 2009, pp. XI+250.

The book is scholarly treatment of Tantra traditions in South Asia, based on reasearch made by the author between 2000 and 2008 in Assam, Bengal, Orissa, Tripura, and Meghalaya. It is notheworthy the complete absence of the Italian scholarship on Tantrism, which started with the famous scholar Giuseppe Tucci and is still well represented.

The new year starts well. North Korean authorities, in fact, signal that leader Kim Jong may visit China, the biggest benefactor of the country. The aim of this visit should be whether he will end his boycott of international nuclear disarmament talks. There is still hope on Earth!

There are two interesting exhibitions on the Jain art in New York city: Victorious Ones: Jain Images of Perfection, which runs through Feb. 15 at the Rubin Museum of Art, 150 West 17th Street, Manhattan; and Peaceful Conquerors: Jain Manuscript Painting, which runs through March 28 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For more info: Rubin Museum of Art ph. (212) 620-5000; Metropolitan Museum of Art (212) 535-7710.

The New York Times has written a review on the them, and published an online slideshow.

The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies (AJISS) has just published the AJISS-Commentary no. 78 by Naoto Nonaka, Professor of Comparative Politics at Gakushuin University.

The End of LDP Rule and its Meaning

The recent change of government in Japan was a clear indication that the historical mission of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) had come to an end. The party had ruled post-World War II Japan almost uninterruptedly by adapting to the special postwar environment, but its governance had stalled out on many fronts. The long-believed assumption about Japanese politics that there would be no change of government was finally abandoned.

To make sure we're spending our defense dollars wisely, we're cutting tens of billions of dollars in waste and projects that even the military says it doesn't need — money better spent on taking care of you and your families and building the 21st century military that we do need. (IBN)

Wise speech of Barack Obama before signing the defense bill this week. The bill, which funds Pentagon operations, had authorized a few unnecessary programs. Mr Obama allocated "only" USD 560 million this year.

Once signed the bill, the law will raise military pay by 3.4 % and assign USD 6.7 billion for mine-resistant armored vehicles. Another USD 7.5 billion will be used for the Afghan army. Apparently, Obama has not planned to solve the Afghan situation by political means yet.