|
The book listed below offer a good introduction
to various areas in Asian Studies. They are listed below along
with any commentary that I might have on the particular book.
NOTE: These are only introductory texts which I am recommending.
I have recommendations for more advanced reading but I would
consider this the bare-minimum to get started. (Obviously if you
are only interested in China and Japan then you don't need to
read the books on Thailand and Korea. BUT: Even if you are only
interested in Thailand you should read something about China due
to it's cultural influence on it's neighbors.
Quick Links
1. Getting Started
2. Asian Theology
The Koreans
Contemporary Politics and Society - Second Edition
Donald Stone Macdonald
WestView Press, 1990 - ISBN 0-8133-0967-0 (326 pages)
What a terrific book! Offers a terrific overview of Korea, A
fairly detailed history of the country (for an introductory
text), an overview of Korean Society and Culture, Politics
(North and South) and Korean economics. It concludes with a
chapter on "the problems of Korean Reunification". The Appendix
includes a section on the Korean Language and a detailed reading
list.
Japan
It's History And Culture
W. Scott Morton
McGraw-Hill, 1994 - ISBN 0-07-043423-9 (311 pages)
Covers Japanese history in a fair amount from the Asuka Period
(552-710) onto modern times. The last few chapters cover
Japanese culture and society. As with most books on the topic a
reading list for further study is also included. (And I won't
duplicate that list here.)
China
It's History And Culture
W. Scott Morton
McGraw-Hill, 1980 - ISBN 0-07-043421-2 (275 pages)
This is the second book I've read by Morton. (His book on Japan
being the other one.) It opens with a discussion of Early
History and moves fairly quickly onto the Zhou Dynasty (1027-221
B.C.) A chapter on Chinese Religion and Philosophy follows
before the book delves into the Qin Dynasty and beyond. The
final chapter covers modern Chinese society. Because of China's
significant influence on other nations in Asia I feel that this
should be one of the first books you read on this topic.
Tradition and Modernization in China and Japan
Peter R. Moody, Jr.
International Thomson Publishing, 1995 - ISBN 0-534-24546-3
(360 Pages)
This book explores the inevitable clash of Chinese and Japanese
cultural tradition with modern life and the influence of western
society. Much of what this book discusses applies to other parts
of East Asia. I personally found this book quite helpful when
used as a supplement to other texts discussed here. (I however
wouldn't read it before I obtained a reasonable historical
background of at least China.)
Thailand: A Short History
David K. Wyatt
Yale University Press, 1984 - (351 page)
ISBN 0-300-03054-1, 0-300-03582-9 (pbk.)
This book is a gem. For those of you who have attempted to study
Thai history you will find that English language texts on the
subject are few and far between. That said this is a fine
introduction to Thai history. The book starts off with the Tai
and Classical Empires (1000-1200). It then covers the rise of
Ayudhya. (Ayudhya was the capital of Thailand for several
hundred years and was considered at the time to be the most
beautiful city in Asia ... until it was destroyed by the Burmese
in the late 1700's.) A chapter is devoted to the changes brought
by King Mongkut and his son King Chulalongkorn. There is so much
to like about this book that I can't write enough. This book
also has a very detailed list of "suggestions for further
reading" which I plan to explore in the near future.
Introduction to Vietnamese Culture
Huynh Dinh Te
Multifunctional Resource Center
San Diego State University - 1987 (Published paper)
This short paper is an excellent overview of Vietnamese culture.
It analyzes the Vietnamese as an individual, as a member of a
Confucian family unit and as a member of society as a whole. It
also briefly discusses the concept of "face". Although this
paper is written specifically for the Vietnamese, I've
personally found that applies equally to other Southeast Asian
nations. (Thailand in particular.) I'm not sure if I'm allowed
to reproduce this paper or not, nor am I aware of where it may
be available. If you are unable to obtain a copy please contact
me and I'll find out if I'm allowed to reproduce it for you.
In most of Asia religion is far more a part of
daily life than in most modern western cultures. In many ways
religion defines cultural behavior and the common worldview. It
is not unreasonable therefore to come to the conclusion that to
fully understand many Asian cultures and societies you must also
understand the religious aspect of society.
Please understand that not all Asian religions are indigenous to
the local people of a particular country or even to Asia. One
example: Buddhism. It is found primarily in China, Japan, Korea,
Thailand, Vietnam and elsewhere. It is actually derived from
Hinduism (India) and is imported into Asia. Christianity which
is very influential in Europe and the Americas also influences
the lives of more than 40% of the people in Korea and a majority
of the population of the Philippines. My point here is that it
is sometimes necessary to study cultures and religions outside
of your target area of study in order to fully understand a
society's religious life.
A History Of The World's Religions - Ninth Edition
David S. Noss, John B. Noss
Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1994 - ISBN 0-02-388471-1 (705 pages)
This book offers a fairly comprehensive overview of most of the
worlds religions. The book does a good job at presenting the
religions both from a historical perspective as well as the
perspective from each religion's adherents. I was most
interested in Part II (The Religions of South Asia -- Hinduism,
Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism) and Part III (The Religions of East
Asia -- Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto). However being a Christian
and living in a Christian society, I couldn't help but read the
four chapters on Judaism and Christianity as well. Overall the
book is one of my most used references and is an excellent place
to start reading. Just a caution note: For those of you who are
interested in one of the forms of Buddhism (I personally
consider myself more of an adherent to Theravada Buddhism) you
may be tempted to skip the chapter on Hinduism and Jainism. I
caution you instead to read the chapters on Hinduism FIRST. To
better understand what goals Siddhartha Gautama was trying to
achieve you should first understand what he was trying to avoid.
This is similar to the Christian approach of understanding what
Jesus Christ wanted to change in Judiasm. (There are many
parallels in the life of Jesus Christ and The Buddha ... but
that's another topic all together.)
Penguin Dictionary of Religions
John R. Hinnells
Penguin Reference, 1995 - ISBN 0-14-051261-6 (759 pages)
As the name implies this is primarily a reference book which
provides a quick synopsis of of almost any religion known to
man. It provides a good amount of detail for a dictionary, but
is still no substitute to a real text on the individual
religions. That said this book is invaluable in the library of
any student of theology.
Tao Teh Ching
Lao Tzu (Translation of John C.H. Wu)
St. John's University Press, 1961
1997 Barnes & Noble Books ISBN 0-76070-616-6 (165 pages)
Much as the Bible is to Christianity this is the main book of
Taoism (Daoism). The Tao is "the way" and describes the proper
flow of the universe. The Tao Teh Ching has influenced the lives
of billions throughout Asia. Lao Tzu is credited with writing
the Tao Teh Ching. It has been debated endlessly about who he
was, or even if he existed at all. This work is not about the
debate. This is simply the English translation of a classic
treasure that belongs to humanity as a whole.
Confucius Lives Next Door
What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living In The West
T.R. Reid
Vantage Books, 1999 ISBN 0-679-77760-1 (176 pages)
Reid explores the Confucian ideals of respect, responsibility,
and group unityand the way they color every aspect of Asian
life. Whether describing his neighbor calmly asserting that his
son's loud bass playing brings disrepute on the neighborhood, or
the Japanese custom of having students clean the schools, Reid
inspires us to consider the many benefits of the Asian Way - As
well as it's drawbacks - and to use this to come to a greater
understanding of both Japanese culture and America.
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching
Transforming Suffering into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
Thich Nhat Hanh
Broadway, 1999 ISBN 0-7679-0369-2 (pbk.) (292 pages)
Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese monk. He is also one of my most
admired authors. (I've read several of his books). The purpose
of this book is to introduce the reader to the core teachings of
Buddhism and how to apply them to your daily life. Topics
covered include The Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path to
enlightenment, and more.
|
