- General
- On 25 June 1999 Professor Jan Pouwer addressed the Fourth Conference of the European Society for Oceanists. He focused on three epistemological shifts: Sunda, Sahul, and Circum Pacific.
By analysing recent political events in Asia Ronald J. May demonstrates that Asia is not heading ineluctably towards democratization.
- Wildlife Trade in Asia
- For this Newsletter's special theme John Knight has brought together eight scholars to discuss the supply side, the consumer end, and the middlemen of the Wildlife Trade in Asia. The examples of songbirds in East Kalimantan and of South Korean bear gall bladders lay bare 'the need for further research both to document the extent of the trade and its effects on wildlife populations, and to document the character of the human involvement in it in different societies and cultures.'
- Regions
- Central Asia
- In August a group of forty international scholars, all specialists in specific areas of Bon and Zhang Zhung (linguistic) studies, gathered in Japan for their first major symposium on Bon Studies. Participants witnessed a few 'first-ever' introductions into hitherto unexplored terrain, for instance, a preliminary research report by Donatella Rossi on a text from the important Ye khri mtha' sel. Henk Blezer recounts.
- South Asia
- Japanese translations of the books of Pro. J. Gonda by Professor K. Yoroi reach sales figures in Japan whicha best-selling novelist would envy. Thirty thousand copies each of the Japanese translations of Gonda's 'Introduction to Indian Thought' and of his 'Consise Elementary Grammar of the Sanskrit Language', have been sold.
- Insular South West Asia
- The Seychelles has one of the most racially mixed societies in the world. Besides African and European settlers, the Republic has also attracted immigrants from Asia, notably India and China. An article by Jean-Claude Pascal Mahoune.
- Southeast Asia
- The Sumatra Heritage Trust aims at preserving, enhancing, and promoting the natural, cultural, and built heritage of the island of Sumatra. Run mainly by young graduates of universities in Medan, the Trust engages in projects ranging from the restoration of Chinese courtyard mansions to the recording of Mandailing indigenous knowledge.
- Asian Arts
- The Third Asia-Pacific Triennial opened on September 9 and will be on display till January 26, 2000. Presenting more than 140 artworks by 77 artists from 20 countries and regions throughout Asia and the Pacific, the Third Asia-Pacific Triennial also includes an international Conference, a Virtual Triennial online exhibition, a Screen Culture programme of video, Kids' APT, short film, and animation, and much more.