IIAS NEWSLETTER 3, AUTUMN 1994 IIAS NEWS The European Science Foundation, based in Strassbourg, has recently taken steps to support Asian Studies in Europe. The European Committee for Advanced Asian Studies was established in March this year under the aegis of the ESF. During the past year IIAS representatives have paid visits to other institutes in the field of Asian Studies in order to strengthen international cooperation. The talks have resulted in Memoranda of Understanding and Letters of Intent. The IIAS intends to set up a European database for Asian Studies. In this database the following data will be included: personal data, institutional affiliation, membership of organizations and disciplinary and regional specialization. After sending questionnaires to Dutch Asianists, some conclusions, based on the returns, could be made about Asian Studies in the Netherlands. IIAS SEMINARS *Environmental Movements in Asia *Transfer of Science: Technology and Education between Europe and Asia 1498-1948 *Ideology and the Status of Sanskrit in South and Southeast Asia *Space and Identities in Southeast Asia GENERAL NEWS The German Association for Asian Studies in Hamburg regrets the fact that the German economy makes so little use of the many graduates who have specialized on East and Southeast Asia. They are actively trying to remedy this situation. The Italian Institute for the Middle and Far East (IsMEO) was founded in 1933 and has launched extensive archaeological activities in all the countries of Asia including the Near East. IsMEO runs courses, organizes exhibitions and conferences, and collaborates with various other Italian and foreign institutes. The Research Institute for the Cultural and Intellectual History of Asia, in Vienna, was founded in 1991 and carries out research on South Asia, East Asia, Buddhism, and Interreligious Communication. Ernst Prets sheds some light on the research tasks of the Institute on these disciplines. In 1993, the new Research school CNWS: School of Asian, African, and Amerindian Studies was formed. This School aims to encourage non-Western studies in Humanities, Law, and the Social Sciences and stimulate internationalization of research and teaching in the various areas and disciplines. New PhD students present their name and research projects. SOUTH ASIA The French Institute of Pondichery (FIP), was created in 1955 in accordance with the wishes of the then Prime Minister Nehru that Pondichery remain a window open to French culture. It has developed an intensive network of scientific co-operation with prestigious institutions, universities, and international organizations all over the world. The Centre for Advanced Research of Indigenous Knowledge Systems CARIKS (Mysore, India), started functioning in late 1993 as a resource centre for documentation, database information and research on the subject of Indigenous Knowledge. The situation of the Indology departments at Dutch universities has changed dramatically since 1992. After the merging and concentration operations, two of the Institutes remain: the Kern Institute in Leiden, and the Institute for Indian languages and Cultures in Groningen. This calls for some explanation of the present situation. SOUTHEAST ASIA "Trying to understand the Javanese without knowing the language? Impossible! In the study of the Javanese discourse we are able to understand the culture, as it is constructed in it." says Bernard Arps, professor of Javanese at Leiden University. An interview. In 1979 the Cambodian government appealed to the world to help protect and preserve the monuments of Angkor. The Ateliers for Conservation of Cultural Property (PKZ)in Warsaw answered the call, and six years later the Polish-Cambodian Mission for the Restoration of the Wall Paintings on the Silver pagoda in Phnom Penh began operations. EAST ASIA CHINA Visual aspects form an essential part of every culture, and they should play an important role in the study of each culture. Therefore the Sinological Institute in Leiden, has embarked on the project: ChinaVision-Visual Documentation and Presentation of the History of Chinese Culture" In May this year, Carine Dujardin successfully defended her thesis: "Missionary Work and Modernity" in which she describes the lives of 100 Belgian Friar Minor who left for central China in the period 1872-1940 to undertake missionary work. An abstract from an interview with Dr Dujardin. EAST ASIA JAPAN AND KOREA The European Association for Japanese Studies has set up its permanent office in Leiden, the Netherlands. At the same time, the Association celebrates its 20th Anniversary. Zen philosopher Masao Abe is a member of the Kyoto School which is based on the principle of 'Absolute Nothingness'. "Pure scholarship, without meditation, is impotent, whereas exercises without learning makes one blind" he says. An interview with a man, following in the footsteps of Kitaro Nishida. Engelbert Kaempfer (1651-1716) stayed in Japan as a physician at the VOC tradingpost on Deshima. He has left us an immense amount of notes and writings. A new integral edition of his works is on its way. INSULAR SOUTH WEST ASIA All the islands southwest to India are seen as integral part of Asia because they are dominated by Asian linguistic, social, and cultural elements. The Introduction to Insular South West Asia gives an outline of the history and cultures of, among others, Madagascar, the Maldives, Mauritius, and the Seychelles islands. ASIAN CULTURE This new section in the newsletter is compiled by The Gate Foundation. In this issue, among other things, the contemporary art and cinema of Vietnam will be discussed. In the Art Agenda, forthcoming exhibitions, performances, and lectures on Asian art are mentioned. NEWSLETTERS ON ASIA IN EUROPE Fortyfour Newsletters, published in Europe and dealing with (aspects of) Asia, are included in the list. We welcome any information on newsletters we may have overlooked. SUPPLEMENT Trends. A monthly publication of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS), distributed with the Business Times. 'Trends' gives a scholarly comment on current economic and political developments in Southeast Asia.