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South Asia
Storytelling in Korean and Sindhi Folktales
Folk tales may be specific to a region but they have a certain universality to them. The old myths and folktales of various cultures seem to have a format. Like a screenwriter formats a screenplay or a designer outlines an illustration, similarly, the folktales have a definite format to which…
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East Asia
The Rise of Asian Middle Powers
Their Formation, Development, and the Future of Asia “Much have been said and written about the ‘rise’ of Asia, very little about Asia’s contribution to global governance,” says the Indian-born scholar Amitav Acharya in his 2011 publication. Not only do major powers of China, Japan and India, but also do…
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East Asia
Taiwan’s First Love Icon, Michelle Chen
Every boy has a strong memory of his first love. Taiwan movie You Are The Apple of My Eye touches a deep memory of people’s first love, demonstrating boy’s crush on a naïve and beloved girl during his high school days. Within Asian countries, the first love is often depicted…
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East Asia
Dialogue and Negotiation central in reviving COEX Mall
Coex Mall is a major underground shopping mall located in Seoul’s Gangnam district, which became globally known through Psy’s viral hit “Gangnam Style.” For the last three and a half years, a miraculous transformation has been taking place at Coex that could serve as a new model for Korean society.…
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East Asia
Korean Folk Icons in Modern Korean Art
Korean myths and folktales are woven deeply into the everyday life of the Korean people. These myths and folktales are found in various forms such as music, dramas and movies. The modern interpretation of these folk icons in popular culture reflects contemporary understanding of traditional culture. One example is the…
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East Asia
Yeongyong Hall reflects Changes of Taste and Time
Yeongyeong Hall at the Secret Garden of Changdeok Palace is known as a 19th century noble house. Looking at the remains of the 19th century hanok structure that includes the anchae or main quarters, sarangchae or guest room and seonghyangjae or reading room among others, while location, meaning, direction, intersection…
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South East Asia
Welcoming the New Year in the Philippines
Filipino Culture and Traditions in Celebrating the New Year After all the festivities during Christmas, the New Year is widely seen as the closure of the holiday season for Filipinos. Traditionally, the celebration extends to the Feast of the Three Kings, a celebration signifying the arrival of the three kings…
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East Asia
The first month of Shinto’s country, Japan
Celebrated in the first of January, the Japanese New Year’s Day is a day of celebration to welcome the god Toshigami. Toshigami is a god in the Shinto religion, the spirit of the new year. Preparations come extensively in welcoming Toshigami. One of the things that people prepare is kadomatsu,…
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South Asia
Sleeping in the house of holy
The famous mosque built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan in 1640s stands to this day. As much as it functions as a tourist spot for many around the country as well as foreigners, it also fulfills the purpose of being the ‘House of God’. Prayers are regularly offered and citizens of…
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South Asia
[Exclusive Report] Environmental Disaster in world’s 4th biggest Thar Desert: Thousands of Gugral trees dry up due to illegal extraction of resin
Like in the past, hundreds of kilograms of gum, illegally extracted from Camphora Mukal, the gum-producing trees, locally known as Gugral, by using poisonous chemical, were being transported in vehicles to Karachi this year too, as the conservators of forests and wildlife in Nagarparkar area of Tharparkar district of Sindh…
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