(The following is a post by Hong Ta-Moore, Reference Librarian, Southeast Asia Collection, Asian Division) Those knowledgeable of Singaporean affairs are aware that August is a significant month for the history of this island nation-state. On August 31, 1963 and August 9, 1965, Singapore achieved independence from Britain and the Federation of Malaysia respectively. We …
(The following is a post by Susan Meinheit, Reference Specialist for Tibet, Asian Division) A very attractive task it is to pursue the gradual growth of the Kanjur and Tanjur through the course of many centuries, and to establish the chronology of the translations. (Berthold Laufer, “Notices of Books,” Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, …
Probably best known for his short stories and novellas such as “A Madman’s Diary” (狂人日记) in 1918 and “The True Story of Ah Q” (阿Q正传) in 1921, Lu Xun (鲁迅, 1881-1936) is considered one of the most significant authors of modern Chinese literature. His leftist and liberal works first gained influence following the 1919 May …
(The following is a post by Eiichi Ito, reference specialist in the Asian Division.) Every year some 700,000 visitors come to Washington, D.C. to view the famous sakura, the cherry blossoms (a gift from the city of Tokyo in 1912), and to enjoy the events organized throughout the city as part of the National Cherry Blossom …
(The following is a post by Tien Doan, Special Assistant to the Chief, Asian Division.) Among of the unique collections from Southeast Asia in the holdings of the Asian Division at the Library of Congress is a set of bamboo “books” that came from the Mindoro island and the Palawan island, two islands of the …
Welcome to “4 Corners of the World,” a blog dedicated to international collections and studies at the Library of Congress. This blog is a collaborative social media initiative by the Library’s four area studies divisions — African and Middle Eastern, Asian, European and Hispanic. Posts on this blog will highlight important research resources as well …