Culture and arts

Hunan province in China is home to the only writing system invented by and for women: Nüshu, meaning “women´s script”. It had been invented by peasant women who needed to communicate difficult lived experiences they could not express openly under the patriarchy in Chinese feudal society. Indeed, Nüshu is also called “the script of tears” because women used it to record their sorrows and pain. It is a non-spoken language and is used only in the form of writing and singing. The community of Nüshu writers and singers offered a protective source of solace and sister-like connections between women, providing them comfort in any difficulty in their lives. Today, Nüshu and its female friendships are experiencing a revival and connect modern-day Chinese women with their female ancestors.

The Shamate subculture, emerging in early 2000s China, served as a rebellious expression of rural migrant youth resisting urban marginalization. Mostly rooted in extravagant fashion and digital engagement, the Shamate embodied defiance against the socio-economic hierarchy reinforced by China’s Hukou system. While Hukou reforms facilitate rural-to-urban migration, they failed to dismantle structural inequalities, leaving migrants in precarious labor conditions. Shamate, framed as ‘low-class’ by urban discourse, illustrates the persistence of the urban-rural divide and the exclusionary nature of China’s industrial modernization. Through aesthetic rebellion, digital subversion, and class struggle, Shamate’s trajectory reveals insights into youth resistance, labor exploitation, and the controlled liberalization of China’s social landscape. This article sheds light on the intersection of class, identity, and policy-driven marginalization in contemporary China.

Sinologism, a framework that distorts Chinese culture and feminism through Western paradigms, often misrepresents Chinese traditions, gender relations, and philosophies. He Zhen critiques both Confucian patriarchy and Western feminist ideologies, exposing their limitations in addressing China’s unique socio-political context. Her anarcho-feminist philosophy emphasizes rejecting traditional gender roles and advocating for a localized feminist movement. By challenging these distortions, He Zhen offers a rethinking of feminism through a distinctly Chinese lens, presenting valuable strategies for decolonizing feminist discourse and fostering approaches rooted in cultural specificity and collective liberation.

This academic essay considers what decolonial and postcolonial approaches mean in the context of Asian Studies and how it offers an alternative mode of understanding the region’s place in the world and in knowledge production. In particular, it addresses how the current knowledge environment continues to reflect hegemonic modes of knowledge production, prioritising dominant discourse, values, and canon that has historically emerged from the ‘West’. While it is not to say that this knowledge is not valuable or does not have a place in the future of Asian Studies, decolonial and postcolonial approaches seek to empower scholars from the region to see value in their research and discourses, advocate for theories emerging from the region, and shift to a more Asia-centric approach to studying Asian Studies.

South Korean culture carries a gem of culinary thought and skill – the Korean temple kitchen. This cuisine is strictly vegetarian and combines a philosophy of sharing and coexistence with humans and nature with a variety of skills like different preparations of vegetables, patience and the passing of culinary knowledge to younger generations. It enjoys rising popularity and international attention at a time when ultra-processed food is consumed at a fast pace. The protagonists of this process are Buddhist nuns. Even though food preparation in Buddhist monasteries is done equally by monks and nuns separately, being an expert in Korean temple kitchens reveals challenges because of gender biases for both monks and nuns.

This article attempts to locate the extent to which gendered conceptions and performances of beauty and aesthetics reflect on and reinforce (gender) inequalities in South Korea. Drawing on the works of Butler, this author seeks to foster discussion surrounding the intersection of gender performances and beauty, and how it has become salient in the contemporary Korean context. Zooming in on makeup and aesthetic/cosmetic surgery as prevalent, often labeled gendered, phenomena amongst the Korean population, this article establishes how beautification tactics as a common practice inform broader discussions surrounding (in) equality in the country.

For those interested in Thai politics and in diving into the meaning of what it is to design citizenship, "Citizen Designs" by Eli Elinoff comes as a relevant narrative unfolded into three parts. Starting by discussing historical state efforts, moving to democratic community-building processes and the impact of post-2014 urbanization, the author uses the example of a marginalized community in Northeastern Thailand to write about the relationship between politics and design to shape citizens even in a not-always-democratic environment.

With more than a century of history and performances staged all over the world, the Takarazuka theater continues to be very popular in Japan. The theatrical performance of this all-women troupe allows visitors to enter a fantastical space. The way gender is performed contributes to the immerging of the audience in this space and enables them to identify with the characters portrayed by the actresses.

“Blackpink in your area”, seven years since Jennie announced the girls’ arrival in the K-Pop industry, South Korean girl group Blackpink is reaching the end of their initial contract with YG Entertainment. Since their debut in 2016, the quartet has achieved tremendous worldwide success, with many media outlets dubbing titles such as “the biggest pop band in the world”, or “the biggest K-pop girl band in the world”. But with their contract termination date coming up soon, the future of Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa has become a popular subject of speculation.

Fully dressed up in ancient Mon attire like women mediums with flowers decorating their heads, sometimes smoking cigarettes and mostly drinking alcoholic beverages, the group of gay, transgender, and queer people have been gradually taking over the role of mediumship in the spirit dance in Northern Thailand, known as Lanna

In Japan, there are with virtually no restriction where alcohol can be sold or advertised. However, this does not necessarily translate to long-term issues with alcoholism, but rather a problem of binge drinking. Because of this, there is an interesting drinking culture in Japan. This article aims to explore Japans drinking culture by looking at two parts of it: work-related parties and FTM (female to male trans people) parties.

Confucius Institutes have been discussed in Western media in varying degrees of intensity over the last couple of decades. They have been subject to criticism for being tools of Chinese soft power and have been labeled as a threat to academic and individual freedom in different countries. But what are Confucius Institutes exactly, and how should we address them?

The origin of traditional culture may more often than not be assumed to have a natural origin that is taken for granted. But where do they come from and how is it that these are chosen to represent the authentic within any given culture. Might our concept of the traditional be a construct made in a different time and place than that in which it represents, and are there any clear cut border to these?

Japan has cultivated a unique culture of enjoying taking public baths, called sento. Facing the current sharp decline of sento throughout the country, young people are trying to rediscover its significant values and revive it in a new form that meets contemporary social needs.

Extravagant architectural structures attract attention in many ways. They can either evoke admiration, prestige and beauty, or they can cause outrage, irritation or ridicule. While the concept of beauty in building design depends on individual taste and local context, China struggles with what is generally considered ‘ugly’ architecture - prompting discussions of vanity, regulation and the emergence of a new self-consciousness in architectural spheres.

Thanon Khao San road may be Southeast Asia's most famous street. Known as backpackers paradise, hundreds of thousands tourists visit the street each year. While you may not be able to visit Thanon Khao San at the moment, join us on a journey to see how the street became a tourist mecca.

Ask any Korean person which holiday defines their national identity the best and they’ll likely answer “Chuseok”. Yet the central role of Chuseok is now challenged among younger generations. The cultural ancestral traditions are in tension with new values in rapidly modernizing Korean society, provoking a clash of generations.

A place is never simply “a place”; it is a mix of optical effects and emotions that differ in every single individual that visits it. Many are the forms of art that help humans capture the subjectivity of reality, but photography definitely has that extra bit that allows the viewer to really immerse in the artist’s emotional sphere. To say that is Marianna Berno, a street photographer that explored Japan through the lens of her camera and captured the nostalgic quotidianity of its people. Ready to re-discover Japan through a new and exceptional angle?

From losing control over life choices to excessive stalking and abuse, Japan’s idol culture has left women who participate in it incredibly vulnerable. Follow the history of Japan’s idol culture to learn how this glittering industry has lefts its stars alone. The shimmering lights of Japan’s entertainment industry have placed women in increasingly dangerous positions without any support.

One of Busan’s hottest tourist spots, Gamcheon Culture Village, is characterised by its colourful small houses layered in a labyrinth of narrow streets and stairs, as the town lies on the side of the Cheonmasan Mountain. Emblazoned with dozens of various artwork, from statues to murals, “The Machu Picchu of Busan” reminds its visitors of Latin America’s favelas. In 2019, more than three million people visited the town. Here is Gamcheon’s regeneration story.

The East Asian movie scene is slowly gaining worldwide recognition, but there are lots of older films from the region worthy of your time too. One of the most acclaimed and important Japanese directors is Yazujirō Ozu, active mainly in the late 40’s and 50’s.

Chocolate is an irresistible treat that is well-loved around the world. As a chocolate lover, baker, and cookbook author, it became important for me to know the origins of chocolate. While doing research, I discovered that Indonesia is the world’s third-biggest exporter of cacao. Furthermore, the movement of having sustainable farming practices within the cacao industry has been gaining a lot of traction in the last decade.

The growing arrival of tattooed tourists to Japan is profoundly influencing the way in which Japanese society perceives them. Therefore, granting horimono an opportunity to detach from the negative connotations that it has carried since the 19th century, and to be re-interpreted as an important element of Japanese cultural heritage. It is said that ‘the world is divided into two types of people: those who have tattoos, and those who are afraid of people with tattoos’. To which group do you belong?

Ten years have passed since Japan’s triple disaster: a 9.1 magnitude earthquake, 10-meter-plus high tsunami waves, and level 7 meltdowns of three nuclear reactors at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The immediate outcome was catastrophic, and many people’s lives are still affected. Once more, art has proven its therapeutic effect by offering people a space to mourn, to cry, to revolt, and finally, to hope.

The Lunar New Year officially began two days ago—and yet another celebration is taking place today. While Lunar New Year is a holiday for family and friends, Valentine’s Day is a holiday for lovers. The style of celebration, however, differs slightly depending on where it is held. This time, let’s focus on how Valentine's Day is celebrated in Japan and what products are demanded by the Japanese market during this romantic consumption day.

Like Sweden, there is a distinct coffee culture in the Southeast Asian region that begets a daily ritual in Singapore and Malaysia known as “kopitiam”. The word “kopi” is an Indonesian and Malay word for coffee. “Tiam” is the word for shop in Hokkien or Hakka Chinese dialect. The coffee is usually drunk at “kopitiam” or “kopi tiam” places with something to eat, just like a Swedish fika.

Space travel and technological greatness, mind-controlled sharks, grotesque images of human degeneration and excessive capitalist development, intergalactic warfare, and the limits of human morality. These are the images Chinese science-fiction has portrayed in one of the country’s most vibrant contemporary literary genres. Its continuing mission: to reflect on the new frontiers of fear and uncertainty, and boldly go where no man has gone before.

Pleasing ancient royal courts, calming stressed minds and inspiring experimental compositions by Claude Debussy and metal bands — the list of creative uses and reuses of Indonesian gamelan music seems endless. Its versatility does not come by surprise as nearly two millennia left their traces on this ancient musical genre. What constitutes its popularity and admiration, or its unique sound, takes you on a journey of musical theory, colonial history and spiritual customs.

From the 1960s onwards, China went through a series of historically important events. As history goes hand in hand with art, events such as the Cultural Revolution and the Tiananmen Square student-led protests caused changes in the creation and perception of art.
After the transition to postmodernism occurred, Chinese art was marked by a radical change from naive idealisation of Western democratic values, to a more reflexive attitude towards the West and its own self-identity.

Small enterprise clusters in the sub-rural areas of Vietnam surprise with their seemingly counterintuitive but lucrative business logic. Unique skills, symbiotic collaboration patterns and market dynamics have often developed over centuries. But the face of clusters such as Bát Tràng ceramics village is changing, now more than ever in the light of resource exploitation, COVID-19 and the advent of technology.

The Japanese culinary experience starts way before food is served. It usually starts with perfectly made food replicas that invite passers-by to stop by and give a try to those mouth-watering dishes. Creating food replicas, however, is more complicated than it seems. Hours and hours of hard work and precision lay behind what appears to be an easy task at first sight.