society

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.

The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis reshaped the political and economic landscapes of Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand, triggering democratization by weakening authoritarian regimes and empowering civil society. This paper examines how the crisis disrupted developmental states, leading to short-lived democratic gains, including constitutional reforms in Thailand, Suharto’s resignation in Indonesia, and South Korea’s first opposition presidency. However, entrenched elites adapted, reinforcing clientelism and patronage politics. The resurgence of competitive authoritarianism in the early 21st century, seen in leaders like Thaksin and Prabowo, highlights the persistence of oligarchic control. This article underscores the crisis’s mixed legacy, balancing democratic aspirations with enduring elite dominance.

Spending a semester abroad is an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone, immerse yourself in a new culture, and see the world from a different perspective. For Valerio, studying at Tsinghua University in Beijing was more than just an academic pursuit—it was a journey of discovery, filled with thought-provoking discussions, cultural encounters, and personal growth.
In this interview, he shares his experiences navigating university life in China, from the classroom to the bustling streets of Beijing. He reflects on the challenges of adapting to a new academic environment, the friendships formed along the way, and the moments that made this exchange truly unforgettable. Whether you’re considering studying abroad or simply curious about life as an international student in China, his story offers valuable insights and inspiration.

Studying abroad is more than just an academic endeavor—it’s a journey of discovery, growth, and new perspectives. In this interview, Trisha, a Master's student in Migration Studies at the University of Copenhagen, shares her experience of spending a semester at Lund University in Sweden. She reflects on what drew her to Migration Studies, the unexpected opportunity that led her to Lund, and how the exchange reshaped her academic and personal outlook. From navigating cultural differences to building meaningful connections, Trisha’s story offers a candid and insightful look into the realities of studying abroad. Whether you’re considering an exchange yourself or simply curious about life at Lund, her reflections provide an inspiring glimpse into the transformative power of international education.

Does the politics of multiculturalism always foster cosmopolitan views and reshape national identity? South Korea faces a declining birth rate and labor shortages in key sectors, prompting the government to encourage migration and international marriages. However, while policies supporting foreign integration aim to promote multiculturalism, they can sometimes unintentionally reinforce discrimination rather than inclusivity. In this context, what strategies are most effective in fostering genuine tolerance and acceptance?

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.

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.

This article introduces the political thoughts of Confucianism and its collision with liberalism during the Republic of China. Confucianism was characterized by three features: family-based ethics, the cultivation of human virtues, pragmatic political ideology, and the worship of historical traditions. Impacted by both liberalism, these features were transformed into modern ideas. However, because of the pressing appeals of nationalism, the transformation wasn't completely liberal and many residual influences of Confucianism kept their importance. This doomed the failure of liberalism in China.

This article aims to retell the story of women in the Malayan Communist Party, one among many other groups. It offers a glimpse into this period of history and how these women employed their voices and actions as active participants in wars and revolutions.

During the Cold War, some proxy wars engaged by the US, against the spread of communism, were highly discussed or contested. Other ‘wars’ against communism and its adherents were being played in the shadows and dealt with discretion. In 1965, the US successfully conspired with the government of Suharto to eradicate the communists in Indonesia, and was fully complicit in the mass murders of more than hundreds thousands of human beings.

In Japan, New Year’s celebration is called Oshōgatsu. It is celebrated from New Year’s Eve until January 3rd. On New Year’s Eve, people visit shrines and temples, listen to the temple bells ring 108 times on the stroke of midnight, and enjoy some buckwheat noodles. The following days are filled with visiting family, friends and acquaintances. Some also go for the traditional first visit to the shrine of the year.

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

Behind the scenes of a great, flourishing city, over 1.4 million people are living under the poverty line. Increasing the education level of the next generation becomes the only hope for Hong Kong’s disadvantaged to change their fate, starting a competition among children from birth

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?

Japan’s imperial family currently faces issues with maintaining sufficient family numbers and ensuring stable succession. In December 2021, an expert panel published a report that suggests two potential solutions for that, but none of these open up the possibility of allowing an empress and matrilineal successions as drastic approaches.

Since February 2020 Thailand has seen continued protests led by Thai Youth. With demands reaching from reforms of the educational system to demanding reform of the monarchy, the protests have shooked Thailand's politics and society at its core. This article gives an overview of what has happened in the country over the last two years.

“To explore the vast cosmos, develop the space industry and build China into a space power is our eternal dream”. This declaration from President Xi Jinping reflects the outlines of China’s strategy in outer space. While the country shares various similarities with fellow space powers, one can wonder about China’s space strategy considering its tense situation within the international community. Are they playing the lone wolf, or are they willing to contribute to mankind’s biggest challenges?

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.

On a bench outside of Wenner-Gren Center, I met Stacy Huang, Head of the Educational Division at Taipei Mission in Sweden. We discussed different study and work opportunities, as well as what it is like living in Taiwan for international students.
Our interview went as follows.

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.

The recent release of Vincenzo, the popular K-drama narrating the passionate story of an Italo-Korean mafioso navigating Seoul’s corporate corruption, has won wide praise but has sparked too few questions on the propriety of this particular crime-syndicate plot device. Soon after, however, a popular K-pop group titled a song after the Mafia—but this time, the news did not go unnoticed and an internet war broke out in K-pop Twitter, with an unexpected twist...

Culture and identity are shaped and borne by language. But when language becomes a tool of political interests, that culture and identity can come under imminent threat. THE LUNAR TIMES spoke to Colin Williams of Cardiff University to explore notions of if and how the language revitalization process of Wales might give insight to the trajectory of regional languages being squeezed into a corner by the Chinese State.

Have you ever heard of Gangnam Style or BTS so-called K-pop? K-pop refers to mainstream music of South Korea, and it has enjoyed growing global popularity for the last decade. However, are you aware of the scary fact that K-pop is being misused for a completely different purpose? Something unwanted may approach wearing the mask of K-pop and put you in trouble! Sounds intriguing? Stay Tuned!

Whilst Valentine’s Day is widely celebrated in countries around the globe, White Day is only celebrated in a limited amount of countries in East Asia, including Japan. On March 14th, Japanese men will have the chance to dole out reciprocal gifts to those who gave them gifts on Valentine’s Day. These two special holidays have a strong bond with each other—the traditional Japanese Valentine’s celebration would not be complete without one of them.

In the era of the Internet and neoliberal economy, gender wars are raging in South Korea. Officially begun in 2016 with the tragic Gangnam Murder, these wars are recruiting youths to confront the opposite sex on both online and offline battlefields, where social resentment and sharp words are wielded as weapons. But to have a deeper understanding of this raging hostility, a concept rising from the depths of the internet needs to be studied: that of Hell Joseon.

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.

The Lunar New Year reunites friends and family across East Asian countries. Like hardly any other festive seasons, this massive holiday carries not only a high traditional, but also a tremendous economic value for any country celebrating it. However, due to the ongoing pandemic, there are a lot of changes in the economic growth over the past year. Photo Credit: Fritz Hoffmann.

In the early stages of the pandemic, Singapore stood out as a role model for its successful strategy. However, later outbreaks among the migrant community have exposed an entrenched societal division between native Singaporeans and foreign workers. Now that the country seems ready to move forward, migrants are again left behind.

Today, South Korea has one of the highest household debt burdens in the world with regard to its economic size. With income growth lagging behind the increase in debt, the debt-to-disposable income ratio is even at its highest since it began being recorded in 2007. The Korean government is now facing growing household debt in combination with an uncertain housing market. A question thus arises: what could this mean in the light of the current COVID-19 pandemic?

Torn by spiking suicide rates and ever-increasing gender tensions, Korean society is facing deep-seated challenges. For many years, the Democratic Party of Korea has pledged to repair the social fabric and stand on women's side. But evidence would suggest otherwise.

Once upon a time, Korean old ladies were guaranteed a serene old-age surrounded by the love and care of their families. Nowadays, Korean grandmothers are often abandoned, and only one resort is left to escape the “Big Bad Wolf” of poverty. Unfortunately, this is the happy ending–less tale of the Bacchus Ladies: old prostitutes hanging around the streets of Seoul.

What started as a silly game among exchange students revealed a political and social issue in the city of Beijing. Since 2003 “dangerous” dog breeds and those reaching a height of more than 35 centimeters are banned from the capital’s inner districts. Interestingly, it took the city’s authorities 10 years until the law was strictly enforced. Since then regulations got more stringent. The article sums up the events and aims to incorporate the issue into the broader historical background of dog keeping in China.

The increasing amount of waste we produce daily has become one of the biggest challenges of our time. Despite rising environmental consciousness throughout the world, most people show little awareness of global plastic waste trade and its harmful consequences on the environment. But now the centre of this global network, Southeast Asia has started showing signs of repentance.

Passionate, internet savvy and powered by a strong political conscience: these are Kpop stans, the young fans of Korean pop music who recently made headlines for their political activism. Armed with a keyboard and backed up by a powerful network, Kpop stans are engaging with current political and social issues through a fervent online activity. But who really are these new political militants?

Songdo International Business District is praised as a state-of-the art business hub and smart city project, equipped with the latest data technology and high sustainability standards. Skyrocketing buildings and aesthetically landscaped parks invite you to believe you are walking on the streets of the next urban utopia. But does Songdo really stand for a better, brighter and greener future?