Culture Asia from Orchid Press

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2006. The great Song Dynasty poet and artist, Mi Fu (1051-1107), wrote treatises on painting and calligraphy, in addition to the present work on inkstones, translated here by the eminent Dutch diplomat and Sinologist, Dr. R H van Gulik. In the case of the first two works, the subjects of Mi Fu's deliberations have long since disappeared.… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1995. More than entertainment, Burmese marionettes were used as a means of educating the audience in literature, history, religion, customs and current events. A portrayal of a rich tradition now on the brink of extinction. 108 pp., 101 colour plates, glossary. An unread copy, with small mark (glue residue?) on front cover, page borders lightly tanned. Otherwise… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2003. "The civilization of the Tibetan people is disappearing before our very eyes, and apart from a few gentle protests here and there, the rest of the world lets it go without comment and without regret. Many civilizations have declined and disintegrated in the past, but it is rare that one has the opportunity of being an… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2000. The author has edited and woven together an amazing array of descriptions of Burma by early travellers, quoting over 90 sources. Having thoroughly researched past travellers' accounts, he elegantly constructs, from these, a vivid history of the country. A compact, highly readable 'thinking man's' travel guide. 208pp., 45 colour and b&w plates, 4 maps, bibliography, index.… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2006. The great Song Dynasty poet and artist, Mi Fu (1051-1107), wrote treatises on painting and calligraphy, in addition to the present work on inkstones, translated here by the eminent Dutch diplomat and Sinologist, Dr. R H van Gulik. In the case of the first two works, the subjects of Mi Fu's deliberations have long since disappeared.… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2002. Classical Burmese literature abounds with poems that describe the seasons, and this book is a celebration of the Burmese seasons or months, their poets, flowers, festivals and cycles of traditional monthly activities. Written with wit, spirit and insight by Khin Myo Chit and illustrated with the incomparable watercolours of the late Paw Oo Thet. 132… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2004. Since Cambodia's reopening to the world in the past dozen years, following its genocidal civil war, there has been a burgeoning interest in its history, art and architectural relics. In parallel with this growing popular interest has been a renewal of international scholarly work and corresponding publication on the Khmers. However, virtually without exception, these either… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1995. Description of the southern Thai popular tradition of shadow theatre and its differences with the central Thai classical school; illustrated with 147 examples of shadow figures from two Thai and two Swedish collections. 109 pp., 79 colour and 68 b&w illustrations, bibliography, index.. First Edition. Hard Cover. New/new. 21 x 19 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2005. The small nation of Laos was little known to most Westerners when the author and her husband, a USAID worker, moved to Laos in 1971. Befriended by two young Laotians, the author became a part of village life, joining holiday celebrations, weddings, funerals and feasts. Over a four-year period, she developed a deep admiration and affection… Read more about this item

Kathmandu: Bibliotheca Himalayica, 2000. A multi-disciplinary study of Gulmi and Argha-Khanci, two districts in modern central Nepal which coincide with the boundaries of prominent earlier principalities, prior to the unification of the country in the late 18th century. The study, conducted by a team of French scholars in the early 1990's, traces the history, ecology, ethnology, social and political structure,… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2002. This is the first study of the tradition of weaving among the nomadic pastoralists of Rupshu, in eastern Ladakh. Weaving touches all aspects of life in Rupshu, where both women and men weave, each on a different loom. Local narrative states that the craft of weaving was bestowed upon Rupshu by the gods, and thus all… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2005. The Naga of Burma is the result of the author's over 30 years' research and fieldwork on the Naga people of far western Burma, a loosely related, fiercely independent, group of tribes, practicing headhunting until well into the 20th century. Tracing their origins, and examining their social structures, religion and ritual, architecture, arts and crafts, hunting… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2004. In this lively and engaging new work on conceptions ofTibet in Western European and American societies, anthropologist Brauen paints a damning portrait of misinterpretation, trivialization and political and commercial exploitation of a rich and ancient culture. Starting with idealistic adventurers in search of a Himalayan Utopia from the 17th century onward, Brauen's most disturbing portrayals are… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2016. Maugham's tale of travel through Burma, Indochina and Siam in the 1920's, told with all of the empathy and sharp-eyed observation of human nature for which the author eventually became legendary. Reprint of the 1930 edition with new introduction by H. K. Kuloy. 254 pp.. Reprint. Soft Cover. New. 20 x 13.3 cm.

Warminster: Aris & Phillips, 1982. An examination of architectural adaptations made to cope with the harsh climate of the Iranian Plateau. A detailed study not only of grand religious and military structures but also those of ordinary people. 132 pp., 145 monochrome illustrations, 2 maps, glossary, bibliography, index. Soft Cover. New. 33 x 23 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2001. Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka is one of the five places where Gautama Buddha left the trace of his foot, but it is also an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims, Hindus and some Christians. This book examines the Sinhala pilgrimage tradition both from Sinhala and non-Sinhala sources, and explains the cult of Saman, the white… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2002. Interest in scholars stones (gongshi), collected by Chinese literati and artists since the Tang dynasty, has expanded greatly in the West over the last five years, with over a dozen major exhibits mounted in museums around the world. Yet there exists only a handful of titles in English on the subject, and important texts such as… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2003. A series of 'portraits' of the people who comprise the mosaic of a typical northeastern Thai village describes such characters as 'the half-Chinese', 'the fortune teller', 'Miss Cotton Bud', 'native entrepreneur' and 'Bar Boy'. Interspersed between these portraits are 'themes', such as gambling, Songkran, electricity and noise, providing an informative overview of the background, activities and… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2001. Subtitled 'and Enjoy the Totalitarian Experience'. Penetrating and empathetic insights into the daily lives and trials of the Burmese people as they eke out an existence under the ever watchful gaze of their oppressive military government. Syrota, an Australian human rights activist, spent many months roaming the cities and countryside meeting and chatting with citizens from… Read more about this item

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2003. A new biography of the American diplomat and linguist William Rockhill (1854-1914). Rockhill's renown is experiencing a revival among members of a growing group. Tibetan Buddhism, its art and philosophy, now attracts more students and a wider general audience beyond that still small circle of Tibetan scholars. Rockhill's name, once almost forgotten except in connection… Read more about this item