ABSTRACT

Kim and Zoh bring together a team of contributors to analyse the role of heritage studies across Asia, and its impact on Asia and its constituent countries.

Is there such a thing as ‘Asian heritage’? Is it more helpful to understand Asia as a single unit, or as a set of sub- regions? What can we learn about Asia’s present through its archaeology and heritage? Covering a wide range of countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, the contributors to this book address these key questions. In doing so they look at a number of critical issues, such as UNESCO World Heritage status, cultural propaganda, cultural erasure and difficult heritage. While addressing Asia’s past they also observe key issues within present- day Asia, further providing conceptual and practical insights into the methods that are being applied to the study of Asia’s heritage today.

A valuable resource for scholars and students of Asian history and culture, archaeology, heritage studies, anthropology and religious studies.

part One|75 pages

Examining Asia's heritage in the contemporary world

chapter 1|5 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|15 pages

Asia's heritage trend

Underpinning the existing components and perspectives

part Two|138 pages

Critical and specific issues in Asia's heritage management

chapter 5|36 pages

Silk Road narratives in East Asia

Cultural heritage, cultural propaganda and cultural erasure

chapter 6|30 pages

Archaeology, politics and diplomacy in Afghanistan

The international years (1946–1978) 1

chapter 7|23 pages

Asia's difficult heritage-making between nationalism and transnationalism

Colonial prisons in South Korea, Taiwan and China 1

chapter 9|28 pages

Rights to heritage and the environment in Thailand

A case study of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex

part Three|86 pages

Archaeological advances in Southeast Asia

chapter 10|22 pages

The people of Angkor

chapter 11|36 pages

The enigmatic jars of Laos

Recent archaeological research on the Plain of Jars

chapter 12|20 pages

Leave no stone unturned

Exploring behavioural variability in expedient stone tool assemblages

chapter 13|6 pages

Conclusion

Asia's heritage trend: lessons learned and moving forward