ABSTRACT
The study of Asia in Western thought may be considered in the context of the sociology of knowledge. It is thus relevant to consider the sources of the images and motivations underlying the development of a body of knowledge to compare the views of those having direct experience with those of armchair theorists, of specialists with nonspecialists; to inquire about whether there are any significant differences between popular images and official or scholarly images of Asia. Further, one might look for changes in perception over time, by country, and among groups within a society. For example, it is useful to know whether those having a direct interest view Asia differently from those having no such interest. A consideration of the practical consequences in terms of official policy and attitudes, if any, that have resulted from these images might also be instructive.
