International Journal of Asian Studies

The Korean Dao: Daoist experiences on the Korean Peninsula

Filippo Costantini — 2025-01-01

This paper analyzes the presence and influence of Daoism within the cultural and religious context of Korea, emphasizing its historical development and contemporary relevance. Daoism, as a multifaceted and adaptable tradition, has left a significant mark on Korean spirituality, particularly through its integration into New Religious Movements (NRMs). Despite its limited institutional presence in Korea compared to other traditions like Buddhism or Christianity, Daoist principles and practices have deeply permeated Korean culture. The Daesoon Jinrihoe movement, emerging in the early 20th century, is a prominent example of this influence, revitalizing Daoist concepts within a modern framework. This study highlights the continuous and transformative role of Daoism in shaping Korean spiritual identity, illustrating its enduring relevance beyond its Chinese origins.

Chinese paintings in the Collection of the Pedro Coronel's Universe Museum in Zacatecas

Miriam Guadalupe Puente Estrada — 2025-01-01

The presence of paintings from China in collections open to the public in Mexico is limited. For this reason, it is worth highlighting and celebrating the rare opportunities we have to observe this type of works, whose contemplation detonates our curiosity to know the values of the tradition and culture to which they belong. This work arose with the motivation to share the deep admiration I feel for Chinese culture with the visitors of the Pedro Coronel Museum and to serve as a guide through the fascinating universe of meaning and poetic beauty that lies behind the Chinese paintings that are part of its collection. I begin with a brief introduction about the origins of the Museum and the Collection of the Mexican painter and sculptor Pedro Coronel. Of the five identified Chinese paintings in the collection, this paper will analyze two paintings: Landscape and Scene of a Wedding.

Life Stories and Social Dynamics of the Syrian-Lebanese Community in Puntarenas (19th and 20th Centuries)

Francella Mena Cousin — 2025-01-01

This article analyzes the influence of migrations from the Middle East, particularly the Syrian Lebanese in the province of Puntarenas (area of influence of the Pacific Headquarters), to study the contribution to the construction of identity and commercial legacy during the late 19th and 20th centuries. During this period, the fall of the Russian, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian empires, together with the conflicts in the Middle East and the impact of the two world wars, led thousands of people to emigrate. They sought to start a new life, improve their economic conditions, have religious freedom, and escape political persecution.

America emerged as a destination for the arrival of Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian immigrants, despite restrictive policies for their arrival in several countries in the region. These immigrants contributed to local economies through business activities such as commerce, agriculture, and livestock, in addition to their participation in the public sphere and their cultural legacy.

The mobilization of a reflective diaspora: analysis of the first Chinese migrations in Ecuador from a sociological and sociohistorical perspective

Antonio Trujillo Rivadeneira — 2025-01-01

In Ecuador, the Chinese diaspora is one of the oldest overseas migratory groups. Since their arrival during the second half of the 19th century, Chinese migrants have developed successful strategies and practices for connecting with the local territory and society. These include establishing extensive commercial networks, introducing new ingredients and culinary recipes into local gastronomy, and building robust networks of social and cultural capital. This article aims to unveil the practices and strategies that facilitated the arrival and integration of this diaspora into Ecuadorian territory from a sociological and sociohistorical perspective.

Thinking About the Mental Health of Chinese-Costa Rican People: Historical Alterities and Sociocultural Adaptation

Wilberth Pandolfi Zamora — 2025-01-01

The aim of this paper is to reflect, from a decolonial sociological approach, on the dynamics of sociocultural adaptation involved in the migratory processes experienced by the sons and daughters of Chinese people in Costa Rica, and the influence of this process on their mental health. Here it highlights key elements of this adaptation process crossed by multiple violence dynamics such as racialization and xenophobia towards the Chinese and Chinese-descendant population in Costa Rica, which is experienced by these people daily, in various spaces and institutions where inequalities and structural violence are condensed individually and collectively.

Chinese Classifiers and their Acquisition by Heritage Language Children: a review of empirical research

Juan Huang — 2025-01-01

This article systematically presents findings in the field of empirical research on Chinese as a heritage language (CLH). The aim is to provide an overview of CLH children's acquisition and use of classifiers in bilingual or multilingual contexts. Based on a review of classifier-related research, this article identifies demographic characteristics, geographical distribution, techniques employed, approaches, variables, and outcomes in different grammatical domains. It also highlights limitations and areas for further research attention in the future.

Learning strategies of Chinese foreign language students: Costa Rica

Kuok Wa Chao Chao — 2025-01-01

Students use a variety of learning strategies to acquire a foreign language. This topic has been studied since the 1960s, especially in the case of English. This study proposed as research questions: what types of learning strategies did Chinese foreign language students use in online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic? And how often did Costa Rican learners use these strategies in the four skills? Therefore, through a quantitative research with 51 students who responded to an online questionnaire applied in 2022, it was found that the student employed a variety of strategies.

Retratos de las migraciones chinas a Costa Rica, 1855-1975: Comunidades del Pacífico, de Lai Sai Acón Chan

Fredy Cauich — 2025-01-01

The book Portraits of Chinese Migration to Costa Rica 1855-1975: Pacific Communities, by Lai Sai Acón Chan, provides an analysis of the history of Chinese immigration to Costa Rica, focusing on the Pacific coastal provinces such as Puntarenas and Guanacaste. The author structures the narrative into four sections, tracing the journey of Chinese immigrants from the 19th century to their cultural expressions in the 20th century. The book integrates historical documents, photographs, and testimonies, delivering not only information but also a moving narrative. Each section highlights the economic and cultural integration of the Chinese-Costa Rican community and their efforts to maintain traditions while adapting to new surroundings. This work goes beyond documenting migration processes, weaving history with emotion, and inviting readers to reflect on the connections between the past and present.

Hongmen: Chee Kung Tong. Migración, xenofobia y masonería china en la Ciudad de México 1880-1947, de Fredy E. Cauich Carrillo

Ronald Soto-Quirós — 2025-01-01

The book Hongmen: Chee Kung Tong. Migración, xenofobia y masonería china en la Ciudad de México 1880-1947 by Fredy E. Cauich Carrillo offers a comprehensive exploration of Chinese migration in Mexico City between 1880 and 1947, focusing particularly on the Chinese Masonic organization known as Chee Kung Tong. Cauich Carrillo contextualizes the arrival and establishment of this community within a framework of xenophobia, social and political integration, as well as its contribution to Mexico’s economic and cultural development.

Adventures with don Roberto: obituary of professor Marín Guzmán (1955-2024)

Virgilio Martínez Enamorado — 2025-01-01