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Seminars/Symposia: FY2013

May, 2013

CSEAS Colloquium by Dr. David Streckfuss
  1. Date & Time:May 31 (Fri.), 2013 16:00 -
  2. Place:Middle-sized Meeting Room (Room No.332), Inamori Foundation Memorial Building, Kyoto University
  3. Speaker:CSEAS Visiting Research Scholar
  4. Title:Lèse-Majesté as Crisis of Monarchy: A Comparison of present-day Thailand and prewar Japan
  5. Abstract:
  6. Thailand and Japan are the two largest monarchies in Asia. Both are constitutional monarchies and democracies where their respective monarchies are “above politics.” The monarchies in these two countries are largely popular and respected. But they are different in one key way: Japan’s monarchy persists despite being perhaps the only monarchy in the world today with no lèse-majesté law. Meanwhile, Thailand, with a very-much active lèse-majesté law, finds itself amidst a continuing political crisis of which the monarchy is a part.
  7. In the run-up of World War Two, Japan hosted the richest concentration of lèse-majesté cases of the 20th century. So far, Thailand is host to the 21st century’s record high lèse-majesté cases. From 1936 to 1944, Japan saw an almost 1,800 persons arrested for the crime whereas in Thailand from 2005 to 2011 has seen almost 1,000 charges brought for prosecution in the lower court for lèse-majesté.
  8. A comparison of the lèse-majesté record in these two nations illuminates our understanding of the pre-war Japanese legal and ideological constructs and Thailand’s present practices and tribulations. What can we learn about key aspects of the pre-war Japanese state and the present-day Thai state by comparing statistics of those charged with lèse-majesté, the practices and adjudication of courts, and the strategies used by defendants? What do the lèse-majesté experiences of these two countries tell us about the tension between democracy and authoritarianism in constitutional monarchies? And what have been the effects of the eventual resolution of the lèse-majesté issue in Japan, and what lessons can be learned for Thailand’s future? How has each country’s experience with the law affected its politics and its own take on democracy?
  9. About the speake:
  10. David Streckfuss received his Ph.D. in Southeast Asian history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He has since lived in Thailand where he has directed a community-based study abroad program at Khon Kaen University for twenty years. His book, Truth on Trial in Thailand, was published by Routledge in 2011.
  11. At CSEAS he has been working on an article covering Japan’s historical experience with le`se-majeste' and writing a book that examines monarchy and le`se-majeste' in the modern world. A historical section looks at le`se-majeste' in Imperial Germany and Japan. Another section compares present practices of le`se-majeste', with a special emphasis on European monarchies. A final section places Thailand’s le`se-majeste' experience into this historical and comparative framework.
Tonan Talk by Christopher Miller
  1. Date & Time:May 30th (Thurs.), 2013 12:00 - 14:00
  2. Place:Tonan-tei (Room No. 201),CSEAS, Inamori Foundation Memorial Building, Kyoto University
  3. Speaker:Christopher Miller, Herberger Institute, School of Dance, Arizona State University
  4. Title:A Preliminary Examination Of Pa’O Music In Local And National Contexts
  5. Abstract:
  6. The Pa’O, an ethnic minority group numbering close to one million individuals and inhabiting the eastern most states of Myanmar, offer a compelling case for the study of cultural (re)presentation and mediation of the performing arts within the country. Linguistically related to the Karenic groups of the region (most notably Sgaw and Pwo Karen), the daily Pa’O experience is one marked by predominant adherence to Theravada Buddhism and relatively beneficial economic and political terms resulting from an early cease--‐fire agreement and open engagement with the central Burmese government. When one considers a comprehensive view of Pa’O performing arts in contexts ranging from the Myanmar national media to local festivals and into village life, the author maintains that a range of policy and cultural factors contribute to an intellectual dissonance as one views Pa’O performance practices. On the surface, a critical view finds that the Pa’O are significantly simplified and stripped of virtuosity in the national context, presumably as a means of fitting within discourse towards national identity construction. However, performance within local contexts and the periphery demonstrate a remarkable palate of movement and musical complexity consistent with prolonged, purposeful patronage of the performing arts. Supported by the author’s own fieldwork with the Pa’O Literary and Cultural Council (a sub--‐group of the Pa’O National Organization) and field recordings collected since 2002, this paper seeks to present a nuanced investigation of Pa’O performing arts in context. The resulting work reveals not only points of conflict between the national and the local in cultural (re)presentation but also uncovers subtle assertions of agency among the Pa’O as they negotiate ongoing refinements in how their culture is understood within Myanmar.
  7. About the speaker:
  8. Christopher A. Miller is Curator of Collections in the Herberger Institute School of Dance at Arizona State University. In his previous academic appointments he has served as Bibliographer for Southeast Asia at Arizona State University Libraries; Curator of Audiovisual Resources and Southeast Asian Instruments at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona; and as Managing Editor of Southeast Asia Publications in the Center For Southeast Asian Studies at Northern Illinois University. His graduate training is in ethnomusicology with an emphasis on Southeast Asia Studies (Northern Illinois University) and library and information sciences (University Of Arizona). Christopher’s Research interests, in both Indonesia and Myanmar, Have focused on the (re)presentation Of the performing arts of ethnic minority groups on national stages, media, competitions, and conservatories. More recently, he has included within his research scope the role of the archive for the preservation of intangible cultural heritage within those national contexts.
  9. Moderator:Yoko HAYAMI (CSEAS, Kyoto University)
The 10th Southeast Asian Studies for Sustainable Humanosphere Research Seminar
  1. Date:May 27 (Mon.), 2013, 16:00 - 17:30
  2. Place:Seminar Room (Room No. 409, Common Building, CSEAS, Kyoto University
  3. Title:Exploring Astronomy in the Ancient Sundanese Culture
  4. Speaker:Prof. Suhardja D. Wiramihardja, CSEAS Visiting Scholar from the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB)
  5. Abstract:
  6. This presentation will introduce the results of a study that explores the astronomy-related culture of the indigenous Sundanese people (the ethnic group of 43 million people who live in west part of Java island). Firstly, I present an overview of research methods of the study through a literature review as well as interviews conducted with local story tellers, and visits of historical sites. In ancient times before the invention of time keeping (such as the watch), Sundanese people used natural indicators to understand traditional time to determine or name times of the day. This was based on natural phenomena: through what the Sundanese felt, saw, or heard and in tandem with the effects of the Sun’s positions. A Sundanese Calendar System, called Kala Sunda, consisting of Saka Sunda (solar-based calendar), Caka Sunda (lunar-based calendar), and Kala Sukra (star-based calendar) was known in ancient times. Surprisingly, this calendar system is still in use by the Baduy people, an ancient Sundanese community who live in an isolated region in the western part of West Java Province, potentially one of the best places to conduct fieldwork on ethnoastronomy.
  7. This presentation also discusses Pranatamangsa (time-keeping system) which was recognized by ancient Sundanese ethnic groups and applied mainly by farmers to the agricultural cycle. Agricultural people such as the Sundanese were concerned with calendrical observations which were crucial in gauging the time of planting and harvesting to insure the success of crops. The appearance and disappearance of certain stars were correlated with the seasons of the year, and reminded observers when to plough, sow, hunt, fish and celebrate other annual events. Some well-known constellations were included in Pranatamangsa, e.g., Orion which was called Wuluku (the Plough) by local people and the Southern Cross, which Sundanese named Bentang Langlayangan (the Kite). Orion indicates the time to begin cultivating rice, and the Southern Cross indicates the Southern direction which is very important for local fishermen and an indication of dry season for farmers.
  8. In the latter part of this presentation two folk-lore tales about the eclipses of the Sun and Moon familiar to an older Sundanese generation will be given.
  9. Bio:
  10. Suhardja D. Wiramihardja is professor of astronomy, Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and obtained his doctorate in astronomy from Kyoto University with specialty in Physics of the Galaxy. His publications are mostly on star-forming regions and galactic clusters. Recently, he has included ethnoastronomy within the scope of his research. He is currently a visiting research scholar in CSEAS, Kyoto University.