SOUTH ASIA

Kandahar: Journey Into the Heart of Afghanistan (DVD)

chengtsu — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:07:03 +0000

Ecumenical Jury Prize (2001), Cannes Film Festival
Winner Federico Fellini Honor (2001), UNESCO

"Best Movie of the Year!"
-Richard Corliss, Time

Shot on the border of Iran and Afghanistan, Kandahar is the story of a young journalist named Nafas who escaped Afghanistan with her family but must return and race against time in an attempt to rescue her sister. The sister, maimed by an exploded landmine and distraught over the constant persecution she faces for being a woman, has written to Nafas vowing that she will commit suicide by the next solar eclipse. Nafas must disguise herself as an Afghan wife by wearing the traditional burka in order to find her sister in the Taliban-controlled city of Kandahar. The film is inspired by the real-life experience of actress Nelofer Pazira, who plays Nafas. Additional DVD features include audio commentary by Nelofir Pazira, Lifting the Veil featurette, international and original U.S. trailer, interactive scene access, biography of director and select cast, photos/stills. Color, 85min.

Rhythms to Nirvana: An Introduction to Indian Classical Music

chengtsu — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:07:03 +0000

Since India's ancient times, music has been considered a potent vehicle for attaining nirvana, spiritual salvation. This intriguing program provides an overview of the history of Indian classical music, from its divine origins to the present day, showcasing popular stringed, wind, and percussion instruments such as the sitar, sarangi, veena, tambora, and sarod; the flute, shehnai, and harmonium; and the mridang, tabla, and bayan. The Indian approach to teaching music is also discussed. Available only in the U.S. and Canada. English. Color, 30min.

Encyclopedia of Asian Civilizations: Ten Volume Set

chengtsu — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:07:03 +0000

This comprehensive encyclopedia gives in a single work information only available by consulting several thousand other works. Countries and subjects covered by this encyclopedia are broad and include Afghanistan, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and some CIS territories, art, religion, music, linguistics, history, literature, and science. 10 volumes are contained in 9 physical books; Volume 6 is a double volume. Supplementary Volume 11 lists over 5,000 works concerning all the subjects covered in the body of the 10 volume set. In English. P. EJ-MP, 1977-1987; 6 x 9.

Recollections of a Journey Through Tartary, Thibet, and China, During the Years 1844, 1845, and 1846

chengtsu — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:07:03 +0000

Motivated by the congregation of St. Lazarus, M. Huc went to the East as a missionary in 1844. During the years he traveled there, he recorded his encounters with the land and people of Tartary, Tibet and China. This book is his first-hand account of the lavish scenes he saw, the cultures he learned about, and the events he experienced while there. This is a fascinating view into nineteenth-century China as seen by a complete outsider. Huc has a vivid gift for describing landscapes and clothing, and peppers his tales with charming anecdotes. Note: These books are new, but shelf-worn.

Recontextualizing the Praises of a Goddess

Ginevra — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:07:22 +0000

The Hindu Harivamsa (third to fourth century), well known for its account of the god Krsna's life, contains a hymn to a female divinity, Nidra-Vindhyavasini, asked to step in, at the time of Krsna's birth, in order to spare his life. A Chinese translation of this hymn appears in the Buddhist Sutra of Golden Light, in Yijing's (635-713) rendering of 703, Jinguangming zuishengwang jing (10 juan, T. vol.16, no.665), for which the original Sanskrit version does not survive. Within the sutra the hymn is directed at the goddess of knowledge Sarasvati, who functions here as a defender of the Dharma, doing her part in assuring the Sutra of Golden Light will not become extinct by endowing the expounder of the text with eloquence and memory. In the Chinese translation of the sutra, the hymn is metamorphosed into a different idiom meaningful in a different cultural context, and the goddess is called Biancai Tiannu, "Eloquence Goddess."

This study consists in examining the above mentioned versions of this hymn from two different contexts and in two different languages: the Sanskrit text as found in the Harivamsa alongside the Chinese version of the hymn in Yijing's translation of the Sutra of Golden Light. Through an annotated translation and commentary on both the Chinese and the Sanskrit, this study shows that we are in fact dealing with two versions of the same, rather than simply a related, hymn. It also ascertains, in large part, the version of the hymn that appeared in Yijing's no longer extant Sanskrit manuscript and points out the ways in which Yijing and his translation team went about rendering the hymn into Chinese verse.

Life of Buddha

chengtsu — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 20:07:03 +0000

A fascinating biography of Prince Siddhartha Gautama and his spiritual transformation into the historical Buddha, the great teacher whose ideas have changed the world. Special features include interviews with revered Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and more.

Adventures of the Treasure Fleet

Eve — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:42:20 +0000

Children of all ages with enjoy this true story of the Chinese treasure fleet and its journey to such diverse locations such Malaysia, the Middle East, Africa and India. A little known event taking place in the early 15^th century, readers will be amazed the range of Chinese influence during this time period. This book is a splendid addition to any library, whether school or home, or for teachers who would like to present aspects of history often overlooked by traditional textbooks. As well as the charming tale, the facts of the journey are presented alongside the narrative text.