CULTURAL IDENTITY AND ASIAN MODERNIZATION

Robert M. BELLAH

The problem posed by this symposium to commemorate the Centennial of Kokugakuin University is a central one for Japan, Asia and, indeed, for the whole world. How to reconcile cultural identity and modernization is a question that every nation and every people has to face today.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

OF THE TAY, THE NUNG AND THE ZHUANG IN CHINA

Nguyễn Thị Yến

ASF member cohort IV th

The Tay, Nung and Zhuang are the three most populous ethnic minority groups belonging to the Thai language-speaking community, the biggest in Asia. The groups spread over Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam and China. Research into their religious belief should shed light on the similarities and particularities of the religious beliefs of each group. This constitutes the most important target of our research project. The initially achieved results have met this target.

WOMEN IN VIETNAMESE FOLKLORE

CONG HUYEN TON NU NHA TRANG

Chính chuyên lấy được chín chồng
Vê viên bỏ lọ gánh gồng đi chơi
Ai ngờ quang đứt lọ rơi
Bò ra lổm ngổm chín nơi chín chồng.
(Respecting the rule of fidelity I have married nine husbands
Rolling them into balls, I put them in a jar and carried it with a shoulder pole.
Accidentally the suspending frame broke and the jar fell to the ground;
Out crawld the nine husbands scatteringly in nine different directions.)

THE SIGNIFICATION OF NAGA IN THAI ARCHITECTURAL AND SCULPTURAL ORNAMENTS

                                                                                      Phan Anh Tú

                                                                     University of Social Sciences & Humanities, 
                                                                                  VNU-HCMC

                                                                                             Member of Asian Scholarship Foundation cohort VII^Th  

         The Nak (Phaya Nak or Naga) in Thai architectural and sculptural ornaments are an associational achievement between the indigenous serpent cult of the mainland Southeast Asian region and Naga of Indian religions in ancient times. It seems that the remains of indigenous serpent cult, however, which have existed up to now being only what told in the Thai folklore. In their religious and belief aspect, most of the Thais have been strongly impacted by Theravada Buddhism so the indigenous serpent worshipped ritual is not separated with the form of Buddha worshipping.