2024 AAS-in-Asia Conference @ Universitas Gadjah Mada-Global Asia

The 2024 AAS-in-Asia (Association for Asian Studies) conference was held from July 9 to 11 at Universitas Gadjah Mada in Indonesia, with the keynote theme “Revisiting Freedom versus Harmony Debate: From Asian Values to Decolonization.” The conference advocated for Asian countries to break away from Western colonial values, develop independent perspectives, and adopt a multicultural stance, aiming to represent Asia to the world. A special emphasis was placed on nurturing “emerging scholars,” akin to the choice of the less-known venue, aiming not to add glory to the renowned but to focus on the obscure, fostering a diverse and inclusive global culture. The conference featured a creative “Multinational Calligraphy Dialogue Workshop” involving scholars and calligraphers from Pakistan, China, Korea, and Indonesia, which turned the “art of lettering” into a tool for cross-linguistic and cross-racial communication, impressing attendees. UDP, aligning with this philosophy and being the only Taiwanese exhibitor at the conference, plans to add multilingual content on “Asian Studies.” Editor-in-chief Nancy Wuu interacted with distinguished scholars from various Asian countries, noting that Southeast Asian literature, hindered by language barriers, is seldom used globally, inspiring the idea of utilizing AI for automatic multilingual translation. UDP’s posters, “Twin Gems of Taiwan Sinology” and “From Taiwan, China to Asia: Global Multilingual Views,” attracted many international scholars. The conference concluded joyfully with the traditional Javanese palace dance “Beksan Wanara” (Monkey-Tailed Monkey), engaging hundreds of participants in a display of Indonesian warmth and hospitality.

Islamic, Chinese, Korean Javanese Calligraphies Workshop. Calligraphers from left to right include: Kashif Khan (Pakistani calligrapher), Noman Baig (Associate Professor of Social Development at Habid University, Pakistan), Wahono Simbah (Indonesian Javanese script calligrapher), Wang Man-sheng (Chinese expatriate artist and calligrapher in the US), Kim Jang Hyun (Korean calligrapher), and Prof. Hyaeweol Choi (Korean Studies Professor at the University of Iowa and Chair of the AAS).

The closing ceremony featured the traditional Javanese palace dance ‘Beksan Wanara’ (Monkey Tailed Monkey, which uses emotions and movements as the foundation for individual and group character development, fully demonstrating the Indonesian spirit of kindness and warmth). The dance drew hundreds of participants, both on and off the stage, including the conference chair, Korean Professor Hyaeweol Choi laughing heartily (third from the right in the middle row of the audience)

Calligraphy workshop participant’s work in Javanese script, meaning ‘Welcome to China’.

Scholars from right to left: Guo Genwei (History Department, Nanyang Technological Institute), Hamashita Takeshi (Toyo Bunko), Nancy Wuu (Editor-in-Chief, UDP), Jiang Jiaxin (Shanghai Customs College).

Professor Jo-Pei Tan of Manchester Metropolitan University (of Malaysian Chinese descent), hopes for a significant increase in the usage of documents from Southeast Asian countries.

Nancy Wuu shared a ride at the hotel shuttle with scholars of Filipino descent: in front is Professor Maria Reinaruth D. Carlos from Ryukoku University, Japan, and on the left is Professor Nelia Balgoa from Mindanao State University, Philippines.

Indian scholar of Indian descent, Mall Shatrunjay (Japan Foundation for International Exchange).

Group photo with Editor-in-Chief Wuu and professors, from left to right: Shen Yiming (Peking University), Luo Yifei (Shanghai Normal University), Ren Yi (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Bian Yang (University of International Business and Economics).

Editor-in-Chief Wuu from UDP discussing collaboration with the renowned Dutch publishing house Brill, coincidentally meeting Chief Editor Uri Tadmor at the exhibition.