Search Results: Authors starting with T from Orchid Press

Bangkok: White Lotus, 1999. The book describes the first French Embassy to Siam in 1685. The Embassy which set out on March 1685 was a remarkable event. It was triggered by the express request of the Siamese King Phra Narai, who for years had been extraordinarily interested in making contact with the King of France. Already at the end of 1680 Narai had sent a fully-fledged embassy to France on the 'Soleil d’Orient', a vessel of the French Oriental Company but this attempt ended disastrously when the ship foundered near the eastern coast of Madagascar with the loss of all people and its valuable cargo. This book, Guy Tachard's first, was quite influential. It was the first of a large number of French works concerning late-seventeenth century Siam. Apparently, it was avidly read: the first three French editions date from 1686, 1687 and 1688, the first edition in the Dutch language dates from 1687, this English version appeared in 1688 and an Italian edition came out in 1693. When… Read More

Kuala Lumpur: Oxford in Asia, 1999. Administrators and Their Service is a historical study of the Sarawak Administrative Service. It traces its evolution from the 1840s soon after the founding of the Brooke Raj, with its heavy reliance on a small group of Europeans, through the later period of Brooke rule to the post-war British colonial administration. This administration, in its final years, recruited an increasing number of local officers in the preparation for self-government. This book focuses on the officers who were the mainstay of the Service and formed the point of contact between the government and the local population. It provides information on their backgrounds, modes of recruitment, training, and conditions of service. The author was formerly Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore. xxi, 274 pp., 20 b&w plates, 2 maps, bibliography, index. Tape residue marks on front and rear endpapers; otherwise a new/unread copy. . First Edition. Hard bound. Very… Read More

Ahmedabad: Calico Museum of Textiles, 1979. The collection of the Calico Museum of Textiles (founded 1948) contains India's, and probably the world's, finest collection of historic Indian textiles. This third volume, of a set of four covering various categories of textiles in the collection, includes full technical and aesthetic descriptions of relevant pieces in the collection, relating them collectively and aesthetically to their historic context. Binding tight, interior pages lightly tanned, still clean and bright. DJ chipped, worn and scratched - now protected in Mylar cover. xvi, 166 pp., 12 tipped in col. plates in text, followed by 114 b&w plates.. First Edition. Hardbound. Very Good/Good. 29 x 23 cm..

Hong Kong: Leisure & Cultural Services Dept., Hong Kong, 2012. Artist, poet, writer and cartoonist Feng Zikai is one of the most beloved figures to emerge from the 'New Art Movement' of the early 20th century. As a founding member and catalyst of the movement, he helped Chinese art merge the traditional divisions of classical, elitist scholars' works and crude folk art into a new fusion that had both aesthetic and mass appeal. His paintings reflect the deep Buddhist roots of his world view, and his love of children, nature and simplicity, Some paintings nevertheless also contained an added dimension - a hidden 'bite' of political or social comment - for which Feng, sadly, paid a high price later in his life, when Mao came to power. This book is a joy to browse - a book that one will return to time and time again. Highly recommended. With essays on Feng's life and times; all text in bilingual English/Chinese. 360 pp, over 230 col illustrations, b&w drawings, extensive… Read More

Hong Kong: Oxford University Press, 1999. Anthology of 26 short stories written by contemporary Chinese speaking authors from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore, many translated for the first time into English. The stories explore the manifestations of 'self' and the impact of place upon Chinese identity in the four communities, sharing a common cultural heritage but separated by differing social, political and economic realities. The book not only demonstrates the diverse creativity of contemporary Chinese authors, but also expresses the aspirations and fears of many who live in regimes where the mass media are controlled by the state and opportunities for open discussion are limited. xxii, 419 pp., biographical sketches of authors, translators and editors.. First Edition. Soft Cover. Fine. 22 x 14 cm..

Bangkok: White Lotus, 2001. Sixteen ethnographic case studies on tourism in China and elsewhere by Chinese and non-Chinese scholars, the result of a conference on the subject. While Yunnan is a particular focus, tourism in Guizhou, Hong Kong, and Macau are also studied. A number of papers deal with ethnic tourism and conservation, and major anthropological perspectives on the study of tourism are also presented. An important aspect of China's economic development over the past two decades, tourism has had a major impact on local economies and socio-cultural development, topics insightfully pursued here. The volume makes a major contribution to the study of ethnic tourism, an activity closely intertwined with representing ethnic minorities, their interaction with the state, as well as their management of marginality, modernity, and globalization. 348 pp., illustrated, partly in colour.. First Edition. Soft Cover. New/n/a. 21 x 15 cm..

Singapore: Asian Civilisations Museum, 2012. Catalogue to accompany a sweeping exhibition of Thai religious art, the result of a collaboration between Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum and the Fine Arts Dept. of the Thai Ministry of Culture. The context of the early 200 exhibits, including sculpture, painting, manuscripts, ritual implements, amulets, furniture, textiles and ceramics, is greatly enhanced by the inclusion of five scholarly essays on the topic by renowned scholars (Peter Skilling, John Listopad, Amara Srisuchat, Justin McDaniel and Alexandra Denes). A resource for both specialists and those new to Thai Buddhist art. 268 pp., col. plates throughout. A new copy, still in publisher's shrink-wrap.. First Edition. Hardbound. New. 31 x 23 cm..

Victoria: Canadian College for Chinese Studies, 1992. Text of a series of lectures on Chinese philosophy presented to classes within the Canadian College for Chinese Studies. The social order and ethical principles laid out by Confucius, his forebears and contemporaries, have been practiced in Chinese societies for over 2000 years and are still evident to the present day. Topics covered include Sacrifice, Frugality, Faithfulness, Filial Piety, Sense of Shame, Self Reliance, Harmony and more. Essential reading for those with interest to understand the foundations of Chinese society and success. 62 pp.. Softbound. Near fine. 23 x 15 cm..

Bangkok: AA Foundation, 2003. Due to the extreme isolation of Burma's rugged mountainous regions, and a political situation that discourages access into large areas of the country, Burma is host to perhaps the largest remaining population of rare species of wild orchids on earth. The present book is the first of a planned series of six volumes intended to describe and illustrate the variety and beauty of the many species of these noble plants still extant in Burma. The author, both a distinguished botanist and a skilled photographer, combined these talents to produce this beautifully illustrated, authoritative volume, illustrating all specimens in their natural, wild environment. The present Volume 1 surveys the varieties of wild orchids to be found in Burma's Shan States. Bilingual English / Japanese text. 104 pp., 121 colour illustrations, references.. First Edition. Hard bound. New/new. 27.5 x 26 cm.

Bangkok: AA Foundation, 2004. The second volume of a planned series of six, this book continues with descriptions and illustrations of epiphytic and terrestrial (ground) orchids extant in Burma's isolated Shan States region. The authors combines his skills as botanist and photographer to produce this beautifully illustrated and authoritative volume. In addition to its scholarly interest in these plants, the publishers, the Foundation of Agricultural Development and Education, works to preserve Burma's fragile ecology through educational programs and support for the development of nature reserves and parks. Bilingual English / Japanese text. 108 pp., 122 colour illustrations, references.. First Edition. Hard bound. New/new. 27.5 x 26 cm.

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2007. The third volume of a planned series of six, the present book focuses on the wide variety of orchid species to be found at high altitudes on and in the vicinity of Victoria Mountain, in the Chin State, close to Burma's border with Bangladesh. While Dendrobium is perhaps the most frequently encountered family, a rich assortment of other species are illustrated and described, some of which still require further taxonometric research. Here, despite its extreme remoteness, road development and the encroachment of poachers is also beginning to take its toll on the rich diversity of orchids that occur naturally in this rugged terrain. Orchid lovers worldwide owe a dept of gratitude to Dr Tanaka's continued efforts to record and protect these fragile beauties. Bilingual English / Japanese text. 108 pp., 152 colour illustrations, references. . First Edition. Hardbound. New/new. 27.5 x 26 cm..

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2007. Since the dawn of human history, people have gathered and consumed wild plants, for both nutritional and curative purposes. Over the course of millennia, our knowledge of the benefits of these plants has steadily grown, passed down from generation to generation primarily by oral tradition. A vast, invaluable body of knowledge on the use of wild plants remains among many traditional communities to the present day. However, the forces of urbanization, modernization and large scale industrial agriculture are rapidly eroding this knowledge and we are in danger of losing this heritage, within which there may be natural, inexpensive solutions to some of mankind's most intractable diseases. In Edible Wild Plants of Vietnam-The Bountiful Garden, a total of 130 species of wild plants, their characteristics, distribution, use and efficacy are described, accompanied by illustrations of each plant. The present study thus carefully records the knowledge of wild plants by the indigenous… Read More

Bangkok: White Lotus, 2005. This study explores how the Hmong have managed to maintain a strong sense of ethnic integrity despite centuries of oppression by more powerful majority populations. The Hmong people have emigrated from China to Southeast Asia, and from there, since the ending of the Vietnam wars, to France, America, and other Western countries. The author examines the current dilemmas of the Hmong in an opium-growing village in Northern Thailand: whether to continue cultivating opium or not, whether to support the Thai state or engage in armed insurrection, whether to continue with their traditional shamanic curing rituals or adopt new faiths such as Christianity or Buddhism. He shows how these dilemmas are expressed by a wider contradiction between 'being Hmong' or 'being Chinese'; the second part of the book then moves back through the long history of the Hmong in China, showing how their many messianic rebellions against centralized authority were motivated by a desire… Read More

Bangkok: White Lotus, 2003. Tribal Peoples of Southwest China casts a unique light on the tribal minority peoples of China's southwestern frontier region. These charming and realistic paintings, from the Miao albums of the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries provide a wealth of ethnographic detail on the ordinary, everyday lives of people like the Hmong and other Miao groups, the Yao and the Yi, and the speakers of the Tai languages. We see them transplanting rice, hunting and weaving, performing acts of robbery, marrying, celebrating festivals, and mourning the dead. Although the pictures may have been produced partly in response to China's mission to colonise and subdue the southwest, there is a lively warmth and sympathy in many of these images which speak to a common understanding of humanity. Here, for the first time in print, an entire Album has been reproduced, together with samples from two other Albums, from the collections at the British Library. The illustrations are… Read More

Bangkok: Editons Duong Kamol, 1993. A translation of the teachings of one of the most remarkable teachers of Buddhist practice in modern times - Luangpor Teeam - with emphasis on precise rendering in English of his original Thai speech. Includes translation of dialogue between the teacher and his audiences and also diagrams of meditative positions that shed further light on the methods he describes. xi, 82 pp., 16 b&w illustrations.. Second edition. Softbound. Good. 21 x 14 cm..

Kuala Lumpur: Oxford in Asia, 2004. A century ago, the sound of Javanese gamelan orchestra made a deep and lasting impression upon the young Debussy, and many composers after him, including Ravel, Messiaen, and Britten, have found inspiration in the characteristic principles of the region's ancient musical traditions and in its distinctive sonorities. Inevitably, contact with a different musical language at once prompts many questions; and this book is an attempt to set the scene and to answer the most essential of these, in as non-technical a way as possible. It focuses on the most immediately arresting feature of South-East Asian music, the instruments themselves, with the instruments set in the context of their musical function and of the history, beliefs, and social customs which the music expresses. The author is Emeritus Professor of Music, University of Durham, and was a founder of the Durham Oriental Music Festival. ix, 84 pp., 23 colour and 26 b&w plates, bibliography, index. A… Read More

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1987. Centuries old monuments in this barren but stunningly beautiful high altitude region bear witness to a rich but turbulent past.This book records 40 of the main Buddhist sanctuaries of Ladakh in coloured photographs, meticulously drawn plans and brief textual descriptions. Appendices address the Lamaistic pantheon, the Tibetan calendar and the affiliation of various monasteries with different Lama sects. With a preface by Maurice Herzog, and glossary of relevant terms and symbols. An indispensible guide for interested visitors and a valuable reference work on the monasteries and Buddhist sanctuaries of the region. vii, 134 pp. 63 colour and 39 b&w illustrations, one map. Cover lightly soiled from long storage, but interior still clean and bright (NOS).. First Edition. Soft Cover. Very Good/NOS - cover lightly soiled. 21 x 19 cm..

Bangkok: Orchid Press, 1984. Des monuments centenaires dans cette région aride, admirablement belle et montagneuse témoignent d'un passé riche et turbulent. Ce livre décrit la majeure partie des sanctuaires bouddhistes à l'aide de photos, de dessins très détaillés, et de brèves descriptions. C'est un guide indispensable pour les visiteurs, une base essentielle sur les monastères et les sanctuaires bouddhiques du Ladakh. Avec une preface de Maurice Herzog. vii, 134 pp., 63 planches en couleur, 39 dessins, un carte, couverture imprimée. Couverture salie et usée, mais pages intérieures propres et lumineuses.. First Edition. Soft Cover. Very Good/NOS - cover soiled. 21 x 19 cm.

Beijing: Wenwu Chubanshe, 1985. A detailed art historical and archaeological survey of the Buddhist complex of the North Grotto Temple at Qingyang, Gansu province. The complex, rediscovered in 1959, is populated with Buddhist stone statuary dating to the Northern Wei and Tang periods. Light soiling of covers, interior pages bright and clean. Text in Chinese with English summary.164 pp., 4 col. and 80 b&w plates, 53 figs in text, including one 75 cm. long foldout plan of the site.. First Edition. Hardbound. Very Good. 27 x 19 cm..

Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 1996. An exploration of the so called 'Lin Biao Affair' in mid 20th century China - the meteoric rise, tragic fall and death in a plane crash of Marsahall Lin Biao, once Chairman Mao Zedong's annointed sucsessor. The authors describe Lin not as the power-hungry radical and Mao's would-be assassin of conventional Chinese history, but rather as a politically unambitious moderate, who fell afoul of Mao for complex reasons unrelated to his own actions. A fascinating and thoroughly researched work for all with interest in contemporary Chinese history. Cover fine; tape residue marks on front and rear endpapers. Interior pages fine/unread. xvi, 251 pp., 14 b&w photos, detailed chronology of Lin's career, bibliography, index.. First Edition. Soft Cover. Near fine/Fine. 21 x 14 cm..