Australian Society for Asian Humanities

The Australian Society for Asian Humanities is the oldest academic society in Australasia dedicated to the study of Asia and to the promotion of "the knowledge of Asia in Australia by providing a meeting-place where scholars could present their work to their peers and to the community at large."[1] Founded in 1956 by A.R. Davis as the Oriental Society of Australia, in its early years it was "open to subscribers across the country but the bulk of its members were in Sydney."[2][3] It acquired its present name in 2021.[4] The focus on Sydney ultimately resulted in the establishment of the Asian Studies Association of Australia (1975) and the New Zealand Asian Studies Society (1974) rather than a geographic expansion of OSA membership.[2][5] The society also hosts regular seminars, the annual A.R. Davis Memorial Lecture as well as an Emerging Scholars Award. [6]

Beginning in 1960, the society has published a scholarly journal, entitled Journal of the Oriental Society of Australia from 1960 to 2019, and JOSAH: Journal of the Society for Asian Humanities from the 2020-21 issue.[7] It is the oldest continuing Asia-focused journal in Australasia. It has also published several books, including Austrina (1982), in honour of the society's 25th anniversary.[8][9] Its fiftieth anniversary was marked by a conference entitled "World without Walls" held at The Women's College, University of Sydney, opened by Chancellor Kim Santow, and featuring keynotes i.a. from Geremie Barmé, Bob Debus, and Alison Broinowski.[10][11][12] The founding editor was Ian Nish and early contributors to the journal include Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, Lo Hui-min, Wang Gungwu and F. H. van Naerssen while recent contributors include Meaghan Morris, Ghassan Hage, Tejaswini Niranjana and Imran bin Tajudeen.[13] A.R. Davis was the founding president. Presidents have include Hermann Black (1958–60), C.P. Fitzgerald, and Michael G. Carter.[14] The current president is Jon von Kowallis of UNSW Sydney and the editor of the journal is Adrian Vickers of the University of Sydney.[15]

References

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  1. ^ Carter, M. (2013). Welcome address. The Journal of the Oriental Society of Australia, 45, 59–62. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.565036037039522
  2. ^ a b Legge, John. "ASAA's formation—a twentieth birthday account." Asian Studies Review 19.1 (1995): 83-90.
  3. ^ Lee, Mabel. "Year 2000: the End of an Era in Chinese Studies." Arts: The Journal of the Sydney University Arts Association 22 (2000).
  4. ^ "History".
  5. ^ Richard Phillips and Nicholas Tarling. "The Founding of NZASIA." New Zealand Journal of Asian Studies 7.1 (2005): 5.
  6. ^ "Congratulations to Estelle Rust, a PhD candidate at the Graduate School of Media and Governance for winning the Honourable Mention of 2022 ASAH Emerging Scholar Award|Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus".
  7. ^ https://josah.org/
  8. ^ Austrina: essays in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Oriental society of Australia. Oriental Society of Australia. 14 July 1982. OCLC 729088704 – via Open WorldCat.
  9. ^ The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995) View title info Fri 2 Dec 1983 Page 10 Obituary: Albert Richard Davis
  10. ^ "Index to compilation of speeches delivered by the Hon. Justice GFK Santow AO" https://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Publications/Speeches/Pre-2015%20Speeches/Assorted%20-%20L%20to%20Z/santow_speeches.pdf
  11. ^ "Shared Values: a Sino-Australian Conundrum". 12 May 2016.
  12. ^ "JOSAH".
  13. ^ "JOSAH Volume 52 Launch".
  14. ^ Fletcher, B. H. "Black, Sir Hermann David (1904–1990)". Cultural Advice. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University – via Australian Dictionary of Biography.
  15. ^ "Jon von Kowallis | Arts, Design & Architecture". www.ada.unsw.edu.au.