Just as a contemporary professional person maintains copies of wills, real estate records, and court decrees, so did 15th-century B.C. residents of the ancient city of Nuzi. Such documents, then and now, are generally written by legal scribes. The Hittites of the 14th century B.C. maintained detailed manuals concerning the care and feeding of…

Presents historical perspective suggesting that invitational theory shares many beliefs with ancient Eastern philosophies. Submits that teachers and other educators who embrace the invitational perspective may benefit from an understanding of Eastern principles. Briefly describes Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Zen Buddhism, and their relevance to…

The history of the "Fihrist al-'Ulum" ("The Index of the Sciences"), the first comprehensive and detailed Arabic bibliography, is traced from the work's completion in A.D. 987/988 to the discovery and translation of surviving manuscripts in modern times. The bibliography's content, classification scheme, and author are…

Argues that one of the formative texts of Taoism, the "Chuang Tzu," is worthy of study by rhetoric scholars because it reveals a unique approach to rhetoric in its attempt to disclose the mind of the sage not through logic but through intuition, and it shows how storytelling can acquaint people with previously unsuspected possibilities of thought…

Reviews and redefines a concept known as the "rhetorical situation" through an examination of the political discourse of China during the 19th-century Opium Wars. Arrives at three alterations to the "rhetorical situation" concerning the role of the audience, the role of the culture's discourse tradition, and the interactive and…

The scope, functions, significance, and implications of "Yuben," an early twentieth century Japanese magazine on oratory, are examined in this case study in intercultural rhetoric. The first section of the paper provides information about the magazine's genesis, including a discussion about its originator, Noma Seiji. The second section…

The entire history of the human race has been marked by transfers of cultural advances from one civilization to another. Suggests that those using cultural diversity to promote ethnic enclaves may be cutting off those ethnic groups from the knowledge, skills, and resources that Western civilization has gleaned from other world civilizations. (CJS)

Examines background of India's Sixth Five-Year Plan, describes the current status of the Plan, and assesses the future of economic and political development in India based upon the Plan's achievements in areas including the small industries sector, heavy industry, public services, agriculture, and political cooperation. Journal availability: see…

Examines the history of alchemical attempts at transmutation and classifies them by differing approaches and techniques. Traces the development of alchemy in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, and compares alchemy with craftsmanship. (18 references) (DDR)

The descriptions of Polynesian music and dance resulting from Cook's voyages influenced the romantic composers of the early nineteenth century, especially in the incorporation of exotic and mystical themes. (Author)

The persistent cultural conservatism in Western scholarship has led to the exclusion of Chinese rhetoric from the canon of rhetorical studies. However, the assumption that Chinese culture does not have a rhetorical tradition is misleading and inappropriate. It stems from any number of notions: that the Chinese language is not as logical as those…

The history of educational development in Thailand shows a transition from early concern for religious and moral training toward the present emphasis on the practical development of individuals and society. Thai culture may have originated in Mongolia and has been strongly affected by its present cultural neighbors, Malaya, Cambodia, Laos, Burma,…

Traces Japan's attitude toward and preparation for national defense from the 1930s to 1978. Topics discussed include Japan's indifference to defense since World War II, America's responsibility to defend Japan in case of military attack, the possibility of a Soviet attack on Japan, and public opinion about defense in Japan. Journal availability:…

Attempts to refute the multiculturalist revisionism surrounding the observance of the Columbian Quincentenary. Notes that warfare, epidemics, deforestation, and political turmoil existed in the Americas before Columbus' arrival. Discusses Christianity's central role in medieval Europe, some of multiculturalism's contradictions, and the importance…

This teacher's resource packet gives a brief history of the Japanese Warrior from the Old Tombs Period, 3rd-6th centuries A.D., to the end of the Edo Period in the 19th century, and explains Bushido, the ethical warrior code. Warrior artifacts, armor, helmets, and swords are discussed. Literature, exemplified by the 12th century historical…