This issue opens with the "Impression" section, which features Tatyana Simbirtseva's picture story about Seoul, capital of Korea.
Another impression follows, Seoul, a City of Books, by Meri Trifonenko and Sergey Kukushkin who visited South Korean libraries in May this year.
Writings
Tatyana Zaripova. Remembering Irkutsk Museum…
Russian State Library holds manuscripts and photographs of Prince Petr Kropotkin, famous Russian scientist and theorist of anarchism.
Petr Kropotkin. Educational Significance of Local Museums.
In this lecture, delivered in 1921 before teachers of Dmitrov District, Kropotkin tells about cultural and educational role of Irkutsk Museum of Regional Studies, founded in 1782.
Arseniy Nesmelov. Lamoza.
This story, written by expatriate author, tells about the fate of Russian boy who found himself in China after the Revolution of 1917.
Aleksey Kirichenko. Creation of the Past.
Teiman, the popular genre of traditional Myanmar literature, is a blend of legends and real information, oral and written historical tradition. The author presents one of such works, The History of Shwehmodo Stupa, with extensive commentary.
The Land of Orient
Nikita Sokolov. Walking Around Sikkim.
Natalia Chekurova. The Wonderful Bumpa Pot.
These two sketches tell, each in its own way, about the authors' travels to Sikkim, the former kingdom in the Himalayas.
Elena Nosenko. The Jews of Morocco: Their Way in History.
Some of Moroccan Jews have been living there from ancient times; the others were brought there by reversal of fortune - but they have unique history and culture. The author describes in detail their traditional lore, achievements in science and education, and specific features of their cultural life and daily activities.
A new section entitled Ex oriente ludus adds a new colour to our magazine. It features Rustam Mirzaev's picture story about ulak, Uzbek national game, and Elena Voytishek's article Hanafuda, Cards of Four Seasons. According to the author, Japanese intellectual games are based on the 'charm of things', a significant idea of Japanese aesthetics, and they are aimed at finding the beauty around us.
Olga Khizhnyak. Datsan on Bolshaya Nevka.
The history of Datsan Kuntsechoinei in Saint Petersburg, the origins of this Buddhist temple, its recent revival, and the role it plays in the life of Russian Buddhists.
Polina Pogadaeva. Garuda Bird and the Flag on Bamboo Pole.
The origins and symbolical meaning of Indonesian state emblem and state flag.
Mary Chan. Egg Woman's Daughter.
A fragment of a novel translated into Russian by Natalya Skorlygina. Mary Chan, the child of a Tanka (the boat-dwelling people) family, tells this autobiographic and unaffected story, describing cruel world that surrounded these outcasts who lived around Macau in 1950es.
Oleg Avdeev. Worshipping Cobra…
Cobra worshipping in India is based on rich mythology, it has extremely various rituals, and it is reflected in the people's everyday life.
Anatoliy Lukyanov, Sergey Toroptsev. One Poem's Show.
The authors, a philosopher and a philologist, interpret Li Bo's poem When Junping Renounced Worldly Attractions, examining its literary, mythological, and philosophical background.
Tatyana Simbirtseva. Murder in Kyongbokkung Palace.
The article is based on a source from Russian archives and studies of modern scholars. The author tells the background and mysterious circumstances of the events in late 19th century, when the spouse of King Kojong of the Korean Choson dynasty was murdered. This outstanding woman is known as Queen Min.
Oleg Torchinskiy. These Ancient Ragas. Review of Tatyana Morozova's book Ragas in Hindustani Music, which is written as a result of long studies in traditional Indian Music.
Vladimir Belyakov. Ramadan Dinner.
The author describes popular Middle Eastern dishes and drinks that are consumed in the month of Ramadan - and in the other months as well.
As usual, in the end of this issue our reader will find traditional columns: "Reader" and "Orientnet". Please e-mail your wishes, suggestions and comments to the following address: orientnet@rsl.ru. You can find the summaries of the previous issues online, by visiting our section of the Russian State Library Web-site: http://www.rsl.ru/eng/pub.asp?4.htm