Découvertes de l'Asie

An exploration of Asia based on the itineraries of Asians and Europeans who began traveling throughout the continent in the earliest centuries of our era.

The spread of Buddhism in Asia:

  • Between the fourth and the seventh centuries, three Chinese pilgrims in search of manuscripts (Faxian, Xuanzang et Yijing) traveled to India along the Silk road and the maritime routes that linked the Far East and the subcontinent.

The first Westerners to discover Asia:

  • Commercial and other motives prompted the voyages of 14th century Italian traveler Odoric of Pordenone, who sailed from Europe to Japan, stopping in, among other places, southern Indian and the islands of South Asia.
  • Lastly, French colonial civil servant Auguste Pavie traveled throughout continental Southeast Asia. One section will be devoted to the restoration of the temples of Angkor.
EFEO News
''Kitashirakawa EFEO Salon''
Kyoto, Japan, 16 October 2020
As part of the Kitashirakawa EFEO Salon, the fifth lecture of the 2019-2020 cycle is presented by Markus Ruesch (Ryukoku University) on the topic: "Secret spaces for Amida: the function of hidden spaces in the rites of Pure Land Buddhism and their doctrinal foundations (Edo period)" (in Japanese without translation).
The conference will be broadcasted online via Zoom and on site at the EFEO Center in Kyoto (limited to 10 auditors, upon registration). More information
Colloquium ''Ancient Japanese Book Collection of the Social Sciences Library - Issues and Potential''
Hanoi, Vietnam, 14 October 2020
On October 14 the Institute of Social Sciences Information in Hanoi, which holds part of the collections of the former EFEO library, organized a colloquium on the Japanese collection, entitled: Ancient Japanese Book Collection of the Social Sciences Library - Issues and Potential.
The director of the EFEO, Christophe Marquet, gave a talk on the history of this collection, which was created at the beginning of the 20th century by the first EFEO Japanese scholars, and on works concerning the artistic heritage.
Paris EFEO Seminar
Paris, France, 12 October 2020
On Monday 12 October, Christine Hawixbrock speaks on: "Nong Hua Thong (Laos), from treasure to the city".

From 10.30am to 12pm, Maison de l'Asie, 22, avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris, Grand salon, 1st floor. The conference will take place online and on site (reception limited to 24 listeners upon prior registration).

Learn more about it
Kyoto lectures
Kyoto, Japan, 28 September 2020
As part of the Kyoto lectures, Kameyama Takahiko (University of Kyoto / Ryukoku University) presents: "Articulating Inner Dharma: Development of the Five Viscera Mandala in Japanese Esoteric Buddhism".
At 6 p.m. (Japan time). The conference will be broadcasted online via Zoom and on site at the EFEO Center in Kyoto (limited to 10 auditors upon registration at: efeo.kyoto@gmail.com).
The password for logging in will be posted on the Kyoto Center's blog and ISEAS websites the day before.
Research Seminar
Paris, France, 25 September 2020
As part of the research program "Essais 'au fil du pinceau' (zuihitsu) à l’époque d’Edo (XVIIe-XIXe s.) : recueils de réflexions et d’observations sur le passé et le présent des savants japonais (pré-) modernes" [Miscellaneous ‘running brush’ Essays (zuihitsu) in the Edo period (17th-19th c.). ): collections of reflections and observations on the past and present of (pre-)modern Japanese scholars], Christophe Marquet gives a communication on "The notion of "essay of critical reflection through evidence" (kōshō zuihitsu 考証随筆) through the case of the painter-writer Santo Kyoden, alias Kitao Masanobu (1761-1816)".

See the poster