East Asian Languages & Cultures

Features

Japanese Speech Contest

University of Winnipeg students won the 36th annual Japanese Speech Contest!

Suchness on campus

Students of REL/EALC-3970 Art and Meditation in Buddhism course made a collaborate project "Suchness on Campus: An Exhibition on Photography as Meditation."

East Asian Artists

Read about Gallery 1C03’s exhibition “Within and Beyond Tradition: Works by East Asian Artists from The University of Winnipeg Collection,” curated by EALC student, Irene Chan.

Amabie: An Accidental Creature of Covid-19

Dr. Jeff Newmark explores how a 19th century Japanese beast of prophesy has become a symbol of resilience in the Age of Covid.

EALC Fieldnotes: Seoul

Tiana Mojelsky, a graduate of the EALC program, writes about her experiences while living in Seoul, South Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kyoto Field School Video

Watch some students from the 2017 Kyoto Field School talk about their experiences.

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The East Asian region constitutes one of the most dynamic and intellectually rich regions in the world. The impact of East Asian economic development has been keenly felt in recent decades and the region has a major impact on world affairs. The legacy of East Asian history, religious and social values, literatures, etc., is a major factor in current affairs in the region, and this legacy will continue to shape our global future.

The EALC program is devoted to the study of East Asian cultures. The program introduces students to East Asian cultures and societies through two components: a) the study of East Asian languages (Chinese—Mandarin and Classical, and Japanese), and b) the study of East Asian cultures through a multi-disciplinary approach (Religious Studies, History, Literature, Cinema, Economics, International Development Studies). A unique feature of the program is its focus on the intellectual legacy of East Asian cultures, introduced through the study of texts and ideas in the historical and cultural contexts that shaped them. The rationale for this focus is a belief that just as East Asian economies are having a global impact beyond the East Asian region, intellectual beliefs and cultural habits will challenge hitherto global presuppositions regarding accepted practices and habits of thought.

The EALC program is administered through the Department of Religion & Culture. Graduates who are interested in careers related to East Asia in fields such as education, government, and business benefit greatly from courses in East Asian Languages & Cultures.