ASIAN Geographic

editor’s note

“How nice the luxury, to argue about rights of the unborn, beginning of life, moment of death, all those sophisticated discussions. Empty talkers… But no such luxury here. Should be a rule: Walk, first, through the fire, then philosophize…”— Rohinton Mistry, Family Matters Welcome to our special edition of ASIAN Geographic + Scuba Diver! This issue will appeal to divers and non-divers alike, encapsulating many a myth, legend, and folk tale across the land and sea. As an English Literature major, stories hold a special place in my heart, and this issue has attempted to combine the different methods of storytelling to show that these narratives are all around us. Our ASIAN Geographic Fire edition also features the significance of the element and how it is celebrated across the continent, from antiquity…

playing with fire: the fire element

“Move swift as the Wind and closely-formed as the Wood. Attack like the Fire and be still as the Mountain.”The Art of War, Sun Tzu In the Chinese philosophy of wu xing, fire is also related to the energy of ascension and luminosity. It represents summer, and signifies a time of celebrating and rejoicing in the beauty, fullness and fruition of life. This is the element that represents energy itself. As the second phase of wu xing, fire is generated by rubbing together two pieces of wood, and it must be fuelled by the burning of wood. It then begets earth as fire reduces everything to ashes, which become a part of the earth again. In the conquest cycle, water overcomes fire, which in turn overcomes metal, which can only be melted…

fire people

You know a fire person when you see one. They take risks and are adventurous, brave, confident, motivated and ambitious. They are honest, enthusiastic, strong, energetic, progressive, quick-witted, inventive and creative, and have excellent leadership qualities. They actively pursue goals and are full of youthful spirit. The element of fire governs a person’s elegance and mannerisms, and if balanced, the person behaves appropriately, elegantly and graciously. Fire also represents passion, and so if a person’s fire is weak, he might get depressed easily and often feel inadequate. Fire types show qualities inherent in summer, so they appear outgoing, warm, lively and sociable. The fire energy is upward and expanding – a strong dynamic, masculine energy which can be restless and highly creative. The negative emotion associated with fire is overexcitement and hysteria,…

folk tales of asia

A folk tale is a story passed down from generation to generation, often by word of mouth. Folk tales are inherently embedded in a culture, and in the modern world, as the tradition of oral storytelling has givenway to books and television, such tales are being collected and written down. Sometimes folk tales seek to explain the world around us. Sometimes they tell of real people and events. Whatever the objective, they are undoubtedly innovative, educational, and enchanting. Here is just a glimpse into the vast world of fascinating folk tales in different parts of Asia, and the history behind them.…

chasing the tale

“Pay heed to the tales of old wives. It may well be that they alone keep in memory what it was once needful for the wise to know.”– J.R.R. Tolkien Storytelling is common to every culture, and storytellers have catered to the desire for a “good story” since the beginning of civilisation. We encounter stories daily, whether through the bedtime stories we read as children, parents and grandparents’ recitals, television, or other forms of literature or entertainment. Stories are all around us, and a part of us. The terms “folklore” and “folk tales” are often used interchangeably, leading many to believe they refer to the same thing. However, folklore is an overarching term that refers to the collection of traditional stories of a community or culture, and can include art, songs, dances,…

a world of stories

INDIA Panchatantra “If loving kindness be not shown, to friends and souls in pain, to teachers, servants, and one's self, what use in life, what gain?”– from Panchatantra, Book 1 The Panchatantra is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, arranged within a frame story, dated to roughly 200 BCE, based on older oral tradition. The text’s author is unknown, but has been attributed to Vishnusharma or Vasubhaga – both of which may be pen names. The Panchatantra was translated into many languages, including English, various Indian vernacular languages, Persian, and Arabic. “The Monkey and the Crocodile” is one of the most famous stories from the collection. Once upon a time, in a forest, there lived a monkey who resided on a jamun (berry) tree, which was on…