Commemorative practices in science : historical perspectives on the politics of colletive memory

Devoted to the history of non-Western science, technology and medicine, this volume goes beyond the legacy of the late historian, Joseph Needham, by covering a range of countries and by adopting new approaches. The chapters address topics in China, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. However, the contributors do not view the histories of these countries in isolation. Many adopt a cross-cultural approach by tracing interaction with other Asian countries and the West. The volume begins by providing an overview of science and civilization in Asia. This is followed by focuses essays which deal with aspects of science, technology and medicine in specific countries.