Christopher Harding: The Light of Asia

From the time of the ancient Greeks, the West’s relationship with Asia consisted of outrageous tales of beasts and monsters and fabulous riches – gold, spices, and jewels shipped over vast distances. By the 20^th century much of Asia might have come under Western rule but its intellectual, artistic and spiritual influence was fighting back. Cultural historian of Japan, India and East-West Connections, Christopher Harding explores ways in which Asia has influenced Europe and North America over centuries of tangled, dynamic encounters.

Book: The Light of Asia: A History of Western Fascination with the East (Penguin)

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Photo credit Felicity Millward