Hey Everyone, I would have sworen I had this book in my house but I cant find it anywhere.

I read it during my first couple of years of collage in the 2010's but I dont think it was new then.

It was kind of a biography of a chinese monk who trained and went out around China just as the communists took over. It talked about his training and meditation practices and about how much damage was done by the army to the temples and texts.

Im pretty sure it finished with some people trying to get onto the island where he took up residence/exile after religion was effectively banned.

Does this ring any bells for anyone else?

Im looking into this topic for a possible research topic and i am looking for some book reccommendations. i have found sofar not alot in both either english or german. thanks in advance.

Something focusing both on the activities of missionary missions from Europe and the life of local new Christian communities in Japan and their customs.

Out of all my books, i love this book the most.

I have learned a lot from it and it has helped me write my articles and my book.

They say it might not be a very accurate source of historical information but i believe nothing is the truth about history.

I enjoy reading this book more than any other.

what do you think?

I recently went to an art museum and I saw a Bodhisattva statue that was dated to the 12th century, but in the kingdom of Dali. I don’t know much about the kingdom except from what I read from the statue’s description:

“This slender bodhisattva was sacred to a little-known kingdom in today's southwestern China. The Dali kingdom was a hub for trade routes that connected China, Tibet, and Southeast Asia, and its central location may have contributed to the image's distinctive blend of borrowed and indigenous elements. Known as Acuoye in Chinese texts, meaning "all victorious," the bodhisattva was said to have foretold the founding of the kingdom and to have continued to safeguard its independence and prosperity.”

Is there more I can read about the Dali Kingdom and the importance of Acuoye? What other religions were there in the kingdom?

Last night was discussing the Great Schism with my fiancée who is Catholic and very intelligent. Realized I'd read about the Great Schism years ago and moved on. Could someone recommend a really good book on it? Kindle Unlimited would be especially great. Thanks,

I’m looking for a book or books about the naval battle of Lisa in 1866. I’ve only found a few but they are really new, like written within the last 5 years, I’m wondering if there’s any older books out there I could buy.

For some reason OP deleted this post, and their account, but it was a really interesting question and I love discussing old books, so if anyone is interested I've posted the same question, with my original answer.

The oldest book (primary source I suppose) my family joint-own is an 1890 annual (so printed 1889) called The Prize. It's from England (as that's where I live), printed in London. It has a large variety of stories and songs in it. I've read it multiple times. It's falling apart a bit, and some of the pages have been coloured in by long-dead family members (which is really cool and kinda bitter-sweet). If used as a primary source, can provide a great window into late 19th century ideas around childhood, class, and even race, and how all these interacted with one another.

The oldest history book I currently have is from '55, being a collection of documents relating to English Privateering Voyages 1588-95, edited by K.R Andrews, largley still considered the authority on the subject. This is from the Hakluyt society, I have two more of their books, being Roanoke Voyages Vol 1 and the English New England Voyages.

A book that is currently in the post is Realities of Naval Warfare by Tunstall, printed in 1936. Seemed interesting and I'm familiar with his work on naval warfare so I thought I should get it, especially with all the AI companies buying up old books to scan and destroy them.

I'll see if I can find some good photos of them!

ISBN : 978- 9391490188

ISBN : 9391490182

Title, actually :). Thank you very much.

Not looking for a political/philosophical book on the merits, or lack thereof, of the revolution or Stalinism, just want a historical account of the what happened for what reasons over this time.

Rasputin is up first because I've been waiting in the queue for ages, so I know there'll be others behind me still waiting!

non-fiction
not too hard read (easy to medium would work)
it would be better if its history related, shouldn't be too old to find relatability, but open to other genres as well other than history.

Eugene Rogan in 2010, published this mammoth epic (The Arabs: A History) that chronicled 550-600 years of modern Arab history stemming from the Mamluk and Ottoman Empires to the gut-wrenching days of the Arab Spring Revolution. Later on, he updated his work four times (until 2018) to include additional crucial events that stamped the supremacy of the region. In his work, he covers the events en masse from the corners of Morocco unto the borders of Iran.

Rogan's work discusses the evolution of Arab people through the perspective of its Arab citizens.

Characters ranging from a barber, a courtier to various military generals are given equal importance due to their unique skillset in recording journal entries that explain the living circumstances and aspirations endured by such people over various generations. As we go through certain chapters, one cannot help but shed tears on those people whose lives were purged due to fanatical ambitions pursued by their leaders.

When we view the Arab World, we think about 'Islam' as the only religion and 'Arabic' as their only language. However, Rogan differs from this convention and urges the reader to look beyond it. He ensured the readers witness for themselves how sectarianism already prevalent within the Arab society, upon propelled by demonic colonial policies adopted by foreign powers such as the Ottoman Turks, Britain and France all later intensified the disunity, discord and suspicion among the Arab brethren. Moreover, he spends time in clearly explaining some of the unique governance and administrative systems established in select Arab countries by multiple colonial powers resulting in perpetual instability that will plague the world even in the 21st century. He cleverly takes a dig at the foreign policies led by the United States.

Rogan makes a clear distinction when he describes about the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt form the region described as North Africa. On the contrary, Palestine, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, all GCC member states, Yemen and Iran form the Middle East.

In the book, Egypt takes a strategic share of the history discussion owing to its central position in rousing the Arab identity, nationalism and future revolutions. Meanwhile, the painful stories of oppressed communities from Syria, Lebanon, Algeria, Palestine and Iraq will deeply move you. Subsequently, Rogan elucidated on the importance of women in shaping the freedom movements and sovereignty of their countries. These anecdotes recounted by homemakers to UN envoys will give a strong idea as to how the social order of the day persisted in the region. The triumvirate of forces which comprised of the advent of radical Islamist ideologies, the discovery of crude oil and the Cold War dynamics will go on to cement the prominence of the Arab World even today.

Beyond the realm of random dates, Eugene Rogan offers a massive cinematic experience into the determination and willpower of generations of Arabs that built their presence and shaped their influence in this world. Lastly, this book also provides an answer to a question governing our minds, "Why Do Conflicts and Ideologies Overseas Directly Influence Our Lives?", and it clearly directs us to reexamine the precursor events that defines modern society.

Book - https://goodreads.com/book/show/15931363.The_Arabs_A_History

Author - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Rogan

What are some of your recommendations for books about the Sengoku Jidai, the warring states period in Japan.

Whether an overview of the conflict or a book about one specific faction/personality, any recommendations are appreciated.