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A group of people in traditional Japanese attire, part of a Gagaku Ensemble, sit behind drums and a red railing, with a gold mural depicting figures in the background.

Etenraku | Reigakusha Gagaku Ensemble

A video of Etenraku, a style of Gagaku, the melody originally used with love poems, then later would accompany weddings. The video shows the full performance of the piece and highlights each of the instruments played. It can be screened in class and combined with the Gagaku article to create a class lesson and discussion.

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A traditional Japanese woodblock print from the Pre-1915 era, part of the Japanese Fine Prints collection at the Library of Congress, depicts two tall, rocky mountains with clouds and mist, flanked by trees at the bottom. Japanese calligraphy is visible in the sky area.

Japanese Fine Prints Pre-1915 | Library of Congress 

An online library containing over 2,500 woodblock prints, including featured artists such as Hiroshige, Kuniyoshi, Sadahide, and Yoshiiku. The prints featured range from the 17th century to the 20th century and include depictions of daily life, landscapes, actors, women, scenes from Japanese literature, and foreigners. The large variety of prints available in the library provides an opportunity for students to explore and analyze different woodblock prints and their contents.

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A person in traditional Chinese attire stands outdoors holding a bow and arrows, evoking the spirit of Mulan from The Ballad of Mulan, with a quiver at their side and a tree and mountains in the background.

“The Ballad of Mulan” Chinese and English Reading

This document includes “The Ballad of Mulan” written in Chinese characters, pinyin (romanized Chinese), and the English translation, providing a great opportunity to introduce to your classroom, not only the legend, but also the Chinese language.

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Stone serpent statues line the steps of an old brick staircase, with weathered walls and green trees in the background.

Southeast Asia Digital Library | Northern Illinois University

This collection contains a wide variety of materials published and produced in Southeast Asia. There are many interviews, videos, posters, photographs, periodicals, maps, manuscripts, and other archival materials.

Primary Source Teacher Resource
A group of Japanese American people, including men, women, and children, stand in line outside a building under guard by an armed soldier during WWII—a poignant moment of Japanese American incarceration. Courtesy of the National Archives.

Japanese American Incarceration During WWII | National Archives

This page connects to DocsTeach, providing primary resources on Japanese internment during World War II. It includes documents that explore the impact of the order and its historical context, such as President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066–the order that led to the internment of Japanese Americans in relocation centers, postings of Exclusion Orders, and pictures of Japanese American families.

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A Chinese soldier in uniform holds a book with Mao Zedong’s name; behind him, workers and soldiers are depicted in action on a red background. Chinese Posters Foundation text is featured at the bottom.

Chinese Posters | Chinese Posters Foundation

This resource is an evolving digital archive showcasing over 7,000 authentic Chinese propaganda posters, prints, and other images. The site provides historical context and artist information, enhancing understanding of modern Chinese history through visual propaganda.

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Black and white portrait of an East Asian man with a mustache, short hair, and wearing a high-collared traditional garment; often associated with "Madman's Diary" and featured on the Marxists Internet Archive.

A Madman’s Diary | Marxists Internet Archive

Lu Xun presents a diary-style short story where the protagonist imagines being surrounded by cannibals. Through the protagonist’s delusions, Lu Xun delivers a potent critique of conventional Chinese society, specifically targeting the oppressive and dehumanizing aspects of traditionalist and Confucian values.

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A large crowd gathers in front of Tiananmen Gate holding banners and signs during the May Fourth Movement in Beijing, China, 1919—a pivotal event explored in Asia for Educators' "Before and After" series.

Before and After the May Fourth Movement | Asia for Educators

This resource examines the New Culture Movement in China, featuring primary sources from Chen Duxiu, Chiang Kai-shek, and Mao Zedong, which highlight the intellectual debates and ideological shifts that shaped China’s modern transformation from 1916 to the 1940s. 

Primary Source Teacher Resource
An old Chinese book, possibly Han Feizi’s The Five Vermin, is displayed open under warm lighting, showing traditional vertical Chinese text on aged, yellowed pages—perfect for an Asia for Educators exhibit.

Selections from the Han Feizi: Chapter 49, “The Five Vermin” | Asia for Educators

This excerpt introduces students to Legalist political thought through “The Five Vermin,” a chapter from the Han Feizi, a foundational Legalist text attributed to Han Fei (d. 233 BCE). A former student of the Confucian philosopher Xunzi, Han Fei rejected Confucian ideals in favor of a more pragmatic, authoritarian approach to governance. His writings reflect a systematic synthesis of Legalist and Daoist ideas, emphasizing strict laws and centralized power. This chapter criticizes social groups seen as harmful to the state, offering valuable insight into Legalist critiques of Confucianism and the ideological tensions of early Chinese political philosophy.

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