Welcome to Asia Bookroom

Asia Bookroom is a leading Asian bookselling specialist. We have a large stock of books old and new on China, Japan, India, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma/Myanmar, Laos, Sri Lanka/Ceylon, Malaysia, Singapore, Timor Leste, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Himalayan region including Tibet and Central Asia. We stock books old and new on all of these areas - and many Asian themes and topics - for example cookery and food, religion and philosophy, Asian art and many more. Browse our site and subscribe to our mailing list for updates of new books as they arrive.

Asia Bookroom will be exhibiting at the Hong Kong Antiquarian Bookfair this month.

This bookfair with over 60 antiquarian booksellers from across the globe will be held at the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre which can be found at 3-4/F., Low Block, China Resources Building, 26 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

The fair will be open to the public the following hours:-

17th January 2009 (Saturday): 5pm – 9pm

18th January 2009 (Sunday): 11am – 6pm

19th January 2009 (Monday): 11am – 6pm

We very much hope to see you there!

Partisans of Allah. Jihad in South Asia.
JALAL, AYESHA.
AU$49.95
Maps, black and white illustrations, xvi + 373pp, glossary, notes, index, dustjacket. The idea of jihad is central to Islamic faith and ethics, and yet its meanings have been highly contested over time. They have ranged from the philosophical struggle to live an ethical life to the political injunction to wage war against enemies of Islam. Today, more than ever, jihad signifies the political opposition between Islam and the West. As the line drawn between Muslims and non-Muslims becomes more rigid, Ayesha Jalal seeks to retrieve the ethical meanings of this core Islamic principle in South Asian history.Drawing on historical, legal, and literary sources, Jalal traces the intellectual itinerary of jihad through several centuries and across the territory connecting the Middle East with South Asia. She reveals how key innovations in modern Islamic thought resulted from historical imperatives. The social and political scene in India before, during, and after British colonial rule forms the main backdrop., We experience the jihad as armed warfare waged by Sayyid Ahmad of Rai Bareilly between 1826 and 1831, the calls to jihad in the great rebellion of 1857, the fusion of jihad with a strand of anti-colonial nationalism in the early twentieth century, and the contemporary politics of self-styled jihadis in Pakistan, waging war to liberate co-religionists in Afghanistan and Kashmir."Partisans of Allah" surveys this rich and tumultuous history of South Asian Muslims and its critical contribution to the intellectual development of the key concept of jihad. Analyzing the complex interplay of ethics and politics in Muslim history, the author effectively demonstrates the preeminent role of jihad in the Muslim faith today. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 127028) ... more
Stock ID: 127028

Lost Times and Untold Tales from the Malay World.
VAN DER PUTTEN, JAN AND MARY KILCLINE CODY (EDS).
AU$48.00
Black and white as well as colour illustrations, xxiii + 396pp, bibliography, index, paperback. Inspired by the wry yet deeply scholarly perspective of Australian philologist Ian Proudfoot, the editors of Lost Times and Untold Tales from the Malay World bring together a distinguished group of international scholars who look at calendars and time, royal myths, colonial expeditions, printing, propaganda, theatre, art, Islamic manuscripts, erotic literature, and many other topics from wholly unexpected angles. The book demonstrates the spectacular diversity of scholarship on the Malay World, and shows that offbeat texts can produce fascinating new insights into the past. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 127051) ... more
Stock ID: 127051

Chinese Bridges. Living Architecture from China's Past.
KNAPP, RONALD G.
AU$59.95
Map, colour photographic illustrations, 272pp, index, dustjacket, quarto. Bridges, the least known and understood of China's many wonders, are one of its most striking and resilient feats of architectural prowess. "Chinese Bridges" brings together a thorough look at these marvels from one of the world's leading experts on Chinese culture and historical geography, Ronald G. Knapp. While many consider bridges to be merely utilitarian, the bridges of China move beyond that stereotype, as many are undeniably dramatic, even majestic and daring. "Chinese Bridges" illustrates in detail 20 well-preserved ancient bridges, along with descriptions and essays on the distinctive architectural elements shared by the various designs. For the first time in an English-language book, "Chinese Bridges" records scores of newly discovered bridges across China's vast landscape, illustrated with over 400 color photographs, as well as woodblock prints, historic images, paintings and line drawings. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 127142) ... more
Stock ID: 127142

India Condensed. 5000 years of history and culture.
CHANDRA, ANJANA MOTIHAR.
AU$16.95
Map, 176pp, chronology, bibliography, index, paperback. India Condensed is a book for anyone who needs a quick introduction to India. History, philosophy, religion, language, literature, arts and culture are all discussed in this lively and accessible text. More than a dry recitation of dates, names and events, the topics covered range from stories and legends to current facts and observations. Thousands of years of history, culture and civilization are distilled into one handy book for easy reference. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 126543) ... more
Stock ID: 126543

Searching for Shangri-La. Off the Beaten Track in Western China.
BRAHM, LAURENCE J.
AU$24.95
Colour photographic illustrations, 181pp, paperback. Some say that Shangri-La can be found in sacred Tibet, or maybe in wild Qinghai. They are others who say it can be found in artistic Yunnan. Author Laurence J Brahm hitchhikes off the beaten track through western China, meeting monks, nomads, artists, rock and pop musicians, dancers, composers, environmentalists and Living Buddha ? each searching for their own version of Shangri-La. Shangri-La can be found in a cup of café latte or yak butter tea if you search carefully enough? Searching for Shangri-La? Can you find it? Maybe you are not searching carefully enough? (When referring to this item please quote stockid 100957) ... more
Stock ID: 100957

Shoji. How to Design, Build and Install Japanese Screens in Your Home.
ARSDALE, JAY VAN.
AU$35.00
Black and white photographic illustrations, line illustrations of details, appendix, index, dustjacket on paperback. Japanese-style shoji screens are translucent, wooden-lattice panels that subtly transform light and space and add an elegant touch to any decor. This book contains all the information you need to design and make shoji for your own home or apartment. Features * Notes on aesthetics and design fundamentals * Complete how-to guide covering basic construction methods, screen materials, and wood selection * Home projects, including window inserts, sliding and hanging screens, glass panel shoji, double- and single-sided shoji, skylight shoji, decorative wall boxes, and floor and table lanterns * Introduction to Japanese hand tools and planing and joinery techniques * Sample lattice patterns, photographs, and line drawings for design and remodeling ideas * List of suppliers. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 124731) ... more
Stock ID: 124731

The Cry of the Hornbill.
SHAW, DAVID.
AU$29.95
251pp, paperback. An adventure thriller, set in the jungles of Borneo, written by David Shaw, an Australian journalist with many years of experience as a correspondent in Asia and the Middle East. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 127176) ... more
Stock ID: 127176

Asia.
FOLLMI, OLIVIER.
AU$90.00
Beautifully presented with full page colour photographic illustrations and fold out pages, photographic credit index, 352pp, large quarto. Inspired by the beauty of distant countries, "Asia" celebrates the depth and grandeur of the far east. The fourth volume in Abrams' successful album size collection of Olivier Follmi's photographs, including India, Africa and Latin America, this book presents the most exceptional images the artist took during his travels in Burma, Japan, China, Vietnam and many points between. The large format allows the photographs, their colours and the places and people they capture to come alive in the reader's hands.The photographs are accompanied by captions that give detailed information about each image, which have been written by acclaimed journalist Virginie de Borchgrave. The book also includes an introduction by Francois and an essay by Follmi, who describes his experience travelling in these regions. "Asia" is a celebration and invocation of the continent that not all are fortunate enough to visit, but which has inspired many to dream. (When referring to this item please quote stockid 126917) ... more
Stock ID: 126917