Vol. 3 No. 1 (2024)

It is our distinct pleasure to present the fourth issue of the Columbia Journal of Asia (CJA). Volume III, Issue 1 features scholarly and creative works contributed by undergraduates and recent graduates representing academic institutions across Asia and the United States. The issue is structured into three sections: Articles, comprising long-form academic research papers; Notes, featuring concise scholarly essays; and Creative Works, encompassing an array of artistic, poetic, and literary expressions. 

We are thrilled with the disciplinary breadth demonstrated herein—spanning fields such as history, economics, comparative literature, and gender studies—as the selected works engage deeply with themes of sexuality, gender, spatial perception, and consumerism, reflecting multifaceted approaches to the human body in diverse Asian contexts. From the exploration of sex and castration in late imperial Chinese fiction to the interrogation of racial and gender inequality within the Philippine diaspora, the authors present incisive perspectives that collectively invite critical reflection on evolving intersections of body politics and sovereignty. This year’s volume adopts the theme “Body Politics in the Orient(al),” a focus that builds upon dialogues initiated in our previous edition. In foregrounding this theme, the issue seeks to advance understandings of political, economic, racial, gender, and sexual identities across Asia over time. How might we conceive of bodily autonomy—both individually and collectively? How are bodies and communities regulated or transformed under various sociocultural and legal frameworks?