Paleoparasitology is the application of conventional or molecular investigative techniques to archeological samples in order to reveal parasitic infection patterns among past populations. Although pioneering studies already have reported key paleoparasitological findings around the world, the same sorts of studies had not, until very recently, been conducted in sufficient numbers in Korea. Mumm...

one of the chapters in the history of iranian music is the place and significance of the musical instrument called oud. this instrument, initially named “barbat”, emerged during the sassanid dynasty. generally known under the name “oud” in islamic era, it became grepopular in islamic countries. in iran, this instrument enjoyed great importance until the fall of the safavid dynasty. from the ear...

The earliest existing text on TCMs, the book Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (“Ben” means root and “Cao” means shoot), was written sometime during the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 BC – 220 AD). This book was based on the work of medical experts who gathered a plethora of information before the Qin Dynasty. The book covered 365 types of medicine, some of which are still used in contemporary medicine. The S...

I For the past 30 years, there has arisen a new trend of worldwide studies on Ancient Chinese culture and thought. This new trend is indeed about excavated materials. In ancient China, they had a custom such that, when people died, they were buried with the articles they had used in order to commemorate the dead. And these articles included such literary material as bamboo slips, wood slips, si...

In late-Qing-dynasty Taiwan (1870-1895), female infanticide and general neglect killed over 15% of young girls. During the early years of Japanese rule (1895-1915), female infanticide was almost completely eliminated and the treatment of girls improved. This paper argues that the increase in the willingness to raise daughters was due to an increase in adult female productivity. Under Japanese r...

Background: The existence of moral challenges resulting from political, social and economic crises is an inevitable issue of any society and government. Challenges are not urgent, they gradually turn into crises, and can ultimately pose a serious threat to the sovereignty. The Qajar government was in such a situation, especially after the Constitutional Revolution. Political crises and its inte...

Dear Editor Symbols are powerful images which, in one pictogram, contain a host of associated ideas or cultural myths. Today as a medical symbol, the rod of Asclepius with its entwined single serpent has been universally adopted, although this was originally a symbol representing Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, from around the 6th century B.C.E. The Caduceus of the Roman god Mercury (the ...