The present volume is an independent collection of peer-reviewed academic studies representing many different aspects of Asian studies, from the fields of political and social sciences to ethnic history and comparative religion.

These various articles share the common theme of change in the local, linguistic, and ethnic identities of human groups living in modern cultural contexts. Almost half of the papers deal with issues related to China. Many of them investigate language use in different societal contexts and situations. Many of the papers contain anthropological fieldwork and deal with local communities in Amdo (Ch. Qinghai) and Sichuan Provinces. The volume also includes individual papers dedicated to other Far Eastern nations.