Interview with Peter Knecht, former editor of Asian Folklore Studies
Nov 2, 2017
Interviewer: Ben Dorman, co-editor Asian Ethnology
Recorded 15 May 2017, Nagoya, Japan
Peter Knecht was the editor of Asian Folklore Studies from 1980 until 2007. The journal changed its name to Asian Ethnology in 2008.
Peter discusses the founding of the journal in China in 1942, when it was known as Folklore Studies. He talks about founding editor, Mathias Eder, and the journal's path from China to Japan.
Episode Summary
- Intro :37
- Beginnings of journal; Mathias Eder's studies in Japan, Paris, and Berlin; Eder's move to China (Beijing) in 1938 4:46
- Funding granted for small museum/editorial office 6:25
- Eder’s sense of “mission” in terms of the journal; Wilhelm Schmidt and the founding of Anthropos; Eder’s acknowledgment of Schimdt; Schmidt’s contribution to anthropology 8:54
- China under Japanese rule and Eder’s connections with Japanese folklorists; end of working in China for foreign missionaries in 1949; the journal going through a series of “rebirths” 19:10
- Eder’s desire to return to China; SVD mission work; interest of Alois Pache (SVD and first president of Nanzan University) in the journal 25:07
- 1966 – Eder teaches at Indiana University; Richard Dorson proposes name change from Folklore Studies to Asian Folklore Studies 31:07
- Funding from Indiana finishes; Eder moves to Nanzan; Peter’s initial connection to the journal 36:54
- Peter’s personal justification for viewing journal work as “missionary work” – connection to the people and research interests 40:14
- Involvement of Robert Reimer, SVD and former president of Nanzan University 44:07
For more information on Asian Ethnology, visit the site's About page.
Music used with kind permission of the performer, shamisen master Koji Yamaguchi.
Copyright 2017 by Asian Ethnology Podcast.