Asia

Japanese woodblock print shows a western woman holding the reins of a horse.

Yoshikazu Utagawa & 歌川芳員, Gokakoku no uchi Igirisu nyonin, 1860, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151442463

The Japanese collection is a rich source of information on the history, culture and current affairs of Japan.

Information article

The Library maintains a collection of Vietnamese language materials consisting of publications from Vietnam and Australian publications in the Vietnamese language.

Information article

Japanese print depicting scenes where Western, Japanese and Chinese people interact at a trading house

Sadahide Utagawa, Yokohama ijin shōkan no zu, 1861, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151495391

Introduction to the Asian language collection

Learn what is available and how you can find and access items in our Asian language collections in this webinar.

Learning activity for adults

Video

Sepia photograph of a monastery with people stanidng on the balconies

Adam Whyte, King Theebaw's monastery, Fort Mandalay, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-151519086

Burmese collection

The Burmese collections at the National Library of Australia consist of thousands of books, journals and microfilm holdings in Burmese language and Burma/Myanmar-related materials.

Information article

Korean collection

The Library's Korean language collection of is the largest and most significant Korean collection in Australia.

Information article

Three Buddhist Monks in orange robes sitting around a large spread of food in a temple

June Orford, Buddhist Monks feasting during celebrations for the beginning of the Rains Retreat at the Thai Buddhist Temple in Box Hill, Victoria, 1 August 2004, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-137018135

Thai collection

The Library's Thai collection covers all subject areas, and is especially strong in the fields of humanities and social sciences.

Information article

Black and white photo of an empty street in Chinatown, Darwin

Chinatown, Darwin, 1930, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136768825

Diana Giese Collection

Oral history interviews by Diana Giese with Chinese Australians, Cambodian refugees and community leaders, and with people involved in the Australian publishing industry.

Collection guide

Indonesian collection

The National Library's Indonesian collection is the largest collection of Indonesian language material in Australia and one of largest contemporary collections in the world.

Information article

Shelves containing books and journals and a picture of a man in a boat looking at birds that sit on the sides of the boat

History of the Asian collections

The National Library houses the largest and most actively developing research resource on Asia in Australia, with holdings of over half a million volumes.

Information article

Sakakibara Collection

About 2600 books, mostly in Japanese including military works, biographies of the Japanese Royal Family and leading figures in Japan and Western countries, Chinese and Japanese classics and more.

Collection guide

Villanueva Collection

Around 270 books, pamphlets and serials, mostly published in the Philippines 1900-1965 but also some items from the USA, Spain and Spanish-speaking countries.

Collection guide

Okamura Collection

667 books and periodical issues in English relating to Japan published between 1856 and 1942. The subject range is broad, including history, biography, religions, politics, literature, folklore, fine arts, gardening sports and more.

Collection guide

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