Tag: mainland

The Practice of Cannibalism in Indonesia During the Modern Day and in Fiji During the 18th Century and 19th Century

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In Indonesia, ethnolinguistic groups in the Irian Jaya (Western New Guinea) region, more specifically the Korowai, reside in what is now referred to as “West Papua”, with these groups historically practicing ritual cannibalism. Despite cannibalism being illegal in Indonesia, the practice held cultural and anthropological significance for some indigenous groups, with documented cases as late as 2012. Fiji was once referred to as the “Cannibal Isles” because of its fierce reputation for human consumption, despite the small island being isolated from New Guinea and separated by 3300 kilometers of Pacific Ocean

The Mythology of Japan Having a Closed Society Throughout History

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It is a myth that Japan was completely cut off from the rest of the world throughout history, developing in a vacuum, as the official policy of the state was to close its doors, but the unofficial policy of the people was to remain open to the influence and ideas of other civilizations. The shoguns made a single exception to this rule pertaining to outsiders which was the advent of Deshima Island, a trading port that was the only place in Japan which Europeans were allowed to live and trade. Only Dutch traders were permitted access to this site due to the fact that the Dutch understood how to curry favor with influential members of Japanese society by showing tribute and swearing allegiance to the shogun, therefore becoming part of Japan’s internal feudal system. The narrow bridge between Deshima Island, Japan and Nagasaki, Japan upon the mainland was the only connection Japan had with the outside world for centuries