Search Results (123)

This article is structured in two parts. The first presents an overview of late-medieval female Marian devotion and spirituality, outlining the principal interpretative approaches developed in recent scholarship. The second examines Book VII of the Revelationes of Bridget of Sweden, which is constructed as a true “Gospel of Mary.” Through the visionary reconstruction of Christ’s life and Passion, narrated in the first person by the Virgin, Bridget reshapes the apocryphal tradition and transfers authority from apostolic memory to contemporary revelation. The narrative transforms the pilgrimage to the Holy Land into a Eucharistic and prophetic space, develops an innovative and politically charged Mariology, and presents Mary as both witness of the Incarnation and guardian of a Church in crisis. By integrating theology, narrative, and embodied visionary experience, the article argues that Bridget’s Marian Gospel represents one of the most daring and enduring expressions of female spiritual authority in the transmission of Christian truth. Full article

Low-lying and riverine areas of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia are increasingly exposed to compound flood hazards driven by intensified monsoon rainfall, sea-level rise, and land-use change. Recent projections indicate stronger extreme rainfall, fewer dry days, but more high-intensity events, and significant increases in annual rainfall and sea level, all of which elevate fluvial, pluvial, and coastal flood risk. In this study, climate-responsive vernacular architecture is investigated as a passive, low-carbon strategy for enhancing residential flood resilience in East Malaysia. Traditional stilted Malay kampung houses, Bornean longhouses, and coastal stilt settlements were explored since they have historically evolved to cope with seasonal inundation, high humidity, and tropical thermal loads. In this study, the following was conducted: (1) historical flood and climate analysis for key basins (Rajang, Sarawak, Kinabatangan); (2) morphological and typological analysis of vernacular dwellings; (3) parametric physical and hydrodynamic simulation of elevated and amphibious configurations; and (4) multi-criteria performance assessment based on structural robustness, flood safety, thermal comfort, cultural acceptability, and embodied carbon. Results from scenario-based simulations show that well-configured stilted typologies, with optimized floor elevation, breakaway panels, and porous undercroft zones, can reduce flood damage depth by 60–80% and expected annual loss by 30–55%. By translating these findings into a design guideline and decision matrix for climate-responsive housing in East Malaysia, contemporary reinterpretations of vernacular strategies were embedded into Malaysian building codes, state-level planning policies, and community-led upgrading programmes. Full article

This paper explores the ways in which AI-based urban mapping tools may influence informal sustainability learning, with a particular emphasis on their use in participatory “Green Walk” activities in Manchester. As cities continue to integrate algorithmic systems to respond to environmental concerns, it becomes increasingly relevant to ask how such technologies affect not only governance structures but also public modes of understanding and engagement. Grounded in theories of place-based learning, embodied cognition, and constructionism, the study captured participants’ interaction with AI-generated maps that visualised carbon data, land use, and ecological sites. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and field observations, the findings suggest that combining algorithmic representations with real-world walking experiences helped participants develop a stronger awareness of local environmental issues. The study points out both the pedagogical potential and limitations of AI-based tools in sustainability education. While they can support conceptual learning and foster new perspectives, they are not neutral or universally accessible. The effectiveness of these tools depends on how they are embedded within inclusive, dialogic, and situated pedagogical practices. Overall, this paper contributes to a more nuanced understanding of digital tools in place-based learning and informal education. Full article

This paper draws on Michel Foucault’s analysis of disciplinary power to examine the history of penal punishment and Buddhist chaplaincy at Lüshun Prison in Dalian during Japan’s colonial rule (1905–1945). The goal is to call into question the dominant understanding of Japanese prison system as simply an apparatus of naked colonial oppression by exploring the contradictions and limitations in the penitentiary system of Japan as an empire and a modern nation-state. The research is based on official prison documents, True Pure Land Buddhist Honganji sect archival sources, local Chinese publications, oral testimonies from the 2000s, interviews with descendants, and fieldwork at Lüshun Prison. The first part introduces the history of Lüshun Prison and the second explains the prison as a modern criminal justice institution embodying the Benthamian panopticon principle and modern disciplinary power. The third part examines the brutal corporeal punishment at Lüshun Prison and explores how the prison combined deliberate strategies of disciplining manipulation with bodily punishment to (re)create disciplined and subjected individuals. The fourth and fifth parts focus on Buddhist chaplaincy at Lüshun Prison as a disciplining practice. The fourth considers the limits of Buddhist chaplaincy by showing the depoliticized Buddhist doctrine deployed by chaplains was unable to discipline prisoners as it failed to make them repent and be loyal subjects of imperial Japan. The notion of public good used to justify Buddhist chaplaincy in Japan loses its political meaning when applied to the colonial penitentiary setting of Lüshun Prison. The fifth part further explores this ambiguity in Buddhist chaplaincy by focusing on examining the case of Ahn Jung-geun, the Korean independence activist who assassinated the Japanese statesman Ito Hirobumi and was imprisoned and executed at Lüshun Prison in 1910. Rather than transforming Ahn, prison chaplains ended up being transformed by him. This reversion betrays not just a tension between the private and the public, or the individual and the social, but at the same time a tension between the supposedly homogenized nation-state and the multi-ethnic empire. Full article

Scholars across disciplines are urging a rethinking of human–nature relationships beyond anthropocentrism, but these ideas remain difficult to convey to broader audiences and to implement in environmental management practices. This study analyses the design and performance of a serious game (used in 12 sessions with 99 participants in total) developed to encourage participants to reflect on modes of attention and relationships with non-humans in an everyday environment. The game draws on storytelling and art-based approaches to guide players through a thought experiment in which humans and non-humans can gradually communicate and coordinate. A series of game features have been designed to challenge players’ perception of ownership, stakeholders and agency beyond humans. In the sessions played, players initially competed against each other. The revelation, throughout the game, of non-humans’ presence in the landscape, and among the game’s characters themselves, led players to cooperate. Yet they mostly cooperated among human characters to address the needs of non-humans, but they rarely engaged directly with the non-human characters themselves through voluntary interactions. Engaging participants to act as, and interact with, non-humans through role-play allows questioning established interpretations and power dynamics in land or resource management. It offers an imaginative yet embodied experience for exploring what happens if non-humans are treated as active partners with whom we can directly communicate and coordinate to address environmental challenges. Full article

This paper explores Indigenous Maya practices, ways of sensing, from a personal perspective to provoke discussion on ways to ground mathematics education through land and ancestors. This paper is largely based on my doctoral research work (2018–2022). I adopt a sensory ethnography approach as a viable means to explore Maya Elders’ ways of knowing. Over a period of three years, I walked alongside my Elders and journeyed into a world of mysticism and mathematical wonder. These experiences evoked the questions: “What are the challenges in engaging with this form of knowing as a learner and translator? How can these experiences help us to ground Indigenous forms of mathematical knowing? What insights can we learn via our own Indigenous mathematical heritage?” I argue that an embodied and sensory approach to mathematics through the ways of our ancestors leads to a more meaningful and purposeful mathematics. In this more-than-human context, the predominant view of mathematics as a-human, a-cultural, and a-historical is blurred to reveal mathematics as human and very much grounded in our ways of yearning to make sense of the world around us. Full article

The prosperity of the Maritime Spice Route in China during the Song–Yuan dynasties (960–1368) propelled Quanzhou into a global hub for maritime trade and cultural integration. A large number of Muslims settled in Quanzhou via maritime routes, living and multiplying over generations—their journey fully documenting the localization trajectory of the immigrant group. To explore the relationship between the evolution of their traditional residence types and immigration localization, this study takes 185 “one bright hall and two dark rooms” traditional residences of the Ding’s Hui ethnic group in Chendai as an example, constructing a “4 × 6” matrix framework via the spatiotemporal biaxial coordinate classification method, with an integrated application of statistics, field surveying and mapping, Space Syntax, and genealogical document analysis. Results reveal that 15 of the 24 theoretical residence types are effectively preserved, forming a “prototype + combined type” evolutionary chain. Residence-type acceptance presents distinct traits, Class A as the foundational form, Class D as the mainstream, and Classes B and C as transitional types, a pattern reflecting the comprehensive influence of construction land conditions, living patterns, and local construction concepts on residence-type selection. Significant disparities in average connectivity between the central courtyard and various core public spaces embody the multi-branch small-family cohabitation mode and verify the localization development trajectory of residential space. The evolution of this residence-type system is confirmed to feature three core characteristics—nonlinearity, integrated and diversified fusion, and spatial constraint—and proposes preservation strategies for double-standard dimensional, multicultural and identifiability qualities, which provide a scientific reference for the protection and renewal of architectural heritage in Hui ethnic communities and similar immigrant settlements on China’s southeast coast. Full article

This article investigates narrative and storytelling as critical methods for understanding how relationships with land in Aotearoa New Zealand are shaped by colonial histories and ongoing systemic displacement of Māori (Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa). Colonialism is not a past event; it continues to structure daily life, disrupting our embodied connections to whenua (land) and reshaping what we call home. Drawing on the research project Tō mātou kāinga, tō mātou ūkaipō, Whānau conceptions of home we explore the concept of body–land, emerging from Indigenous women’s struggles and grounded knowledges, to examine how the land is not only a living genealogical ancestor but also a maker of our bodies and identities. Through narrative, we trace the ways land has been taken and commodified under colonial logics that frame it as property to be owned and extracted from, which contrasts with Indigenous ontologies that understand land as kin and relationality as central to existence. By centering Māori women’s embodied experiences, this article articulates home as a relationship rather than a fixed place and considers how these understandings open pathways toward relational, sustainable futures. This work contributes to broader conversations on decolonial praxis, Indigenous feminist theory, and the embodied politics of land and belonging. Full article

Global demand for animal protein necessitates sustainable alternatives to soybean meal (SBM). This systematic review evaluated 177 peer-reviewed articles (2002–2023) across 12 categories to analyse the nutritional value of alternative protein sources for ruminant diets and to assess the associated environmental trade-offs. This was achieved through a targeted review, synthesising data from Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to create a multi-criteria matrix for ranking sustainability profiles. Results indicate that microalgae, insects, and single-cell proteins exhibit crude protein levels comparable to SBM. Moreover, insects, seaweeds, and animal by-products (ABPs) often present superior essential amino acid profiles and high intestinal digestibility. From an environmental perspective, insects, seaweeds and microalgae offer excellent land-use efficiency and significant enteric methane mitigation (17–74.6%), though current economic viability is hindered by high processing costs and emerging supply chains. Conversely, ABPs and agro-industrial by-products effectively embody circular economy principles, enhancing local system resilience. Ultimately, replacing SBM requires a multi-objective approach through a functional hybridisation model, carefully balancing metabolic efficiency with environmental sustainability. While microalgae, insects, and seaweeds demonstrate promising nutritional and mitigation potential, addressing economic barriers and ensuring biosecurity seems essential. Future LCA frameworks should prioritise bioavailable nutrient metrics to optimise the environmental impact of ruminant production. Full article

Traditional villages in Southwest China serve as vital carriers of ethnic culture, vernacular architecture, and ecological wisdom, embodying centuries of dynamic human–land interaction. This study explores the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of traditional villages in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Chongqing by applying a human–land relationship theoretical framework. This study uses spatial analysis methods, including average nearest neighbor, spatial autocorrelation, and kernel density estimation, combined with geographic detectors. The research identifies spatial clustering patterns and reveals key natural, infrastructural, and socio-economic drivers. The results demonstrate that traditional villages exhibit a significantly clustered distribution, particularly in areas such as Qiandongnan, Lijiang, and Dali, where cultural heritage and tourism resources are abundant. Among the nine analyzed factors, river density, road density, and temperature show the strongest explanatory power, while the interaction between natural and socio-economic elements, such as altitude and urbanization, further enhances spatial influence. These findings reflect the complex interplay between geographical constraints, human adaptation, and modern tourism dynamics. By situating the spatial evolution of traditional villages within the broader process of rural tourism development, this study highlights the need for adaptive spatial planning and culturally sensitive infrastructure strategies. It provides theoretical and empirical support for policymakers and stakeholders aiming to promote sustainable development, spatial equity, and cultural continuity in the context of village revitalization. Full article

This study presents a life cycle assessment of a low-cost pilot-scale wastewater treatment system that combines solar photocatalytic oxidation with Nature-based Solutions (NBSs) for a specially constructed wetland (CW). The prototype was designed and assessed for its efficiency in treating urban wastewater and its environmental impact on agricultural irrigation reuse. Evaluations were performed with the SimaPro software, applying the Impact ReCiPe Medpoint methodology, which includes characterization and selection of the relevant environmental issues steps. The results demonstrate the potential of this hybrid system for providing high-quality treated wastewater suitable for agricultural reuse in water-scarce regions. The analysis reveals that the operational phase, mainly driven by energy consumption for pumping, aeration, and photocatalytic processes, accounts for over 85–98% of the total global warming potential (GWP), primarily due to reliance on fossil-based electricity. Conversely, the construction phase significantly impacts land use and toxicity categories, with concrete and substrate production contributing around 95% to land occupation and 97% to human toxicity. The photocatalytic subsystem also contributes notably to embodied carbon at 42.4%, owing to energy-intensive manufacturing. The results underscore the importance of optimizing operational energy efficiency and selecting sustainable materials to mitigate environmental burdens. The integrated system demonstrates promising potential for producing high-quality treated effluent suitable for agricultural reuse in water-scarce regions, supporting sustainable water management. These findings provide important insights for reducing ecological impacts and advancing environmentally sustainable wastewater treatment solutions. Full article

This article reinterprets Yinguang’s (1861–1940) “Eight-Verse Guiding Principles” as a program that integrates worldly ethics with supramundane liberation in modern Chinese Buddhism. On the ethical level, Yinguang established “fulfilling one’s duties and preserving sincerity” as the fundamental code, insisting that moral responsibility and the guarding of right mindfulness revealed the innate luminosity of the mind. Building on this, the article looks at “eliminating selfish desires and manifesting illustrious virtue” (gewu zhizhi 格物致知) as a way to connect ontology to practice, highlighting the significance of “refraining from all evils and cultivating all virtues.” The practitioner made progress toward the ultimate objective of “purifying the mind” by following these steps. On the liberation level, the bodhi-mind functions as vow-power oriented toward Buddhahood for self and others. This dual aspiration functioned as the inner motivation for rebirth in the Pure Land and the attainment of Buddhahood. The triad of “faith, vows, and practice” furnishes an accessible soteriological pathway for ordinary beings who rely on Amitābha’s vow-power to achieve rebirth with karmic burdens. Methodologically, the study combines close reading of primary writings with modern theories of religious ethics and lived religion to show how name recitation (chiming nianfo 持名念佛) concentrates the mind and conduces to the samādhi of recitation, where “the whole mind is Buddha, and the whole Buddha is mind.” Framed within the broader dynamics of Republican-era moral reform and global Pure Land transmission, the article argues that Yinguang’s eight-verse guiding principles embodied the ideal of “reaching Buddhahood by way of the human path,” providing a historically grounded yet contemporary salient model for understanding Chinese religious culture today. Full article

In response to the urgent demands of global climate governance, China has systematically integrated the green transition into its “dual-carbon” goals. The practical exploration of cultivated land emission reduction is not only crucial for promoting green transition but also embodies the synergistic effects of emission reduction and carbon sequestration in high-carbon-emission pressure areas. Existing studies have paid relatively less attention to high-carbon-emission pressure areas, necessitating more systematic research. In this study, we selected Henan Province as the study area and quantitatively analyzed the spatial-temporal differentiation of cultivated land net carbon sink from 2000 to 2023 along with their driving factors using an integrated methodological framework including Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)-based carbon accounting, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and trajectory modeling. Analysis of the results indicates that the total net carbon sink of cultivated land in Henan Province showed a fluctuating yet overall upward trend with an average annual growth rate of 2.51%. The spatial distribution exhibits a pattern of “higher in the south and lower in the north” and “higher in the east and lower in the west”. This spatial pattern was significantly shaped by the cultivation area and fertilizer application intensity of three major crops—wheat, maize, and vegetables. Specifically, the net carbon sink contributions from these crops increased from 82.12% in 2000 to 85.93% in 2023, while the share of carbon emissions attributable to fertilizer use in the net carbon sink increased from 4.61% in 2000 to 5.22% in 2023, representing the activity with the largest contribution ratio among carbon emission activities. These findings provide valuable scientific evidence for further optimizing the green transition in high-carbon-emission areas and promoting the synergistic effects of emission reduction and carbon sequestration. Full article

This essay theorizes the body-land, a living site where colonial violence, displacement, and resurgence converge through a hemispheric dialogue between Indigenous and decolonial feminisms from Abya Yala and Turtle Island. Drawing on Lorena Cabnal’s concept of the body-land as the primary terrain of colonial invasion and regeneration, María Lugones’s analysis of the coloniality of gender as a system that fractures body, land, and relations, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s theory of embodied relational resurgence, and Diana Taylor’s notion of the repertoire as embodied memory beyond the archive, the essay argues that silence, gesture, and affect function as insurgent practices of knowledge transmission that contest colonial modes of erasure. Through an autoethnographic narrative spanning displacement from Villarrica, Tolima, and re-rooting on the territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations, the analysis traces how colonial grammars of race, gender, and territory are inscribed in the body. Yet these embodied inscriptions also generate practices of resurgence. By bringing Cabnal, Lugones, Simpson, and Taylor into direct conversation, the essay demonstrates that resurgence must be understood as an embodied, relational, and hemispheric process, one in which the body becomes a generative territory for reimagining belonging and repairing the fractures of colonial modernity. Full article

This chapter examines shifting genealogies of knowledge and moral authority in Western Kenya by unsettling the hierarchical opposition between “indigenous” and “scientific” knowledge regimes as ways of knowing and acting. Treating pedagogy as a critical mode of social reproduction, it juxtaposes practices of taboo in the Mount Elgon region, as inherited prohibitions that regulate relations among people, animals, and land, with the deployment of animated educational media in Mumias by Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO) as a technocratic apparatus for imparting new agrarian knowledge and practices. By staging an encounter between these two modes of social knowledge reproduction—both understood as moral technologies that shape conduct, sustain ecological balance, and transmit communal values (one grounded in taboo, the other in technical instruction)—the paper re-situates an “indigenous”/“scientific” inequality within longer genealogies spanning precolonial, colonial, and contemporary postcolonial and developmental formations. By foregrounding commitments to these knowledge traditions, the paper stages how taboos and educational animations alike can embody evolving modes of community self-determination and ethical stewardship. It ultimately argues that the force of the “indigenous < scientific” inequality lies primarily not in correcting its hierarchical opposition but in the ongoing struggle over which modes of life will be allowed to endure. Decolonizing these genealogies requires attending to the marked/unmarked distinctions that structure bodies, discourse, and social reproduction in the present. Full article