Asian villages have maintained diversified and individual cultures rooted in the local communities. However, the existing rural development approaches, which aim economic development and modernization of livelihood, have paid little attention to these diversified and individual cultures until now. Underrating traditional culture and history, which has been passed down from one generation to the next in the community, discourages villagers from feeling fulfilled and pride for life in rural community. Then spiritual bond of the community has weakened and problems of depopulation and aging has emerged. Now, we think many rural communities may face with the treat of disintegration.
This research aims at establishing an alternative rural development approach with appreciating and encouraging the importance of traditional culture and history in the local community in Asian Countries by the means of Practice-oriented Area Studies.