Culture Trunks

Culture trunks are a great way to experience East Asian artifacts in action! The Center for East Asian Studies offers teachers the opportunity to check out a Culture Trunk from any or all of three countries: Japan, China, and Korea. Trunks are packed with various items that reflect that country's unique culture, from receipts to hats, maps, books and shoes. Each trunk comes with a Teacher's Guide to help make the artifact experience more meaningful to both students and teachers.

Trunks are available for virtual presentations by CEAS experts or for classroom check out. Let us know how we can cater this interactive experience to your classroom needs!

Contact us at ceas@ku.edu for more information and to request a Culture Trunk!

China, Japan, and Korea Trunks

  • Calligraphy materials for use by student
  • Calligraphy kit for exhibit only
  • Brush painted scroll 
  • National Flag of China
  • Chairman Mao Cap
  • Chinese money (5 yuan note; 3 1 jiao coins)
  • Propaganda posters (2)
  • Beijing Opera Masks
  • Book about Chinese Opera
  • Yeh-Shen, A Cinderella Story from China (1 book)
  • Chinese New Year Good Luck Sign
  • Hong bao 红包 New Year Red Envelopes
  • CD of contemporary Chinese rock songs
  • Abacus
  • Chinese comic books (2)
  • Phone cards
  • The People’s Daily Newspaper
  • Ancient China (1 book)
  • Terracotta soldier figurines (2) and postcards
  • Folding Fans (4)
  • Map of East Asia 
  • Information folder
  • Shakuhachi (1)
  • Shakuhachi instruction book (1)
  • Shakuhachi instruction audio cassette (1)
  • Go game
  • Zoori (4 pairs)
  • Tabi (1 pair)
  • Folding fans (2)
  • Abacus (1)
  • Abacus books (2)
  • Manga comic (1)
  • Daruma -san(1)
  • Okame Mask 
  • Okame mask coloring page
  • Emperor/Empress dolls (1 set)
  • Maps of Japan, Tokyo and Kyoto
  • Asahi Shimbun newspapers (2)
  • Nipponia magazine about Origami (2)
  • Origami paper
  • Step into…Ancient Japan book (1)
  • Ema (votive tablet) (1)
  • Photos of ema tablets in different languages at a temple in Japan
  • Chopsticks
  • Hanging Scroll
  • Lacquer soup bowl
  • Special occasion envelope
  • Japanese coins
  • Hachimaki head band
  • Furoshiki (2)
  • Information pages
  • Takgee instructions and game pieces
  • Korean Jacks instructions and pieces (3 sets)
  • Yut game and instructions (1)
  • Korean Cinderella (1 book)
  • Korean Cinderella coloring page (1)
  • Modern Korean clothing (2 jackets and a suit)
  • Traditional clothes for dolls (hanbok: girl’s (2) and boy’s (1)
  • Hangul scroll (text from a 15th Century book on Buddhism) (1)
  • Hangul banner (Happy New Year)
  • Hangul alphabet/pronunciation sheet (1)
  • Map of Korea, North and South
  • Whip Top and whip (1)
  • State of Mind DVD (1)
  • Korean kite (note the kids playing yut at the bottom left)
  • Pyongyang Times
  • Postcards of Korean landmarks and culture
  • Korean money (1000 won bill; 10, 50 and 100 won coins)