Welcome to the Royal Asiatic Society

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar, Henry Thomas Colebrooke, on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 ‘for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia’.

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Asia and the RAS

The Society provides a forum for its members and anyone interested in the history, languages, cultures, and religions of Asia to meet and exchange ideas. The Society organises lectures and events, awards prizes for outstanding research in the field of Asian Studies, provides access to its historic collections of manuscripts, books and artworks, and publishes scholarly research in its Journal and monographs.

Upcoming Events

Date: 11 December 2025 (Thursday)

(Japan Series) Prof Kikuko Hirafuji – Japanese Mythology Across Cultures: Gods, Encounters, and Global Views

Date: 11 December 2025 (Thursday)

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Date: 8 January 2026 (Thursday)

(Japan Series) Dr Christopher Harding – Barbarians: The First Century of Encounter Between Japan and Europe

Date: 8 January 2026 (Thursday)

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Date: 22 January 2026 (Thursday)

Bayly Prize Award

Date: 22 January 2026 (Thursday)

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