Unit 10Unit 10East AsiaEast Asia

It is not surprising that It is not surprising that China is the central culture China is the central culture of Eastern Asia because it is of Eastern Asia because it is

massively larger than its massively larger than its neighbors, such as the neighbors, such as the Japanese, Korean and Japanese, Korean and

Taiwanese cultural regions. Taiwanese cultural regions.

China’s diverse geographical China’s diverse geographical landscapes covers about landscapes covers about 85% of East Asia and is 85% of East Asia and is

separated from the rest of separated from the rest of the continent by mountains, the continent by mountains,

deserts, seas, and rivers. deserts, seas, and rivers.

Mongolia borders the northern Mongolia borders the northern boundaries of China and is boundaries of China and is

landlocked between China and landlocked between China and Russia. The Mongolian region is Russia. The Mongolian region is made up of deserts, plateaus and made up of deserts, plateaus and

some tracts of land used for some tracts of land used for grassland. grassland.

Japan is made up of four Japan is made up of four main islands that create an main islands that create an archipelago in the Pacific archipelago in the Pacific

Ocean. Ocean.

The Korean Peninsula is south The Korean Peninsula is south of northeast China. Mountain of northeast China. Mountain ranges separate North Korea ranges separate North Korea from China and take up the from China and take up the

northern part of the peninsula. northern part of the peninsula. South Korea covers the South Korea covers the

southern part of the peninsula. southern part of the peninsula.

The landforms ofThe landforms ofthe Korean Peninsula consist the Korean Peninsula consist

of lowlands along the of lowlands along the coastline, rugged mountains, coastline, rugged mountains,

and fertile river valleys. and fertile river valleys. Only about 20 percent of the Only about 20 percent of the

land is used for farming. land is used for farming.

Throughout history, the Throughout history, the people of East Asia have people of East Asia have

found ways to adapt to the found ways to adapt to the physical environment. physical environment.

Natural disasters such as Natural disasters such as typhoons, monsoons, volcanic typhoons, monsoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, sand eruptions, earthquakes, sand

storms, tsunamis, floods, storms, tsunamis, floods, historical and contemporary historical and contemporary conflicts, and invasions from conflicts, and invasions from outsiders have changed the outsiders have changed the

infrastructure of the physical infrastructure of the physical and cultural regions.and cultural regions.

The Chinese civilization has The Chinese civilization has had one of the longest lasting had one of the longest lasting

cultures in the world. cultures in the world.

One of China’s contributions to One of China’s contributions to its neighbors and the world was its neighbors and the world was

in architectural design. An in architectural design. An example is the Great Wall; it example is the Great Wall; it was constructed over 2,000 was constructed over 2,000 years ago in northern and years ago in northern and

central China. central China.

This historical wall presents a This historical wall presents a variety of appearances as it variety of appearances as it

zigzags like a dragon for 4,500 zigzags like a dragon for 4,500 miles through different terrain. miles through different terrain. Numerous emperors or rulers Numerous emperors or rulers added to the fortified walls in added to the fortified walls in sections. Some of the wall has sections. Some of the wall has

been restored, while other parts been restored, while other parts have deteriorated.have deteriorated.

East Asian countries, such as East Asian countries, such as Japan, North and South Korea, Japan, North and South Korea,

Taiwan, and Mongolia have Taiwan, and Mongolia have historical contributions that historical contributions that

have influenced contemporary have influenced contemporary societies from past conflicts and societies from past conflicts and

current issues.current issues.

ConfucianismConfucianismA Chinese philosopher named A Chinese philosopher named

K'ung Fu-tzu or Confucius, the K'ung Fu-tzu or Confucius, the Westernized version, believed Westernized version, believed that a society could become that a society could become

perfect, if the people who lived perfect, if the people who lived in it exhibited "beautiful in it exhibited "beautiful

conduct." conduct."

Confucius was born in 551 B.C. Confucius was born in 551 B.C. He had a government job which He had a government job which he gave up to devote his life to he gave up to devote his life to teaching people how to behave.teaching people how to behave.

Today over five million people, Today over five million people, mostly in China and the Far mostly in China and the Far East, practice Confucianism.East, practice Confucianism.

Some say Confucianism is more Some say Confucianism is more a description of how to be a a description of how to be a good person than a spiritual good person than a spiritual

practice. However, after practice. However, after Confucius's death, people built Confucius's death, people built temples in his honor. There are temples in his honor. There are ceremonies that take place in ceremonies that take place in

these temples. these temples.

Confucius believed that Confucius believed that "Heaven is the author of the "Heaven is the author of the

virtue that is in me." He virtue that is in me." He meant that he saw heaven meant that he saw heaven itself as a kind of god, the itself as a kind of god, the

god or Supreme Being who god or Supreme Being who created virtue in us. created virtue in us.

Also, over time, aspects of Also, over time, aspects of Buddhism and Taoism have Buddhism and Taoism have influenced Confucianism. influenced Confucianism. Many people practice a Many people practice a

combination of these combination of these religions. religions.

TaoismTaoismTaoism was started by the Taoism was started by the

Chinese philosopher Lao Tze, Chinese philosopher Lao Tze, the Supreme master, in the 6th the Supreme master, in the 6th century B.C. Tao lived in the century B.C. Tao lived in the same time as another ancient same time as another ancient Chinese philosopher named Chinese philosopher named

Confucius. Confucius.

It is said that one day Lao Tze left It is said that one day Lao Tze left his job and rode off west on an ox. his job and rode off west on an ox. At a mountain pass the guardian At a mountain pass the guardian

asked him to write down his asked him to write down his teachings. This is how the sacred teachings. This is how the sacred

book of Tao, called the Doodejing, book of Tao, called the Doodejing, came to be written. It is also why came to be written. It is also why you see statues and figures of Lao you see statues and figures of Lao

Tze on an ox.Tze on an ox.

Taoists believe that they Taoists believe that they should live in harmony with should live in harmony with the Tao or Way. If they do the Tao or Way. If they do

this they will merge with the this they will merge with the Tao, free their soul, and Tao, free their soul, and

become one of the become one of the Immortals.Immortals.

BuddhismBuddhismAbout 2500 years ago, a About 2500 years ago, a

prince named Siddhartha prince named Siddhartha Gautama began to question Gautama began to question his sheltered, luxurious life his sheltered, luxurious life

in the palace. in the palace.

He left the palace and saw He left the palace and saw four sights: a sick man, an four sights: a sick man, an

old man, a dead man, and a old man, a dead man, and a monk. These sights are said monk. These sights are said to have shown him that even to have shown him that even

a prince cannot escape a prince cannot escape illness, suffering and death. illness, suffering and death.

The sight of the monk told The sight of the monk told Siddhartha to leave his life as a Siddhartha to leave his life as a prince and become a wandering prince and become a wandering holy man, seeking the answers holy man, seeking the answers to questions like "Why must to questions like "Why must people suffer?" and "What is people suffer?" and "What is

the cause of suffering?" the cause of suffering?"

Siddartha spent many years Siddartha spent many years performing religious performing religious

practices such as praying, practices such as praying, meditating, and fasting until meditating, and fasting until

he finally understood the he finally understood the basic truths of life. basic truths of life.

This realization occurred after This realization occurred after sitting under a poplar-fig tree in sitting under a poplar-fig tree in

Bodh Gaya, India for many Bodh Gaya, India for many days, in deep meditation. He days, in deep meditation. He

gained enlightenment, or gained enlightenment, or nirvana, and was given the title nirvana, and was given the title

of Buddha, which means of Buddha, which means Enlightened One.Enlightened One.

Trends, products, services, Trends, products, services, inventions, and ideas have inventions, and ideas have

evolved for centuries evolved for centuries through communication, through communication, migration and cultural migration and cultural

relationships across borders relationships across borders and regions. and regions.

East Asia, particularly East Asia, particularly China, is known for its China, is known for its

contributions and influences contributions and influences through a myriad of through a myriad of

historical figures and events. historical figures and events.

Traders, explorers and Traders, explorers and human migration have human migration have

always been very interested always been very interested in China for its culture, in China for its culture, religion, resources, and religion, resources, and scientific technological scientific technological

innovations. innovations.

Thus, East Asian countries Thus, East Asian countries could not stay isolated from the could not stay isolated from the West. Historically, the Silk Road West. Historically, the Silk Road became one of the most famous became one of the most famous trade routes and changed how trade routes and changed how

people traded and learned from people traded and learned from East Asian civilizations. East Asian civilizations.

Since 1979, China has striven to Since 1979, China has striven to open its economy. The Chinese open its economy. The Chinese leadership has agreed to a more leadership has agreed to a more

practical outlook on many practical outlook on many political and socioeconomic political and socioeconomic problems. China's constant problems. China's constant

economic changes have had a economic changes have had a big impact not only on China big impact not only on China

but on the world. but on the world.

As a result of changing more As a result of changing more and more to a market type and more to a market type of economy, it has helped of economy, it has helped

increase the standardincrease the standardof living for many people.of living for many people.

Today, China is the fourth largest Today, China is the fourth largest economy in the world. One third of economy in the world. One third of

its $3.4 trillion economy is from its $3.4 trillion economy is from exports. Trade and industry among exports. Trade and industry among

intra-regional countries, such as intra-regional countries, such as Japan, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan Japan, Hong Kong, India, Taiwan

and with other global societies, and with other global societies, have also shown economic have also shown economic

expansion from the last two expansion from the last two decades.decades.

Scarcity - the condition of Scarcity - the condition of not being able to have all of not being able to have all of the goods and services one the goods and services one wants. Resources do not wants. Resources do not

exist in sufficient quantities exist in sufficient quantities to satisfy all desires to use to satisfy all desires to use

them. them.

Individuals, governments, Individuals, governments, and businesses experience and businesses experience

economic scarcity and economic scarcity and therefore must make choices therefore must make choices

or trade-offs which have or trade-offs which have both present and future both present and future

consequences. consequences.

These are often unintended and These are often unintended and can offset the initial effects of can offset the initial effects of the decision. Rarely can one the decision. Rarely can one region or nation satisfy all region or nation satisfy all

demands. This forces regions demands. This forces regions and nations to trade goods and and nations to trade goods and

services. services.

Nations profit when they possess Nations profit when they possess rich natural resources and can rich natural resources and can process them and ship finished process them and ship finished

goods to other nations. The goods to other nations. The more demand there is for a more demand there is for a

resource the more a nation can resource the more a nation can profit from its own production. profit from its own production.

Yet, some under-developed Yet, some under-developed nations are not able to develop nations are not able to develop

their own resources because their own resources because they lack the finances to support they lack the finances to support

industries and lack the industries and lack the technology and expertise to technology and expertise to

process the raw materials into process the raw materials into goods. goods.

Other nations often invest in Other nations often invest in industries, creating international industries, creating international companies to process and export companies to process and export

the goods. In this instance, the the goods. In this instance, the country owning the resources does country owning the resources does not profit as much as the country not profit as much as the country which invests in and processes the which invests in and processes the

resources.resources.

Command EconomyCommand Economy

An economy in which An economy in which economic decisions are made economic decisions are made

by the government.by the government.

Market EconomyMarket Economy

An economy in which most An economy in which most businesses are privately owned. businesses are privately owned. May also be referred to as a free May also be referred to as a free enterprise economy because it enterprise economy because it

allows business owners to compete allows business owners to compete in the market with little in the market with little

government interference.government interference.

Limited-Market EconomyLimited-Market Economy

An economy in which its An economy in which its government has set up Special government has set up Special

Economic Zones (SEZs) for Economic Zones (SEZs) for businesses and manufacturing businesses and manufacturing

areas like the market economies areas like the market economies or free enterprise economies in or free enterprise economies in

democratic nations.democratic nations.

The People’s Republic of The People’s Republic of China (i.e., PRC), created China (i.e., PRC), created

the English term Traditional the English term Traditional Chinese Medicine, "TCM", Chinese Medicine, "TCM",

in the 1950s.in the 1950s.

Historically throughout East Historically throughout East Asia, people within and among Asia, people within and among cultural societies have passed cultural societies have passed

down the practice of Traditional down the practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM

is a natural medicine that has is a natural medicine that has roots of 2,000 to 3,000 years. roots of 2,000 to 3,000 years.

The basis of TCM is onThe basis of TCM is onseveral schools of thought, several schools of thought, such as Buddhism, Taoism, such as Buddhism, Taoism,

and Neo-Confucianism, and Neo-Confucianism, which are institutions that which are institutions that

have not necessarily have not necessarily standardized TCM.standardized TCM.

Philosophically, TCM is a Philosophically, TCM is a concept that the human concept that the human

body is a small universe with body is a small universe with interconnected systems that interconnected systems that usually work in balance to usually work in balance to

keep the human body keep the human body healthy and functioning. healthy and functioning.

Perhaps you may have heard Perhaps you may have heard about yin and yang (life force, about yin and yang (life force,

breath, spiritual/energy) and the breath, spiritual/energy) and the five elements (wood, fire, earth, five elements (wood, fire, earth,

metal and water), which are metal and water), which are constant in movement and constant in movement and

change. change.

There is interdependence There is interdependence between the mind and body. The between the mind and body. The

relationship between natural relationship between natural medicine andmedicine and

early/modern-day medicine has early/modern-day medicine has endured throughout societies’ endured throughout societies’

past conflicts and current past conflicts and current conditions.conditions.

TCM is an ancient cultural TCM is an ancient cultural institution that has formed a institution that has formed a

unique system to diagnose unique system to diagnose and cure illness. and cure illness.

The TCM is fundamentally The TCM is fundamentally different from Western different from Western

medicine. medicine.

Changes in their point of views, Changes in their point of views, evaluating relationships between evaluating relationships between the choices they make about their the choices they make about their

daily diets and their health daily diets and their health remedies, and comparing and remedies, and comparing and

contrasting their families’ contrasting their families’ approach to health matters with approach to health matters with

what other cultural and what other cultural and contemporary societies do.contemporary societies do.

The 5 countries in this The 5 countries in this region are remarkably region are remarkably

diverse.diverse.

The People’s Republic of The People’s Republic of China has more than 100 China has more than 100 different ethnic groups, different ethnic groups, languages, and cultures. languages, and cultures. China also now includes:China also now includes:

Mongolia, a Parliamentary republic Mongolia, a Parliamentary republic now in transition from communism, now in transition from communism,

was a separate country. In 1989 it was was a separate country. In 1989 it was a communist state modeled on Soviet a communist state modeled on Soviet political and government institutions political and government institutions

with a one-party system. A Democratic with a one-party system. A Democratic Revolution in early 1990 led to a multi-Revolution in early 1990 led to a multi-

party system, a new constitution in party system, a new constitution in 1992, and the - rather rough – 1992, and the - rather rough –

transition to a market economy.transition to a market economy.

Macao, a Special Administrative Macao, a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Region (SAR) of the People's

Republic of China that had been Republic of China that had been administered by Portugal for administered by Portugal for

442 years until its handover to 442 years until its handover to China in 1999 China in 1999

Hong Kong, the other of China’s Hong Kong, the other of China’s Special Administrative Regions Special Administrative Regions

(SAR), reverted to China when the (SAR), reverted to China when the 99-year British “lease” expired in 99-year British “lease” expired in 1997. Under the principle of "one 1997. Under the principle of "one

country, two systems," Hong Kong country, two systems," Hong Kong has economic andpolitical systems has economic andpolitical systems different from those of mainland different from those of mainland

China.China.

It is a leading international It is a leading international financial center run with minimum financial center run with minimum

government intervention; and government intervention; and enjoys a "high degree of enjoys a "high degree of

autonomy” in “all matters except autonomy” in “all matters except foreign relationsforeign relations

and military defense.”and military defense.”

China considers Taiwan (the China considers Taiwan (the Republic of China – ROC - also Republic of China – ROC - also

formerly Formosa) as a renegade formerly Formosa) as a renegade province of China. Since Taiwan province of China. Since Taiwan

lost its seat at the United Nations in lost its seat at the United Nations in 1971, and the People’s Republic of 1971, and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) was recognized as the China (PRC) was recognized as the

legitimate representative of all legitimate representative of all China.China.

Most countries officially Most countries officially recognize the PRC, though recognize the PRC, though many nations, including the many nations, including the

United States, retain United States, retain unofficial relations with unofficial relations with

Taiwan.Taiwan.

The establishment of The establishment of alternative organizations of alternative organizations of

governments systems governments systems depends on political, depends on political,

economical, social, and economical, social, and cultural factors and how cultural factors and how

these factors affect citizens. these factors affect citizens.

The Universal Declaration of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Art.19) and Human Rights (Art.19) and

European Convention of Human European Convention of Human Rights (Art. 10) are just a couple of Rights (Art. 10) are just a couple of examples that guarantee the right examples that guarantee the right

to freedom of speech, under to freedom of speech, under international law, but there are international law, but there are many countries who still lack many countries who still lack

putting this into practice.putting this into practice.