East Asia Cultural & Economic Geography

Sharon WesterholmLa Vernia High School

Overview

• East Asia is home to three of today’s most powerful nations & over a fifth of the world’s population.

• China, Korea, & Japan are major economic, political, and cultural players in an increasingly global 21st century…globalization.

Economic

• Most of East Asia is too cold or too dry for farming, this has lead to innovative farming techniques (terracing farming, slash & burn) to create space…North China Plain

• Rice is the most important food crop in the region, started around 5,000 BC in southern China.

Tea plantationChina grows about 25% of world’s tea.

Rice terrace

Developed or Developing

• Most countries in Asia are developing.• China is developing but it is industrialized.• These countries are considered developed in

East Asia:• Japan• South Korea• Taiwan

Developed

• Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea are considered newly industrialized countries because they built most of their factories in the last fifty years and the economy of these countries no longer relies on agriculture.

• Japan is highly industrialized but it has been industrialized since the late 19th century.

Japan

• Japan has one of the largest fishing fleets in the world.

• Japan has automobile factories but in general the economy is moving towards the service sector.

• Japan is the economic leader in the region.• Japan is heavily dependent on imported raw

resources. It must import about 50% of its food and most of its fuel.

China

• China is communist and had a centrally planned or command economy, however, in the last thirty years China has transitioned towards a free market economy.

• China, along with many countries in Asia, now participates in the global market.

• Due to rapid industrialization China now faces several environmental problems such as soil erosion, air pollution, and the loss of arable land.

Economic Systems

There are three types of economic systems:A. Free Market EconomyB. Mixed EconomyC. Command Economy (centrally planned)

• The only country in Asia with a strict command economy is North Korea.

• Laos, Vietnam, and China are all transitioning towards free market economies.

Types of Government

DEMOCRATIC COMMUNISTJapan ChinaSouth Korea North KoreaMongoliaTaiwan

Population

• Densely populated areas include Eastern China and Japan.

• Sparsely populated areas are Western China, Mongolia, and areas in the Himalaya Mountains.

• China is the most populated country in the world.

• “One child policy” in China has been changed.• Cities are some of the largest in the world.

Languages

• Major languages spoken in East Asia:– Mandarin– Cantonese– Japanese– Korean– Tibetan

Religions

• Some religions that are found in East Asia are:A. BuddhismB. ConfucianismC. ShintoismD. Taoism (also spelled Daoism)

Others:Hinduism, Christianity & Islam

Buddhism

• Buddhism is related to Hinduism and shares many of the same basic beliefs. The relationship between Buddhism and Hinduism is similar to the relationship between Christianity and Judaism.

• Practiced in China, Japan, and Korea

Buddhism

• Buddhism was founded by a man named Siddhartha who was born around 500 - 400 B.C. in Nepal.

• The religion quickly spread to other parts of Asia and was a major religion in India for a time, however, most people are Hindus in India today.

Buddhism basic beliefs

• The Four Noble Truths:A. Life is sufferingB. Suffering is caused by want or desireC. There is a way to end sufferingD. The way to end suffering is the Eightfold

path.

8 fold Path

• RIGHT…– View– Intention– Speech– Action– Livelihood– Effort– Mindfulness– Concentration

Taoism

• Taoism is a religion or philosophy that began in China around 500 - 400 B.C.

• Tradition says that Taoism is based on the teachings of Laozi.

• The Tao Te Ching is a collection of Laozi’s teachings.

• Taoism is sometimes refer to as Daoism.

Taoism

The Tao is called the Great MotherEmpty yet inexhaustible,

It gives birth to infinite worlds.

It is always present within you.You can use it any way you want.

Yin Yang Symbol

Confucianism

• Confucianism is a philosophy that began in China around 500 - 400 B.C.

• It is based on the teachings of Confucius.• Confucianism is concerned mainly with social

organization. It emphasizes respect for elders and education.

Shintoism

• Shintoism is a native religion of Japan.• Shintos worship kami (spirits). Sometimes

kami live in specific places such as rivers, mountains, and lakes, and sometimes they are major natural objects such as the sun or moon.

Small Shinto shrine

Torii-gateway to a Shinto shrine

Tanuki- A Japanese Racoon Spirit

Tanuki road sign

Respect for Ancestors

• Many Asian cultures venerate and even worship ancestors. This belief has been incorporated into Asian religions and belief systems.