The Cultures of East AsiaChapter 24, Section 4

Pages 716 - 721

Exchange Within East Asia

Many Asian countries have adopted Chinese aspects of culture

Religion - Koreans and Japanese adopted Buddhism from China

Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, and Christianity

Taoists practice Tai Chi, a form of exercise meant to relieve stress and worry

The Art of Tai Chi

Arts Past & Present

Bronze Casting is a Chinese invention

300 forms of traditional opera in China

Buddhist ideas have influenced art in Japan

Haiku is a world-famous form of Japanese poetry

The History of Kung Fu

Culture & Communism

Communism has strongly impacted East Asian culture

North Korea & China - Communists repressed artistic freedom

Writers were forced to create propaganda (no freedom of speech)

North Korea - gov’t sill controls art - China - slowly changing

Communist Party in China Today

The Chinese People

1/5 of the world’s population (and growing)

Most people belong to the Han ethnic group (compared to Caucasian in the U.S.A.)

About 55 minority groups in China (like the U.S.A.?)

Mandarin Chinese - official language

Grandparents - highly respected(grandparents play a different role in the U.S. culture)

Cap on the # of children in family - urban

The Symbols, Superstitions, & Beliefs of Chinese Culture