“Orient-ation” Of East Asia

Nations of East Asia China, 90 percent of the land mass; 1.3 billion people make it most populated country in world, Communists took control in Japan, islands east of China (frequent invader), 127 million residents North Korea, communist but leader- worship, 22.5 million people; shares Korean peninsula with…

Nations of East Asia South Korea, 49 million people; fought war with north in 1950s-early 1960s; now has hostile border with north Taiwan, island just off Chinese coast, 23 million residents, fighting cold war against unification with communist China

History of China Shang Dynasty, emerged 1750 BCE, highly organized society develops Chou Dynasty ( BCE), western Chou people take control; formed semi-independent states; ends with Warring States Period; Confucianism and Daoism come out of this Ch’in Dynasty ( BCE), first strong central government in China, start 4,000 mile-long Great Wall of China

History of China Han Dynasty (202 BCE-220 CE), Confucianism becomes foundation for government and education system; trade with Europe begins; Indian missionaries bring Buddhism to China Post-Han, three competing kingdoms, Buddhism spreads

History of China Tang Dynasty ( ), brought prosperity, made capital, Ch’ang-an (now Sian), great cultural center, Meditation and Pure Land Buddhism schools compete with Confucianism Sung Dynasty ( ), Confucian-educated civil servants dominate government; Neo- Confucianism combines Buddhist and Daoist philosophy with Confucianism and receives state endorsement

History of China Yuan Dynasty ( ), established by Kublai Khan and Mongol invaders, Marco Polo ( ) visits at this time Ming Dynasty ( ), stability, prosperity and great vases; believe culturally superior and rebuff European traders and Christian missionaries

History of China Ch’ing Dynasty ( ), Manchuria rule, occupy Taiwan in Prosperity and wealth until decline due to rapid population growth in late 18 th and 19 th centuries Opium War ( ), between China and Great Britain, caused by Chinese resistance to opium smuggling into China, but Great Britain won

History of China Nan-ching treaty gives Hong Kong to Great Britain and opens some ports, massive trade in tea and silk (Hong Kong restored to China in 1997 with some degree of autonomy) China weakened by Taiping Rebellion ( ), war with Japan ( ) and Boxer rebellion in 1900

History of China Republic established by nationalist revolution led by Western-educated doctor, Sun Yat-sen, deposes last emperor, six year-old boy, in 1912 (“The Last Emperor”) After period of struggle, Chaing Kai-shek succeeds Sun Yat-sen as Nationalist Party head in 1925, unifies China in 1928

History of China During World War II, Japan invades China in 1931 and controls most of country by 1938 Near end of war in 1945, civil war breaks out between Nationalists and Commmunists (latter led by Mao Zedong). Communists win, create People’s Republic of China; Nationalists flee to Taiwan.

History of China Cultural Revolution of 1966 represses religions, but religion had greater freedom after death of Mao in Religion still is government controlled, religions have to register with government, and cannot have outside connections Economic reform continues, but student- led democracy movement crushed in 1989.

Eastern Asian worldview Harmony: People must discover underlying harmony in themselves and social lives; balance between opposite forces (Yin and Yang) Disharmony causes problems, caused by people losing sight of preexistent harmony and not maintaining harmony with rituals to appease restless spirits

East Asian worldview Goal: harmony in this life, though also part of afterlife. But emphasis is on this life. Harmony continues family lineage and protects against natural and human disasters. Means: proper rituals at altars, maintenance of de (virtue), xiao or hisao (filial piety) for both family and empire and ancestors

East Asian worldview Divination – cracks on heated bones and tortoise shells, as well as dropped sticks – determine future events Yin and Yang: harmony of. Yin is dark, wet, cool, feminine; while Yang is bright, dry, warm, masculine. Both are present in varying degrees in all creation. Harmony also accounts for cosmic order