1. East & Southeast Asia (27.3 & 30.3)
Culture & Lifestyles
East & Southeast Asia
(27.3 & 30.3)

2. Language Major languages: Lang families:
Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Han Chinese
Mandarin is official lang., Cantonese 2nd
Ideograms instead of letters (stand alone or combination = diff. meaning. ~6,000 for everyday use)
*Pitch and tone are impt.
Lang families:
Malayo-Polynesian, Sino-Tibetan, Mon-Khmer (100s of diff. languages)
Blends with migrant/colonizing nations
Philippines= Filipino, English, & Spanish
Vietnam= Vietnamese, Chinese, French, Eng.

3. Language Japan’s has been more isolated than Korea’s
Ties to Korea & Mong.
Both writing systems based on Chinese (kanji- 2,000 for everyday use)
Trade also has impact
Singapore= Chinese, Tamil, Malay, English
English often lang. of business/daily life

4. Religion Buddhism, Christianity, Islam all here
Some also prac. local religion (Shintoism, Shamanism in Japan)
Confucianism & Daoism are philosophies practiced like religions
Nearly all of world’s religions found here
Buddhism & Islam are top
Roman Catholic, Hinduism, Confucianism & Daoism as well
Vietnam blends rel. together to make their own

5. Religion Religion discouraged by communist govn’ts
Persecute Buddhist monks/lamas
Oppression on Buddhist population
Exiled Dalai Lama
People must worship/ hold on to faiths almost in secret
With fall of USSR, Mongolia moved to democracy, now worships freely

6. Religion Confucianism: 551-479 BC
Confucius lived during social upheaval frustrated with govn’t
Created social & ethical philosophy
All relationships involve defined roles & mutual obligations
Valued order, continuity, social cohesion above personal gain
Education is key in position in society (wisdom & desire for learning define ideal leaders)

7. Religion Confucianism cont’d Ethical/ Virtue based
Ruler accountable for ppl (drought, war)
Loses Mandate of Heaven
Respect elders, loyalty to govn’t, keep one’s place in society
Inner part: treat each other with love, respect, and consideration for the needs of all

8. Religion Taoism (Daoism): 604-531 BC Founded by Laozi*
means “The Way”
Oneness w/ humanity & nature
Values simplicity, spontaneity, tranquility
Against competition & possession
Best govn’t was the least govn’t
Yin/Yang: balance of opposing forces
yin- feminine, passive, moon, water, clouds
yang- masculine, active, sun, fire, dragons

9. Religion Shamanism: Shintoism: (form of Shamanism)
Faith in leaders with powers to heal the sick and speak with spirits
Lessened with Confucianism, still practiced in SK, Tibet, N. China
Shintoism: (form of Shamanism)
Japan’s former state religion
Polytheistic, animism (nature spirits- kami)
Emphasis on this world, not preparing for after-life
Many shrines, collection of rituals to connect human life with nature

10. The Arts Greatly inspired by religions
Wat in Phnom Penh
Greatly inspired by religions
Communists tried to erase, but was revived
Poetry- harmony of humans w/ nature
The Tale of Genji (Japan)
Haikus (Japan)
Adapted from Indian & Chinese styles, and religions
See both pagodas and Indian wats
Major urban areas too
Golden Triangle (KLCC)

11. The Arts Music typically of wind, string, and percussion instruments
Kabuki vs. Noh drama
Calligraphy
Origami
Fine china (dishes)
Pagodas-
Curved tile
roofs
shakuhachi

12. The Arts Lacquerware & batik
Time & dedication
Arjunavivaha is modified from Mahabarata (fits SE Asia)
Legong is dance of Bali to reenact Ramayana
Leng Trot= rain dance in Cambodia
Kuala Lumpur (KLCC)

13. The Arts Foot binding: 900s to early 1900s
Desire to have small, slender feet
Golden Lotus (size), Lotus Gait (style of walk)
Many outlawed it (Communists, Manchus)
End up being a sore spot b/w Han & Manchu
Almost 100% of wealthy had it done (at young age)
Can cause infections, gangrene; but some can still walk, work, even dance

14. Living Conditions Late 1900s brought economic recovery
Taiwan, Japan*, S. Korea best off (still have gaps b/w classes)
Japan saw downturn in late 90s huge layoffs, bankrupt companies ppl scared to spend bad for housing industry
Less focus on job security for wkrs, more on profit
China has one lowest GDPs (esp. in rural areas)
Deng Xiaoping began allowing free enterprise, foreign investment flooded into SEZs

15. SEZs in China

16. Living Conditions Lots of $ spent on education
Free elementary for most
Very high lit. rates in (J, SK, T, & NK)
China’s Cult. Rev. slowed growth
SK and Taiwan push educ. more than most
Singapore’s GDP comparable to US
Others are much lower
Lit. rates are rising, but vary in each country (Thailand is 95, Laos 57)

17. Living Conditions Life exp. around 70-74
Communist govn’ts pay for health care
No longer promised in China (widening gap)
Mixture of Western & Eastern meds (herbal, acupuncture)
Health care varies widely (Singapore 78, Laos 52)
Rapid urban growth (high-rises, housing projects)
Still many live in sm. villages
longhouses

18. Living Conditions Diet: raise themselves, many spices/sauces added
Curry, coconut milk
Chinlon (Myan.), silat (Indo.), kickboxing (Thai.)
Lunar New Year’s too
Vietnam = Tet
Diet: lots of staples (rice, wheat), vegetables, and fish
Beef, chicken, dairy just now becoming popular
Martial arts, table tennis, gymnastics, swimming (Olympics)
Various New Year’s (lunar, not solar)