1. East Asia
Ch. 28

2. Cultural Geography of
East Asia

3. East Asia is a region with stark contrasts between highly industrialized countries, heavily urbanized areas, poor rural areas, and largely unpopulated mountains and deserts.
China is the cultural cradle of the region and today is the country with the largest population and size.
Communism dominates in North Korea and China, where the standard of living, health care, and education lag behind that of Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.

5. Human Characteristics
About 25 percent of the world's population lives in East Asia (1.5 Billion people). Most countries are ethnically homogeneous, although minorities, such as the Tibetans in China, are found in each
China
92% of Chinese belong to the Han ethnic group
The remaining 8% belong to 55 different ethnic groups
Japan, Korea, & Mongolia
99% Japanese are ethnic Japanese
Descendants of Asian migrants who crossed the Korean Peninsula
Koreans trace their ancestors from N. China
People in Mongolia are mostly ethnic Mongolians
Speak Khalkha

8. Where Asians Live Population Density & Distribution
More than 90% of China’s population live on less than 20% of the land
East Asians settle in coastal areas or in fertile areas along rivers
Japan and Taiwan have only limited space available and are mostly urbanized
Tokyo metropolitan area is home to more than 28 million people
Mongolia and the western province of Xinjiang in China have sparse populations
4 people/sq. mi

11. Migration & Challenges of Growth
In recent decades many people in China and South Korea have moved from rural, desert, or mountainous areas to find jobs in cities.
Population growth also has contributed to overcrowding in cities
Has led to farm labor shortages
Newly built rural towns with more social services will encourage people to stay
Since 1979, the Chinese government has permitted only 1 child/couple

12. Ancient East Asia
China became the region's culture hearth, with the earliest civilization developing in the valley of the Wei River
Faced invasions & rebellion
The dynasty was said to have lost the “mandate of heaven” & gave way to a new ruling family
Zhou Dynasty
Chinese culture spread & trade grew
The teachings of Confucius & Laozi had a profound influence on life
Followed by many dynasties that expanded China’s borders
Qin Dynasty
United all of China & built the Great Wall to keep out invaders

14. Ancient East Asia
Several dynasties ruled China into the early 1900s, and by A.D. 620 merchants, travelers, and missionaries took elements of Chinese culture to all of East Asia, including Korea and Japan
Korea & Japan
Buddhism spread from China to become Korea’s chief religion
Korean dynasties united the Korean Peninsula
In 1300 the Chinese took control of Korea
Korean government & educational system were based on Confucianism
China & Korea had a major impact on Japanese civilization
In the 400s Japanese clans united under the Yamato dynasties
Yamato emperors adopted Chinese writing, philosophy, & government
From the s a series of military leaders called shoguns ruled Japan

16. Modern East Asia
During the 1800s China and Japan were forced to open their countries to trade with Europe and the United States. During the 1900s East Asia became involved in two world wars.
Revolutionary China
In 1911 a revolution ended the rule of dynasties in China
By 1927 Chiang Kai-shek formed the national government
After a civil war that ended in 1949, communist Mao Zedong set up the People's Republic of China on the Chinese mainland
rival Nationalist Chiang Kai-shek and his followers fled to the island of Taiwan.
Japan’s Transformation
From the 1890s to the 1940s Japan used diplomacy & military force to create an empire
After World War II Japan rebuilt its shattered economy and emerged as a global economic power by the late 1900s.

18. Modern East Asia A Divided Korea A Free Mongolia
In 1950 communist ruled North Korea invaded South Korea
During the Korean War the UN led by the US rushed to South Korea’s defense
In 1953 a truce was signed
Korea continues to be divided between the American-backed south and the communist-led north by the 38th parallel.
A Free Mongolia
From Mongolia was a communist state under the influence of the Soviet Union
Mongolia enjoys a democracy since the end of the Soviet Union.

22. East Asia’s Languages China’s Language Japanese & Korean Language
The diverse backgrounds of the people in East Asia are reflected in the different languages they speak, although some Chinese words have found their way into the Japanese and Korean languages
China’s Language
Most Chinese speak Mandarin, the northern dialect of Han Chinese.
Chinese languages use ideograms in their writing.
Japanese & Korean Language
Japanese language developed in isolation
Experts believe it may be related to Korean & Mongolian
Japan’s 1st writing system was based on Chinese characters
In more recent times western languages have influenced the Korean & Japanese languages

23. Religion & Philosophy
East Asians hold a variety of religious beliefs, but the communist governments of China and North Korea discourage religious practices
Traditional Religion & Philosophy
Buddhism, Daoism, & Confucianism
Shintoism: ancient Japanese religion
Christianity: widespread in Korea
Islam: found in western China
Communism
China & North Korea discourage religion
China has placed harsh restrictions on Tibet
Dali Lama leads worldwide movement from India

26. Standard of Living
During the 1900s, East Asia experienced tremendous economic development.
Japan, Taiwan, & South Korea grew wealthy & many of their citizens achieved high standards of living.
China enjoyed significant economic advances, individual conditions varied widely.
China’s economy still trails that of Japan; however, it is growing quickly

27. Japan’s Downturn & Recovery China’s New Direction
Japanese traditionally value loyalty to society in return for protection & support
People are expected to work long hours, & in return employment is secure and wages are fair
In 1997 Japan suffered a recession and companies laid people off
Since then there are less rewards & less loyalty
China’s New Direction
The course of China’s economy changed in the 1970s when a new leader (Deng Xiaoping) came to power
Deng allowed limited free enterprise & private ownership
He welcomed foreign investment in China
Since the 1970s economic reforms have helped to raise the standard of living
Most Chinese; however, are still based in agriculture

29. Education & Health Care
Education and health care are more available in the richer countries and in urban areas
Literacy & Learning
Japan, Taiwan, & the Koreas have literacy rates of 95% or higher.
China & Mongolia have literacy rates of 82%
*Young Koreans spend 14 years in education
Health Care
Communist countries provide free health care
as China moves towards a free market economy the gov’t is no longer guaranteeing free health care
Traditional Medicine
Many E. Asians rely on western & traditional medicine

32. Even though China is now allowing some free enterprise, the Chinese lag behind their richer neighbors in their standard of living.
East Asians engage in a variety of leisure activities, and literature, music, and theater play prominent roles in their lives.

34. THE
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