East Asia

Subregions of East Asia

ChinaMongolia and TaiwanNorth Korea and South KoreaJapan

China

From dynasty rule to communismEconomy:

Agriculture (rice, maize, wheat, sweet potatoes), industry (coal, iron ore, oil, in the northeast and steel and machinery, consumer goods)

Culture: Influenced other cultures Pottery and painting Inventions (paper, printing, gunpowder) Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism Most populous country Provides health care for population

China

Mongolia and Taiwan

Culture: Mongolia

Ruled and has been ruled by China Annual Naadam festival is most important festival

Wrestling, archery, horse racing Taiwan

Population is almost exclusively Chinese Culture is Chinese Most speak Mandarin Practice a blend of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism

Economy: Herding, livestock, coal, petroleum (Mongolia) Taiwan has one of the most successful economies

Strong manufacturing industries and trade with other nations

Mongolia and Taiwan

North Korea and South Korea

North Korea – communistSouth Korea – democraticCulture:

Chinese influences like Confucianism, Buddhism Communism influenced North Korean culture

Only allows art that glorifies Communism or folk tradition Western culture has influenced South Korea

More freedom of expression Recent movement towards reunification

Economy: North Korea – natural resources South Korea – world’s largest shipbuilding industry, large

automobile, steel, and chemical industries, top trading nation

North Korea and South Korea

Japan

Samurai – professional soldiers who served landowners and clan chiefs

Shogun – general of the emperor’s army with the powers of a military dictator

Daimyo – appointed governors After WWII, Japan emerged as a world power. Economy:

Coal and petroleum, manufacturing (cars, trucks, electronic equipment)

Culture: Influenced by China City of Kyoto is a monument to Japanese culture (Buddhist temples,

Shinto shrines, ideas of beauty) Traditional drama, paintings (influenced by Chinese techniques and themes) Western influences (sports, clothes, music like rock and classical) Highly structured educational system

Japan