Culture & Culture & LifestylesLifestylesEast & Southeast Asia

(27.3 & 30.3)

LanguageLanguage• Major languages:

– 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.

LanguageLanguage• 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

ReligionReligion• 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

ReligionReligion• 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

ReligionReligion• 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)

ReligionReligion• 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

ReligionReligion• 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

ReligionReligion• 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

The ArtsThe Arts• 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)

Wat in Phnom Penh

The ArtsThe Arts• Music typically of wind,

string, and percussion instruments

• Kabuki vs. Noh drama• Calligraphy• Origami• Fine china (dishes)• Pagodas-

– Curved tileroofs

shakuhachi

The ArtsThe 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)

The ArtsThe 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

Living ConditionsLiving 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

SEZs in ChinaSEZs in China

Living ConditionsLiving 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 highest @ 95, Laos lowest @ 57)

Living ConditionsLiving 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 highest @ 78, Laos lowest @ 52)

• Rapid urban growth (high-rises, housing projects)– Still many live in sm.

villages– longhouses

Living ConditionsLiving Conditions• 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)

• Diet: raise themselves, many spices/sauces added– Curry, coconut milk

• Chinlon (Myan.), silat (Indo.), kickboxing (Thai.)

• Lunar New Year’s too– Vietnam = Tet