East/Southeast Asia Culture

China

Economic:

* market economy

China

Economic:

* Agriculture makes up 1/3 of the workforce
* Rice Bowl of the world
* private faming has increased and farmers earnings have improved

China

Economic:

* world’s largest exporter
* low export prices result in a flood of inexpensive goods to other countries

China

Economic:

* Special Economy Zone (SEZ)
* areas that welcome ^^foreign investment^^ with minimal government interference
* mostly found along the coast

China

Geographic:

* Urbanization
* overcrowding in cities
* one child policy
* aging population
* agricultural towns were built to remedy the labor shortages in urban cities
* very polluted country

China

Social:

* Language
* speak Mandarin
* Religion
* atheism, Buddhism, and Daoism
* the government controls religious freedom
* Education
* during the Cultural Revolution, schools were shut down due to education being seen as a threat
* now, education is emphasized and this country has a great education system
* Health Care
* as a communist country, the government pays for health care
* it’s improving, depending on where you live
* Arts
* Great Canal, Great Wall, Terracotta Army
* Festivals: New Year, Dragon Festival
* although the Cultural Revolution nearly destroyed traditional art, there has now been a resurgence of the arts
* Family Life
* family has always been important
* nuclear families are increasing, high divorce rates, and later pregnancies
* traditional preference for boys and the one child policy = smaller woman population
* 4 → 2 → 1: responsibilities fall on the only child

North Korea

Economic:

* command economy
* state controls and plans all economic production

North Korea

Economic:

* food problem
* aren’t able to grow enough to feed their people
* stunted generation
* lack of nutrients has led to stunted growth

North Korea

Economic:

* main industries include metal products, machinery, and military equipment
* extra funds and resources go to the military

North Korea

Economic:

* Juche
* independent and believe they don’t require aid

North Korea

Geographic:

* food shortages, adequate health services, and living standards are problems
* inland mountains push the population out to the coast

North Korea

Geographic:

* Rural Areas
* propaganda is posted
* most people in this country live in a rural city
* minimal electricity
* military checkpoints around cities to prevent moving

North Korea

Geographic:

* PyOngyang is the largest city and the capital
* most urban area, typically the only tourist area
* can only live here if invited, you’re trusted and higher up
* eerily quiet for a capital

North Korea

Social:

* Language
* speak Korean
* Religion
* atheist, religion is not permitted
* worship the Great Leader
* Health Care
* health care is free, clinics are well distributed, but lack of physicians and equipment
* lack of sufficient health care
* Education
* most educational books are written by the first leader
* focus is on science and technology
* Kim Il Sung University - most important institution of higher education
* Family Life
* awareness of ancestry is important
* security monitors people’s activities
* censored newspapers, government controlled radio and TV, restricted internet
* women are not treated equally and have entered the workforce out of economic necessity
* Arts
* military weapon parades
* communist government controls the country’s art
* artist work for state run institutions to promote traditional arts, commemorate the revolution, and express superiority of Korean culture

South Korea

Economic:

* went from one of the poorest states to a highly industrialized society with aid from the western world
* exporting based economy
* because of limited agriculture, and not enough people
* main industries include iron, steel, automobiles, aerospace, high tech
* Hyundai, Kia, Samsung

South Korea

Geographic

* population doubled at the end of the 20th century, but birth rates have fallen
* ^^most of the population lives in urban areas → 80%^^, and most live in the 7 largest cities
* ^^Seoul is the capital and the largest city, surrounded by satellite cities^^

South Korea

Social

* Language
* speak Korean
* Religion
* Buddhism, Confucianism, and Christianity heritage
* Health Care
* most people have medical insurance and healthcare needs are met
* life expectancy is longer compared to its counterpart
* Education
* take the highest level test to get into the best school
* Family Life
* ^^family celebrations honor their ancestors^^
* baby’s first 100 days of life, marriages, 61st birthdays
* as women have become active in the economy, family sizes and birthrates have decreased
* equal rights in property ownership
* first female president in 2012
* Arts
* K-Pop
* symphony orchestras, modern theater, rock concerts, and art galleries are enjoyed by the people
* hold true to Confucian traditions

Japan

Economic

* mixed market economy
* emphasize private ownership, while the government coordinates and regulates all sectors of industry/economy
* third largest economy in the world

Japan

Economic

* ^^lack of natural resources, instead focus on trade^^
* ^^leading producer of consumer goods such as cars, electronic devices, and computers^^
* NTT, Canon, ^^Honda^^, Nippon Steel
* ^^most employees stay with their company until retirement^^
* leads to strong bond between employees and employers

Japan

Economic

* imports raw material and exports finished product in large quantities overseas
* place tariffs on imports to tip the balance of trade in their favor
* ^^trade surplus^^
* take extra money and return it to the people

Japan

Geographic

* ^^most people are natives^^
* not ethnically diverse, so no ethnic conflict. this is due to them having remained isolated for so long

Japan

Geographic

* urbanization
* high population density, especially in megacities like Tokyo
* small space is well used
* futon, roll away bed, capsule hotels

Japan

Geographic

* ^^public transportation and affordable options^^
* railroads, bikes, bullet trains
* Maglev → magnetic levitating train
* ^^no slums and considered environmentally friendly^^
* children are very self sufficient, shows how safe the country is
* people that are on the road don’t cause much pollution

Japan

Social

* Language
* speak Japanese, but have borrowed Chines and English words
* geographically centered language
* Religion
* ^^blended faith^^
* indigenous religion, Shinto, is often practiced in a mix with Buddhism or Christianity
* Healthcare
* phenomenal system
* ^^national health insurance^^
* ^^high standard of living and long life expectancy^^
* aging population
* Education
* ^^high regard for education^^
* 6 - 3 - 3 - 4 system
* ^^lifelong learners^^
* adults continue seeking education even after formal schooling
* avid travelers
* Family Life
* family should be your center of life
* children are taught the importance of being part of a group and to revere their ancestors
* women are dissatisfied with traditional roles and are entering the workforce
* Arts
* traditional art emphasizes delicacy, exquisite forms, and simplicity, often portraying seasons and nature
* ^^orgami, tea ceremony, Kabuki theater, haiku^^
* ^^kimonos, baseball, pokemon, sumo wrestling, sushi, manga^^

Southeast Asia

Economic

* some of the wealthiest and poorest
* agriculture remains the leading economic activity
* many rubber plantations
* palm oil from palm trees are also cash crops

Southeast Asia

Geographic

* the majority of people are ethnically Burman, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese

Southeast Asia

Social

* Language
* hundreds of languages and dialects are spoken here due to the direct result of colonization and nearly all of the world’s religions are represented here
* valuable spices drew outside traders here, which created a diverse culture influenced by China, India, and Europe
* Art
* Indian and Chinese traders have influenced art, especially architecture, ceramics, and bronze
* heavily influenced by Buddhist and Hindu temples/monuments
* many Chinese style pagodas and Indian wats dot the landscape