East Asian Studies 201: Overview of East Asia and Vietnam

Countries Included: China, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan (noted with questions), Vietnam (noted with questions), Mongolia, Siberia (Russia), Philippines.
Total Land Mass Coverage: 12,000,000 square kilometers (1.5 billion people).
Population: Approximately 22\% of the world's population.
Major Cities (with City and Area/Metro populations):
- Tokyo: City: 2,187.66 sq. km / 13,617,445 people. Area: 13,572 sq. km / 37,800,000 people.
- Seoul: Special City: 605.21 sq. km / 9,971,111 people. Area: Approximately 2,163 sq. km / 25,000,000 people.
- Shanghai: City: 6,340 sq. km / 24,152,700 people. Area: Approximately 3,497 sq. km / 34,000,000 people.
- Pyongyang: City: 176 sq. km / 2,850,000 people. Area: 3,255,288 people.
- Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City): City: 2,096.5 sq. km / 8,224,400 people. Area: 30,404 sq. km / 21,000,000 people.

The economies of China, Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam combined (CJSV) have a GDP of US 17 billion.
China: Socialist market economy (almost developed) under Communism.
Japan: Capitalist market economy (highly developed) under Democracy.
South Korea: Capitalist market economy (highly developed) under Democracy.
Vietnam: Socialist market economy (developing) under Communism.

Japan:
- Land area (377,930 ext{ km}^2) is 0.04 times as big as Canada (9,984,670 ext{ km}^2).
- Land area (377,930 ext{ km}^2) is 0.04 times as big as China (9,596,961 ext{ km}^2).
- Is 3.79 times as big as South Korea (99,678 ext{ km}^2).
- Is 1.14 times as big as Vietnam (331,212 ext{ km}^2).
South Korea:
- Land area (99,678 ext{ sq km}) is 0.01 times as big as Canada (9,984,670 ext{ sq km}).
- Land area (99,678 ext{ sq km}) is 0.01 times as big as China (9,596,961 ext{ sq km}).
- Is 0.26 times as big as Japan.
- Is 0.3 times as big as Vietnam.
Vietnam:
- Land area (331,212 ext{ sq km}) is 0.03 times as big as Canada (9,984,670 ext{ sq km}).
- Land area (331,212 ext{ sq km}) is 0.03 times as big as China (9,596,961 ext{ sq km}).
- Is 0.88 times as big as Japan.
- Is 3.32 times as big as South Korea.

Historic Relations: Long and complex, sharing much culturally but distinct in specific expressions.
Example: Rock Gardens: Chinese were the first to develop stone/rock garden art, inspiring Japan which refined it with Japanese aesthetic values (e.g., Japanese Rock Garden at Ryoanji, Kinkakuji).
Shared Philosophy: Confucianism and Buddhism are shared across these countries.
- While cultural development differs in each country, the doctrinal level shows much similarity.

Origins: Began in China, based on the teachings of Confucius. Confucius primarily collected, commented on, and transmitted teachings from before his time, mostly based on Zhou Dynasty (1050-771 ext{ BCE}) thought.
Key Inner Virtues and Social Relationships (The Basics):
- Ren (humanity): The principle of social relationships, extensively meaning all virtues and inner humanity.
- Li (propriety): Religious ceremony, proper interaction between family and society, the outer embodiment of inner humanity, and custom in Chinese society.
- Xiao (filial piety): The basic of all virtues; must be put into action and extended to ancestor worship.
- Yi (proper deportment/righteousness): Doing what one should rather than pursuing desires. The value of righteousness is considered above wealth and even life.
- De (virtue/function): Indicates virtue and its function.
Eight Ethical-Political Points of a Good Society:
1. Preserve the good character of people.
2. Order national life.
3. Regulate family life.
4. Cultivate personally.
5. Set the heart right.
6. Make the will sincere.
7. Achieve true knowledge.
8. Investigate things.

Buddhism Basics:
- Siddhartha Gautama Shakya (historical Buddha): Lived approximately 563-483 ext{ BCE}.
- Shakyamuni: Common name for Siddhartha Gautama Shakya.
- Buddha: An awakened one.
- Bodhisattva: One training to be a Buddha.
- Arhat: An awakened worthy.
- Tripitaka: The Buddhist canon (literally