East Asia

East Asia is a region in Asia that includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, along with two special areas of China called Hong Kong and Macau. This area is very important because many of its countries have strong economies.

East Asia has a long and rich history. It is one of the earliest places where people developed advanced societies. China has been a big influence in the region for thousands of years. It helped shape the cultures, languages, and calendars of its neighbors. Important traditions, such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, began or grew strong here.

The region is home to many different peoples and languages. The most common languages are Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. There are also many smaller groups of people with their own languages and cultures. East Asia has some of the world's biggest cities, like Beijing, Tokyo, and Shanghai, but it also includes very empty areas, such as Mongolia and parts of western China.

History

Main article: History of East Asia

East Asia has a very old and interesting history. China was the first place in East Asia where people lived, and it became the center of the region's culture. Over many years, China shared its ideas, writing, and customs with nearby countries.

At different times, leaders from China helped shape the area. They shared traditions with places like Korea and Japan. For example, Japan started using Chinese writing in the fourth century, which helped them keep records and share thoughts.

In more recent times, East Asia went through big changes. After World War II, countries worked to rebuild and grow. Japan became a strong economy, and later, China grew quickly and became very important to the world economy. Today, East Asia is more peaceful and successful than it has been in a long time.

Definitions

"East Asia" is a region that includes Greater China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia.

China, Japan, and Korea are the main countries in East Asia. They share a history and culture. Other places like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are also often included because they are close to China and share its culture. Sometimes Vietnam is included too, because it has history ties with China, but it is usually part of Southeast Asia. Mongolia is north of China and has different cultural influences.

Big groups like the United Nations say East Asia includes China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, North Korea, and parts of Russia. They also include places like Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Some Japanese islands are sometimes thought of as part of Oceania because of where they are located. Groups like the World Health Organization may include China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Cambodia, and parts of Southeast Asia in a area called the "Western Pacific".

Alternative definitions

See also: Pacific Asia

In business, "East Asia" can mean Southeast Asian countries in ASEAN, plus Greater China, Japan, and Korea. The term "Far East" is used by Europeans for these areas. Sometimes it might include India and other South Asian countries, but the term Indo-Pacific is used more often for that.

Some people use the term Northeast Asia to mean just China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. The Council on Foreign Relations says Northeast Asia is just Japan and Korea.

Climate

East Asia has many different climates and special weather patterns, like the East Asian rainy season and the East Asian Monsoon.

Climate change

Main article: Climate change in Asia

East Asia, like the rest of the world, is getting warmer because of climate change. This has led to more frequent and stronger heatwaves. The area may also experience heavier monsoons, causing more flooding. China has started a program called sponge cities, where cities include more urban green spaces and permeable pavings to help manage sudden heavy rains. Some places may face health risks from extreme heat in the future, especially in areas like the North China Plain.

Countries such as China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea could lose money because of rising sea levels. The city of Guangzhou might lose a lot each year by 2050. Shanghai could also lose money each year without changes to protect against rising seas. The Yangtze River area is home to many plants and animals, but some of these might disappear because of climate change.

Economy

Main article: Economy of East Asia

East Asia has several countries with strong economies. China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan all have big and successful economies. These countries have grown a lot and are very important to the world’s economy.

Territorial and regional data

China, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan have political disagreements with some other East Asian countries. These disagreements are mainly about the division of Korea and the political status of Taiwan.

Etymology

Demographics

East Asia is home to many different people and beliefs. Some of the main religions in the area include having no specific religion, folk religion, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.

There are also many different ethnic groups living in East Asia. The groups are often listed based on how many people belong to them in the region.

Religion

See also: East Asian religions

Religion in East Asia (est. 2020)

1. No Religion (52.0%)
2. Folk religion (19.7%)
3. Buddhism (19.4%)
4. Christianity (5.71%)
5. Islam (1.76%)

Ethnic groups

Main article: Ethnic groups in East Asia

• Note: The order of states/territories follows the population ranking of each ethnicity, within East Asia only.

Culture

Further information: Sinosphere

Main category: Culture of East Asia

The culture of East Asia has been greatly shaped by China. China shared many ideas with places like Japan and Korea. These ideas included stories, ways of life, laws, buildings, food, words, and writing.

East Asia has also changed by meeting with Western ways of doing things since the late 1800s.

Festivals

Japan changed to the Gregorian calendar after a big change in their government.

Entertainment

East Asian popular culture, such as anime and manga from Japan and K-pop and K-dramas from South Korea, have become very popular around the world in recent years.

Sports

Baseball is a popular sport in East Asia. It was brought there by Americans in the mid-1800s and spread by Japan. Many people in China have become fans of the game since the 2010s.

Japan was the first Asian country to hold the Olympic Games after earlier plans were stopped. Japan and South Korea together hosted the FIFA World Cup. This was the first time two countries hosted it together and the first time it was held in Asia. In recent years, East Asia has hosted several Olympic Games, including events in Pyeongchang, Tokyo, and Beijing.

East Asian Youth Games

The East Asian Youth Games is a sports event held every four years for young athletes from East Asian countries and some areas like Guam. It is one of several regional games organized by groups that support Olympic sports in different parts of Asia.

Collaboration

Free trade agreements

East Asian countries often work together to make trade easier. They create agreements so that goods can move between their borders with fewer problems. This helps businesses and people in these countries.

Military alliances

Some East Asian nations also join together for defense. They form groups to help protect each other and keep peace in the region.

Major cities

Main article: Cities of East Asia

Some of the biggest and most important cities in East Asia include Tokyo, the capital of Japan. Beijing is the capital of China and has a very long history. Seoul is the capital of South Korea. Osaka is Japan's second-largest city. Shanghai is China's biggest city and an important place for business. Other notable cities are Nagoya in Japan, Kyoto, which was Japan’s imperial capital for centuries, and Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. Taipei City is the capital of Taiwan, and Hong Kong is an important financial center. Busan is South Korea's second-largest city, and Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea. Xi'an is one of China's oldest capitals.