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, like China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, have strong and successful economies.

East Asia has a long and rich history. It is considered one of the earliest places where people developed advanced societies. China, in particular, has been a leading influence in the region for thousands of years, shaping the cultures, languages, and calendars of its neighbors. Many important traditions, such as Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, began or grew strong in this area.

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 rich and ancient history. China was the first area in East Asia to be settled and became the heart of the region's culture. Over many centuries, China shared its ideas, writing, and ways of life with its neighbors.

During different times, China's leaders helped shape the region. They shared important traditions and customs with places like Korea and Japan. For example, Japan began using Chinese writing in the fourth century, which helped them keep records and share ideas.

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

Definitions

In common usage, the term "East Asia" typically refers to a region including Greater China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia.

China, Japan, and Korea are the three main countries in traditional East Asia. They share a common history, including a shared written language and cultural values. Other definitions include China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan as part of East Asia because of their close geographic and cultural ties. Some scholars also consider Vietnam to be part of East Asia due to its historical connections with China, though it is often classified as a Southeast Asian country. Mongolia is north of China but has different cultural influences and is sometimes grouped with Central Asian countries.

Broader definitions by international organizations refer to East Asia as including China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia, North Korea, and parts of Russia. The United Nations includes China, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan in their definition of East Asia.

Certain Japanese islands are sometimes associated with Oceania due to their geography. Some groups, like the World Health Organization, include China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Cambodia, and parts of Southeast Asia in a region called the "Western Pacific".

Alternative definitions

See also: Pacific Asia

In business and economics, "East Asia" can sometimes refer to Southeast Asian countries in ASEAN, along with Greater China, Japan, and Korea. The term "Far East" is used by Europeans to cover these areas. Rarely, the term might include India and other South Asian countries, though the term Indo-Pacific is more common for such a broad definition.

Some people use the term Northeast Asia to refer only to China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, which differs from the historical meaning of "East Asia". The Council on Foreign Relations defines Northeast Asia as 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 serious 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 a lot of money because of rising sea levels. The city of Guangzhou might lose the most, with possible losses reaching US$254 million each year by 2050. Shanghai could also lose about 1% of its local economy 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 includes several countries with very strong economies. China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan all have economies that are among the largest and most successful in the world. These countries have grown a lot and are important to the global economy.

Territorial and regional data

China, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan are not recognized by some other East Asian countries because of serious political disagreements, especially 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, which had a strong influence on the region over many years. China's ideas, stories, and ways of life were seen as important for a good life in East Asia. China shared its ideas about right and wrong, its calendar, laws, buildings, food, words, and writing with places like Japan and Korea.

East Asia has also been 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, 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 because of World War II. Japan and South Korea together hosted the FIFA World Cup, 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

Military alliances

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, which is the world's largest city. Beijing is the capital of China and has a history stretching back over 3,300 years. Seoul is the capital of South Korea, while Osaka is Japan's second-largest city. Shanghai is China's biggest city and a key economic hub. Other notable cities are Nagoya in Japan, known for its major port and as the home of Lexus, and Kyoto, which was Japan’s imperial capital for centuries. Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia, Taipei City is the capital of Taiwan, and Hong Kong is a major 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.