EAST ASIAPopulation, Culture and Lifestyles

Human Characteristics (pp. 661-663)

• East Asia– _1.5__billion people– _25%__ of world’s population– Ethnic groups – 1.Chinese – 2.Mongolian– 3.Korean– 4.Tibetan– 5.Japanese

Human Characteristics (pp 661-663)

• China– _Han________ makes up 92% of population.– Remaining 8% made up of _55__ different

ethnic groups.

• Japan, Korea, Mongolia» Maintained a common identity

__99___% of Japan’s population is ethnic Japanese.

Where East Asians Live (pp. 663-664)

• Since most of East Asia is barren or mountainous, the population is _unevenly_______ distributed. Population Distribution and Density– _90_% of China’s population lives on less than 20% of the land.

People tend to live on coastal plains and in river valleys.

– Mongolia’s _4_____people/sq ml.

– Taiwan is crowded because space is limited.

– Tokyo is home to more than __26 million______ people. – Because space is so limited, Japanese in urban areas usually

live in small houses or apartments. Japan has eased traffic congestion by investing in an efficient rapid transit system.

Migration (pp. 664-665)

• In recent decades, many Chinese and South Koreans have moved from rural areas to cities.

• In the mid-1900’s, many North Koreans migrated south to _South Korea______________.

• South Korea’s population is about twice as large as North Korea’s.

• Challenges of Growth– In China and South Korea, migration from rural to urban

areas has led to __urban overcrowding__________ in the cities and created a ____farm labor shortage______________ in the countryside.

– The Chinese government hopes that newly built ____towns______ with more ___social services________ will encourage people to stay on their farms.

– Since 1979, the Chinese government has permitted only __1 child_____ per couple. This policy has helped slow population growth.

Languages

• Mandarin Chinese – China’s official language

• Also speak Cantonese, Tibetan, Manchu, Uygur, and Mongolian dialects

• Use ideograms• Japanese language

related to Korean and Mongolian

• Writing based on Chinese

Religion and Philosophy

• Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism

• Shintoism – stresses reverence for nature

• Christianity, Islam• Shamanism – faith in

leaders believed to have powers to heal the sick and communicate with spirits

• Religion discouraged in China and North Korea

The Dalai Lama

• Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader

• Chinese government places harsh restrictions on Buddhists.

• Tibetans risk arrest for owning photos of him.

• Currently leads a movement supporting Tibetan rights

• In exile in India

Health Care

• Better health care• Raised life

expectancies• Western and

traditional medical care

• Acupuncture

Food

• Rice, wheat, millet

• Vegetarian diets

• Fish

Leisure Activities/Art

• Martial arts – tai chi, tae kwon

do, kung fu, karate

• Sumo wrestling

• Poetry – haiku

• Calligraphy, origami, china

• Architecture in the pagoda style