1. East Asia

2. Physical
Geography
of East Asia

3. East Asia
• China
• Japan
• Mongolia
• North Korea
• South Korea
• Taiwan

5. A Survey of the Region
• East Asia stretches from western China to the east
coast of Japan
- also includes Mongolia, Taiwan, North
Korea,
South Korea
• Landscape has high mountains, deserts, cold climate,
Pacific waters
• Rugged terrain created by tectonic plates colliding
- natural barriers limit human movement,
increase
isolation

6. Landforms: Mountains and Plateaus
• Mountain Ranges of the Region
• High mountains limited China’s contact with rest of
Asia
- world’s highest mountains located on western edge
of region, the Himalayas

7. Did you know?
• The Himalaya Mountains
are home to the tallest
mountains in the world!
• All of the 8,000ers
(mountains over 8,000
meters tall, about 26,000
feet or 5 miles) can be
found exclusively in the
Himalayas!
• Such mountains include
Mount Everest and K2

9. Landforms: Mountains and Plateaus
• Other mountain ranges include the
Kunlun Mountains in western China and
the Qinling Shandi Mountains divide
northern China from the south
• Mountainous area includes some
sparsely populated basins, deserts
- includes Plateau of Tibet (Xizang Plateau)

10. Landforms: Deserts
• Gobi Desert
stretches from
northwest China
into Mongolia
- covers 500,000
square miles

11. Did you know?
• The Gobi Desert is a prime
area for dinosaur fossils!

12. Landforms: Rivers
• The Chang Jiang
- Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)—
longest river in Asia and 3rd longest in
the world!
- flows 3,900 miles from Xizang
(Tibet) to East China Sea
- major trade route; floods often
causing great damage
• The Huang He
- Huang He (Yellow River)—
northern China river
- 3,000 miles long, 2nd longest in
Asia and 6th in the world -
empties into Yellow Sea, named for
yellow silt the river carries

13. Yellow River
Yangtze River

14. Landforms: Peninsulas
• Eastern coast of China has
Korean several peninsulas
– Shandong, Leizhou, and Macao
Peninsulas
• China’s long coastline has
Shandong
several major port cities like
Shanghai
• Korean Peninsula is on
Leizhou eastern border of China
– contains independent nations
of North Korea and South

15. Landforms: Islands
• Japan is a small island
nation with large
economic power.
• Ryukyu Islands are
considered part of Japan.
• Chinese islands include
Hainan and part of Hong
Mr. Miyagi was from
Kong. Okinawa in the
Ryukyu Islands! The
• Taiwan once belonged to Karate Kid II takes
mainland China, which still place in Okinawa.
claims it today.

17. Japan
Ryukyu Islands
Hainan Taiwan

18. Did you know?
• During WWII some small,
isolated, primitive East Asian
islanders would often see
airplanes flying by.
• Amazed by these “flying beasts”
they actually thought they were
Gods or sent by the Gods.
• They would even build airplanes
and runways out of straw to
worship them and possibly
attract more to their islands.
• They are known as “Cargo Cults”
and actually still exist today!!!

19. History of
East Asia

20. China

22. Shared Cultural Traditions
• China acts as a
cultural hearth for
East Asia. Most of
the region’s nations
have, at one time,
been controlled by
China or influenced
greatly by its
culture.

23. China
• China is the world’s
most populous
country.
• China has been the
dominant culture of
East Asia since ancient
times.
• It is the oldest
continuous civilization;
a settled society for
over 4,000 years

24. Banpo Village
• Banpo Village is around
6,000 years old!

25. China
• Older Chinese civilizations are ruled by dynasties – series of family
rulers
• Some significant dynasties were the Shang (first ever dynasty) followed
by the Zhou, Qin and Han.
• These dynasties ruled for thousands of years. The last of them ended
rule in 1911.

26. Fall of Ancient China
• Following the Zhou
Dynasty, China collapsed
and was constantly at war
with one another.
• China became a land of
troubles.
• Long-held Chinese values
—social order, harmony
among people, and
respect for leaders—were
forgotten.

27. Confucius
• Some thinkers, however,
tried to find ways to
restore these values.
• One of the most
important of these
thinkers was Confucius.
He became a well-
educated man who
thought deeply about the
troubles of China.

28. Confucius
• He believed that a time of peace
could return if the people would
work at five basic relationships:
– ruler and subject
– father and son
– husband and wife
– older and younger brothers
– friend and friend
• The family relationships, he
thought, were the most
important.
• Respect for parents and
ancestors.

30. Confucius say… famous Confucius quotes
• Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.
• It does not matter how slowly you go so long as
you do not stop.
• Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in
getting up every time we do.
• When anger rises, think of the consequences.
• Have no friends not equal to yourself.

31. Not so famous Confucius quotes
• If you drive like hell, you are bound to get there quickly.
• If you run behind a car you will get exhausted.
• Man who stands on toilet is high on pot.
• Man who throw cat out car window, makes kitty litter.

32. A new Ruler
• A new ruler arose to put an end
to the troubles of the warring
states period in China.
• At 13, he became king of a part
of China called Qin (Chin),and he
brought the different parts of
China together.
• He took a new name—
Shi Huangdi, which means “First
Emperor.”

33. Shi Huangdi
• Shi Huangdi took steps to bring
all parts of his empire together.
• He ordered the peasants to
build a network of roads that
linked one corner to another.
The network stretched for over
4,000 miles and trade grew.
• He also set standards for
writing, law, money, and
weights and measures that
were to be followed
throughout the empire.

34. The Great Wall
• Perhaps Shi Haungdi’s
most famous
achievement was the
building of the Great
Wall of China.
• He ordered the wall to
be built to keep out
foreign invaders such as
the Mongolians.
• When completed, the
wall stretched for over
1,400 miles across
China.

35. Did you know?
• The Great Wall of China
is the only manmade
object you can see from
space!
• It has been expanded
many times over the
years and is currently
over 5,500 miles long.
• Over 1 million people
are buried within the
wall.

36. Shi Haungdi’s Tomb
• Shi Haungdi had a giant
mausoleum created while he was
still alive.
• The mausoleum consists of Shi
Haungdi’s tomb surrounded by
rivers of mercury and a terracotta
army “standing guard”.
• In the Terracotta Army there
were over 8,000 soldiers, 130
chariots with 520 horses and 150
cavalry horses.

37. Did you know?
• For many years China was
isolated from Europe until Italian
explorer Marco Polo arrived in
the 1200s.
• In his travels, Marco Polo visited
the court of Kublai Khan.
• He saw many great things like
the Great Wall of China and
brought home Chinese
discoveries including spices,
fireworks, eye glasses, ice
cream, noodles, glass and silk.

38. Marco Polo
• Marco Polo wrote about his adventures and travels.
Many people were intrigued by his tales. He
inspired later explorers such as Christopher
Columbus who sought to find a sea route to Asia.
However, many people also did not believe him.
• On his deathbed, a priest was summoned and asked
Marco Polo if he would like confess and take back
any of the stories or tales and admit them as a lie.
• Marco Polo’s response was “I did not tell you half of
what I saw.”

39. Ancient China
• Chinese Inventions
• Paper, printing,
gunpowder, compass,
porcelain, silk cloth

40. European Power and Influence
• Now interested in China,
European powers seek to access
profitable Chinese markets.
• In the 1800’s, treaties force a weak
China to give Europeans privileges
- spheres of influence — territory
awarded to European nations & Japan
• The Chinese, angered over outside
control leads to the 1900 Boxer
Rebellion
- Chinese militants kill Europeans,
Chinese Christians and take back
China

41. China Establishes Identity
• The 1900’s will see revolution
and change in China.
• The Nationalists Party takes
control in 1912.
• However, in 1949, the Chinese
Communist Party fights and
defeats the Nationalists.
• Mao Zedong rules the newly
established People’s Republic
of China while the Nationalist
flee to Taiwan.

42. Mongolia

43. Genghis Khan’s Empire
• Mongols are nomadic herders
until Genghis Khan unites the
tribes of Mongolia and conquers
Central Asia
• Genghis Khan is a great warrior
and military leader.
• He greatly expands the
Mongolian Empire to include
China and large portions of Russia
• Genghis Khan dies in 1227; his
successors continue to expand
empire to reach all the way to
Eastern Europe and the Middle
East!

44. The Height of the Mongolian Empire

45. What if Genghis Khan lived today?

47. History of Mongolia
• The Mongolian Empire breaks up in
1300s after being defeated by Russian
and Chinese
• China gains control of Mongolia in
1600s
– Mongolians achieve independence in 1911
• Therefore, Mongolia has ruled, and
has been ruled by China
• Mongolia becomes Communist in 1924
– remains Communist until 1989 fall of USSR
• Mongolia now moving toward
democracy

48. Taiwan

49. History of Taiwan
• Ancient peoples of China immigrate to
the island of Taiwan.
• Even today, the population of Taiwan is
almost exclusively Chinese.
• Taiwan sees many different rulers
including China, Malaysia, Polynesians
and Japan.
• In 1949, when the Communist take over
China, the Nationalists flee to Taiwan
and establish the Republic of China
(official name).
• China does not recognize this and still
claims Taiwan as part of the People’s
Republic of China.

50. The
Koreas

51. Ancient Korea
• Manchurians, Chinese
migrate to area
• China conquers northern
peninsula around 100 B.C.
– Korea is often invaded by
China, Japan
• Koreans regain control but
• Japan conquers Korea in
1910, rules until WWII
defeat in 1945

52. The Koreas
• Following WWII, the
Korean peninsula is
divided into two
separate countries.
• They make their border
along the 38th Parallel
line.
• North Korea is a
Communist and
controlled by the USSR
• South Korea is a
democracy and
influenced by the U.S.

53. The Korean War
• In 1950, North Korean troops invade
South Korea, begin Korean War
• North Korea us supported by the USSR
and the People’s Republic of China
• South Korea is backed by the U.S. and
the United Nations.
• In 1953, a treaty is signed and ends the
war.
• The war does not have a clear cut
winner as not much territory is gained
or lost.
• The border at the 38th Parallel is
restored.

54. The Forgotten War

56. A Divided Peninsula
• Although a treaty was signed,
tensions remain high even to this
day.
• The Koreas create a 2.5 mile wide
buffer zone along the 38th Parallel
between the two countries. (De-
Militarized Zone)
• The border is heavily guarded and
danger of war always looms as
there are 2 million troops are
stationed on each side.
• Some talks of reunification have
begun, but the future is uncertain.

57. 38th Parallel – De-militarized Zone (DMZ)

58. Japan

59. Japan
• Japan has an ancient
culture and traditions.
• Japan is the economic
giant of East Asia.

60. Ancient Japan
• First people came from
South Pacific, or from
Siberia, Korea
• 1,500 years ago agriculture,
metalworking widely
practiced
• Japan is ruled by many
clans, dominant leaders
called themselves emperors
• Samurai—“one who
guards”; hired soldiers
serve landowners, chiefs

61. Did You Know?
• Seppuku (stomach cutting) was a
right designated for samurai.
• Part of the samurai bushido honor
code, seppuku is a ritual suicide.
• It was either used voluntarily by
samurai to die with honor rather
than fall into the hands of their
enemies (and likely suffer torture),
or as a form of capital punishment
for samurai who had committed
serious offenses, or performed for
other reasons that had
brought shame to them.

62. Ancient Japan
• Near 1200, the emperor
creates shogun position
• Shogun—general of
emperor’s army with
military dictator powers
– controls officials, judges,
armies; picks governors
• During Shogun rule, the
Japanese fight off Mongol
invasions
• Shoguns rule for 700 years
until Japan is modernized

63. An Emerging World Power
• By the early 20th century,
Japan is a major power
• Expanding empire puts
Japan’s interests in conflict
with the U.S.
• - Japan attacks Pearl
Harbor, Hawaii, naval base
December 7, 1941
• - attack brings U.S. into
WWII; Japan defeated,
surrenders in 1945

65. Did you know?
• Today we associate the term “Kamikaze” the Japanese suicide
pilots during WWII.
• Kamikaze is actually an ancient term used to describe typhoons.
• It literally means “divine wind”
• In 1274 and again in 1281, the Mongols assembled a massive navy
to attack and invade Japan.
• Both attempts were unsuccessful due to the Mongol navy being
destroyed by a typhoon.
• The Japanese called this “kamikaze” because they believed god
sent the typhoon to protect Japan.
• In WWII, Japanese suicide pilots again took on this name for they
felt they were the “divine wind” that would again protect Japan

67. The Economy of Japan
• Post-war economic boom
makes Japan’s economy
second in size to U.S.
• Because the island country
of Japan has limited natural
resources, they import
resources to manufacture
products for export
• - exports autos, electronics,
computers

68. Cultural
Geography
of East Asia

69. Cultural Geography of East Asia
• INTERESTING FACTS
– More people speak Mandarin Chinese
than any other language worldwide (native
speakers)
– One in every FIVE people in the world
today is Chinese
– The Japanese have a larger GNP per
capita than the US

70. Cultural Geography of East Asia
• Population
– 1.5 billion
– concentrations on
coasts & rivers
– one child policy in
China lowers growth
rate - but numbers
remain large
– Japan is at zero
population growth

71. China

72. Population in China
• One-fifth of world’s people live in
China
– population is about 1.3 billion
• Over 30 Chinese cities have more
than a million people
• Many of China’s 22 provinces are
bigger than most countries
– Henan province has 93 million, more
than Great Britain
• 70% of people live in 12 eastern
provinces
– The west remains largely rural, 6% of
nation’s people live on 55% of its land

73. Economy in China
• China is largely a rural
society.
• Most population is
concentrated along rivers
and the coasts.
• Despite their large
population, China is
agriculturally self-sufficient.
• 60% of their workers work
on farms.
– river valleys have rich soil;
produce rice, corn, wheat and
sweet potatoes

74. Economy in China
• China also has a large
industrial economy.
• This industry includes coal
mining, iron, oil and
transportation.
• Manufacturing is also
extremely big.
– Machinery and consumer
products such as textiles

75. Religion in China
• Confucianism based on teachings
by Confucius
• Believed orderly, educated society
could be achieved if people have
respect for past, ancestors
– children obey parents; parents
obey government, emperor
• Taoism—from Tao-te Ching book
of Lao-tzu teachings
– preserve, restore harmony in
individual, universe

76. Buddhism
• Indian Buddhism grows in China,
influenced by Confucianism,
Taoism
• Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) =
Founder
• Promotes living the correct way
in order to reach nirvana, an
enlightened spiritual state.
• Missionaries spread teachings to
SE Asia, China, Japan, and Korea.

78. Shaolin Monks
• Shaolin monks are
Buddhist monks who
practice Shaolin Kung Fu
along with their religious
beliefs.
• The practice goes back all
the way to 450 AD.
• Many martial arts such as
karate and kempo have
Shaolin Kung Fu roots.

80. Japan

81. Population of Japan
• 126 million
people live in
Japan
• 75% of the
people live in
cities; 60% live
on about 3% of
land
• Urbanization and
overcrowding
has become an
issue

82. Culture and Influences of Japan
• Chinese influence early language,
religion, art, music, government.
• Since arrival of Americans mid
1800’s and post WWII, Japan has
become increasingly influenced
by western culture.
• Popular sports are baseball, golf,
sumo wrestling, soccer, tennis
• Most clothes are Western
influenced; traditional clothes for
special occasions only

84. The Last Samurai
• The movie, The Last Samurai, takes
place in the 1800’s during
Japanese restoration period in
which Japan went through
enormous political and social
restructuring.
• Tom Cruise plays Nathan Algren,
an American hired to train the new
Japanese army and put down the
samurai rebellion.
• It is only until he is captured by the
samurai, that he realizes that he
loves what he has been training to
destroy…

85. Culture and Influences of Japan
• Western music is
popular, including
rock, pop, classical,
jazz
– younger Japanese form
rock bands, heavy metal
is very popular
• Japan balances its
own traditional
styles with Western
influences

88. Education in Japan
• Highly structured educational
system
• - students in school six days a
week; six weeks of summer
vacation
• - six years of elementary, three of
junior high, three of high school
• Japan has more than 1,000
universities and technical schools
• University of Tokyo is one of the
most prestigious universities in
the world and is one of the leading
schools in technology research.

91. The Economy of Japan
• Post-war economic boom
makes Japan’s economy
second in size to U.S.
• Because the island country
of Japan has limited natural
resources, they must
import resources to
manufacture products for
export
• - exports autos, electronics,
computers

92. The
Koreas

93. Chinese Influences
• Like most countries in
East Asia, Korea adopts
many philosophical,
religious ideas from
China
– Confucian, Buddhist
influences

94. Korean Influences
• Communism molds
North Korean culture
• South Korea is
influenced by Western
culture
• North Korean
government only allows
Communist or folk art
• South Korean artists
have more freedom of
expression

95. Taiwan

96. Culture of Taiwan
• Population and culture is almost
exclusively Chinese
– capital city of Taipei has Buddhist
temples, Chinese art museums
• Well-educated population: many
universities, 30 daily newspapers
• Most speak official language of
Northern Chinese (Mandarin)
• People combine a number of
religious, ethical beliefs
– 90% practice blend of Buddhism,
Confucianism, Taoism

97. Economy of Taiwan
• Successful economy: few
resources but trained,
motivated workers
• Prosperity based on
manufacturing industries
and trade
• Taiwan, Singapore, South
Korea are economic tigers
—nations with:
– cheap labor, high
technology, aggressive
exports

99. Western Influence in Taiwan
• Baseball is popular in Taiwan,
other parts of Asia (especially
Japan)
• Little League baseball
becomes popular after WWII
– in 1974, U.S. bans foreign
teams from Little League World
Series
– ban is due, in part, to Tawian’s
dominance of Series in early
1970s
– Taiwan restored to competition
in 1976

100. Mongolia

101. Mongolian Culture
• Mongolia has ruled,
and been ruled by,
China
– Mongols adopt
many aspects of
Chinese culture
– wrestling, archery,
horse racing rooted
in ancient way of
life

102. Life and Economy in Mongolia
• Many people herd,
manage livestock (sheep,
goats, camels, horses,
cattle)
– nomadic herding was
economic base for
centuries
– cashmere industry uses
soft wool of local goats
– most live on farms and
ranches with small
villages in center

103. Famous East Asian People

104. Today’s
Issues in
East Asia

105. Ring of Fire
• The islands of Japan form part
of a geologically active area
called the Ring of Fire.
• Because of its location, Japan
has faced disastrous
earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, and tsunamis.
• Many Japanese cities are
threatened by earthquakes
– Japan is on the Ring of Fire—
chain of volcanoes around
Pacific Rim

106. Japan Suffers
• An average of 1,000 earthquakes
occur in Japan each year
– most are mild, but some cause
many deaths, great destruction
• 1923 Great Kanto earthquake
and its fires killed 140,000
people
– left Tokyo in ruins, damaged or
destroyed 700,000 homes
• Underwater earthquakes move
ocean floor; can create tsunami
– huge wave of great destructive
power that can reach over 100 feet

107. March 11 , 2011th
• On March 11, 2011 an 8.9
magnitude earthquake
struck Japan.
• The earthquake and
subsequent tsunami has
caused vast amounts of
damage.
• Nearly 16,000 people
died as a result.

110. Free Tibet!!!
• In the early parts of the 20th
century, China started to invade
parts of the country of Tibet.
• This put China and Tibet into
conflict with one another.
• In 1959, Tibet tries to fight Chinese
but the Dalai Lama (spiritual and
government leader) was forced to
flee into India.
• Since 1959, Tibet has been under
Chinese control and the Dalai Lama
forced to remain in exile.
• Many protests have occurred since
to free Tibet from Chinese rule.

111. FREE TIBET!!!

113. Seven Years in Tibet
• The book and movie, Seven
Years in Tibet, is about a real
life Austrian mountaineer,
Heinrich Harrar and his
adventures to Tibet during
WWII and after (1944-1951)
where he meets the young Dalai
Lama.
• Harrar becomes close friends
and personal tutor to the
Dalai Lama until the Chinese
invasion in the 1950’s.
• The 1997 movie stars

114. Overpopulation in East Asia
• Overpopulation in East Asia
causes many problems
including:
– poor health, literacy,
economic statistics
– widespread poverty, short life
expectancy
• In the 1950’s many women
marry young and have
several children
– Fertility rate in China: women
average over 6 children

115. Mommy, I want to go to the water park!

116. Family Planning
• Countries initiate aggressive
family planning programs
• These programs help level, then
lower birth rates
• by 2000, region’s women marry
later, average 2.5 children
• China’s government implements
the “one child policy”.
– Chinese birth rate is lowered to 12
births per 1,000.
– At a 1% growth rate in China, that still
equals to 13 million people each
year.

117. Family Planning
• Drop in birth rate and
increased industrialization - What do you
lead to fast economic growth
– life expectancy, literary rates
think?
are now among world’s
highest
• Many people in China;
however, do not like family - Is this a
planning
– feel China’s one-child-per-
violation of
family policy compromises
rights
Human Rights?

118. Tensions Between North and South Korea
• At a 2000 summit, leaders of North
and South Korea declare intent to
reduce tensions and reunite
– plan to clear mines, rebuild a rail link
– allow cross-border visits
• At the 2000 Summer Olympics,
two Koreas even march under
single flag.
• The plans of reunification,
however, seems to be a false
reality…

119. North Korea becomes a Nuclear Power
• In 2006, North Korea’s
government reported that it had
successfully conducted its first
nuclear test.
• In 2009, another nuclear weapons
test was confirmed.
• North Korea now says it has
become a “full fledged nuclear
power”.
• It is speculated that North Korea
has six nuclear weapons but the
increase in their nuclear program

120. 2010 – A Year of Tension in the Koreas
• In 2010, several instances involving North
and South Korea made world headlines.
• On March 10th, a South Korean vessel was
allegedly sunk by a North Korean torpedo.
– North Korea claimed the vessel crossed into their
waters.
• Later that year, North Korea fired artillery at
an island in South Korea.
• South Korea returned fire as well.
• Very few people died but South Korean
Director of Operations claimed that “there
may be a considerable number of North
Korean casualties,“ if action continues.

121. Response to Bombardment
• As a response to the
bombardment of South
Korea, the United States and
South Korea have increased
military training and
maneuvers in the region
while tension remains high.

122. January 24 , 2013 th
• North Korea said that it plans to
carry out a new nuclear test and
more long-range rocket
launches, all of which it said are
a part of a new phase of
confrontation with the United
States.
• North Korea’s National Defense
Commission said the move
would feed into an "upcoming
all-out action" that would target
the United States, "the sworn
enemy of the Korean people."

123. What should be done?
• Should North Korea be
allowed to continue their
plans to form nuclear
weapons?
• Do they pose a threat to us
or our allies?
• Should force be used if North
Korea does not comply?
• What about China?
• Will this lead to WWIII?

124. Red Dawn
• The 2012 movie re-make of
Red Dawn features a possible
scenario in which the United
States is attacked and invaded
by an aggressive North Korea.
• It is up to a group of young
people to rally and defend their
hometown from the invasion.
• The original film from 1984
featured an invasion of the
United States by the USSR.