Geography & History

1. Geography & History An Overview for China, Hong Kong & Japan Ajay Karippot Peter Fisher Suneet Bhatt March 29, 2005 GATE – East Asia

2. Brief Introduction to East Asia • This area includes Korean Peninsula, China mainland, Japan and islands in the Pacific Ocean. • Most populous region in the world. (more than 1/5th of the world population) • Has a history of more than 5000 years. • Wide range of climatic and geographical regions • Subarctic in the north • Tropical in the south • Mountains and deserts in west • hills, plains and river deltas in east

3. Fun fact • What do you find common in the following items? • Paper • Gun Powder • Compass • Printing Ans: MADE IN CHINA 

4. China

5. China • Location: Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam • Land Area: 9.6 million square kilometers. (slightly smaller than the US ) • Population: 1.3 Billion • Border countries: Russia and North Korea to the east; Russia and Mongolia to the north; Russia and Afghanistan to the west; and Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, Laos, and Vietnam to the south. • Currency: Yuan • Capital : Beijing Largest City: Shanghai • Language: Standard Chinese or Mandarin, Cantonese, Shanghaiese, Minbei, Minnan, Xiang, Gan, minority languages • 2004 chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) • International dialing code - 86 http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html

6. History: Ancient China • Pre-Historic period • Xia C.21st-16th century B.C. • Shang C.16th-11th century B.C. • Western Zhou Dynasty C.11th century B.C.-770 B.C. • Eastern Zhou (Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods) 770-221 B.C • Confucius, a scholar, lived at this time. He developed one of the Chinese religions known as Confucianism. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html ,http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/chinahist.htm

7. History: Imperial China • Qin Dynasty 221-207 B.C. • Building the Great Wall is started • Han Dynasty 206 B.C.-A.D. 220 • After the Han dynasties, China has a period of great instability. Terrible wars rage between different groups of Chinese. • Three Kingdoms (Wei, Shu and Wu) 220-265 • Jin Dynasty 265-420 • Southern and Northern Dynasty 420-589 • Sui Dynasty 581-618 • The Grand Canal is built. This 1800 kilometre waterway linked many parts of China enabling people to travel and trade with each other. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html ,http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/chinahist.htm

8. History: Imperial China • Tang Dynasty 618-907 • Greater contact is made with other countries and China begins to trade with India, Malaysia, Japan. Buddhism is introduced from India. • Five Dynasties 907-960 • Song Dynasty 960-1279 • Marco Polo visits China and sees prosperous cities, many more grand than the cities of Europe. • Mongol, Genghis Khan invades China, breaking through the Great Wall. The Yuan dynasty established by his grandson rules the Chinese. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html ,http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/chinahist.htm

9. History: Imperial China • Yuan Dynasty 1271-1368 • Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 • Portuguese, Dutch, British and Spanish begin to trade with China. Silk and tea are exported, wool and spices are imported. • In 1840 the Chinese fought a war against the British and lost. France, Japan and Russia took control of Chinese lands. Hong Kong island becomes British land. • Qing (say ching) Dynasty 1644-1911 • The last emperor of China was 2 year old Emperor Puyi. • The Qing dynasty was overthrown by a new leader, Sun Yat Sen, who declared China to be a republic. http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html ,http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/chinahist.htm

10. History: Modern China • Republic of China 1912-1949 • A civil war was fought for many years between the nationalists who wanted to keep the republic and the communists. • 1937 – Second world war • The nationalist and the communist Chinese fight together during the war. But later they start fighting each other again. The communists, led by Mao Tse-Tung defeat the nationalists and set up a communist government. • People's Republic of China 1949- • 1978 Start of Chinese economic reforms • 1997 Hong Kong becomes part of China again • Jiang Zemin retires from his post as Chairman of the Central Military Commission. President HU Jintao is appointed. • 2008 Beijing to hold the 2008 Summer Olympics http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html ,http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/chinahist.htm

11. Geography • Geography:world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US); Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak; • Climate:extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north • Terrain:mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east • Major Rivers: Huang He , Chang Jiang, Xi Jiang, Mekong Source: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html

12. Geography: Different regions • The North China Plain (Beijing) • Area subject to the extreme heat and frequent droughts of summer or floods of spring. • The Loess Plateau • winters are harsh • The Sichuan Basin • climate generally is mild • The Southeast Coast and Shanghai • area of the most active economic growth and development in China. Source: http://www.aasianst.org/EAA/mccoll.htm

13. Geography: Different regions • The Yangzi (Changjiang Valley) • Mountains and excessive wet lands • Xinjiang • landscape of deserts, mountains, and oases • Northeast (Manchuria) • Winters are damp and cold. • Tibet and Qinghai • the Tibetan and Qinghai plateaus are extremely high in elevation (an average of 4,000 meters (14,000 feet). • Southwest Uplands • landscape of dissected plateaus, dense forests, and great ethnic diversity Source: http://www.aasianst.org/EAA/mccoll.htm

14. Hong Kong “Fragrant Harbor” Or “Xianggang”

15. Hong Kong

16. Hong Kong • “In fact, one of the most striking characteristics of Hong Kong is this interweaving of seeming contradictions and the interplay of the exotic and the technically advanced. There are as many skyscrapers here as you're likely to see anywhere, but they're built with bamboo scaffolding. In addition to historic trams, Hong Kong boasts one of the most efficient subways in the world, complete with the world's first "contactless" tickets, cards that are waved over a scanner. The city has what are arguably some of the best and most sophisticated restaurants in the world, as well as a plethora of dai pai dong, street-side food stalls.”

17. Geography

18. History: Early • Early • Human activity dates back over 5 millennia • Bronze Age during the Shang Dynasty

19. History: Imperial China • Has been settled by Han Chinese since the Han Dynasty (Eastern Han Dynasty) • History during some other dynasties lacks documentation • Three Kingdoms • Southern • Northern • Guangzhou flourished during the Tang Dynasty • Five Dynasties • 10 Kingdoms • No significant residence until major migrations from mainland China to Hong Kong during the Song Dynasty (960-1279)

20. History: Imperial China (continued) • 1276 Southern Song Dynasty fled Mongol invaders • Two princes tried to lead a resistance effort • Zhao Shi (9) and Zhao Bing (7) • Sought refuge in Silvermine Bay (Mui Wo) and then Kowloon City (Sung Wong Toi) • 1279 defeat of the Song army at the Battle of Yamen • High official took Zhao Bing in his arms, and jumped into the sea • Tung Chung Valley • Hau Wong, who gave up his life for the emperor, still revered as a god • Mongolian conquest pushed more Han Chinese refugees into the area • Area was still barren, relying on salt, pearl and fishery trades • Remained a forgotten corner of the Qing Dynasty until 1841

21. History: The British • The Opium Addiction • British and Chinese had been trading since the 16th century • European demand for tea and silk grew causing a trade imbalance • 1773 British unloaded 70,000kgs (155,000lbs) of Bengal opium in China • Emperor banned opium as he saw an increasing number of addicts and a decrease in silver • Europeans found corrupt Chinese officials to keep the opium trade going strong • 1839, British traders were forced to hand over opium supplies which were then publicly burned

22. History: The British • The Opium War • British responded by sending an expeditionary force to secure new trade rules, standards and regulations • The force blockaded several ports, including Canton • China forced to cede Hong Kong island • Commodore Gordon Bremmer claimed the island on January 26, 1841 • China invaded by Franco-British forces in 1859 and ceded Kowloon Peninsula and Stonecutter’s Island • British later acquired a 99-year lease on the New Territories (which carried through 1997)

23. The 20th Century • Chinese civil war (1920s) and Japanese invasion (1930s) hastened shift away from trade to manufacturing • Japanese imperialism dominated HK for almost four years (1941-1945) • US embargo on Chinese goods during the Korean War forced HK to increase its manufacturing and increase its service industry • Communism in China (1949) and the Cultural Revolution (1960s) threatened HK’s independence from China • Communist takeover of China forced emigration of Chinese to Hong Kong • Skilled labor; capital; firms and businesses • Hong Kong then brought down the Labour movement (negative views of communism) • 1974 – Independent Commission Against Corruption

24. Transition: The Paradox • December 1984, British agreed to hand over HK to China 1997 • Agreement allows HK to retain its pre-1997 social, economic and legal systems for at least 50 years after 1997 • Basic Law - “One country, two systems” (April 4, 1990) • July 1, 1997 Hong Kong was handed over to the People’s Republic of China • Tung Chee Hwa became the Chief Executive • Resigned on March 12, 2005 (elections on July 10) • Politically: • Operated under Article 23 (anti-secession) • Lack a strong system of checks and balances • Economically: • Rocked by Asian Financial Crisis • Responding well

25. Geography: Context • Hong Kong has four main areas • New Territories & Kowloon • Peninsula of the Chinese mainland • Northern side of Victoria Harbour • Hong Kong Island • Southern side of Victoria Harbour facing Kowloon • Outlying Islands • Any of the other 234 islands • City • Centred around Victoria Harbour

26. Geography

27. Geography • Composition: 235 islands (6x the size of DC) • Land boundaries: 30 km (China, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone) • Coastline: 733 km • Total Sea Area: 1,652.21 sq. km • Terrain: Lowlands in the north; Hilly to mountainous with steep slopes • Elevation Estremes: • Lowest Point: South China Sea (0 m) • Highest Point: Tai Mo Shan (958 m, New Territories) • Other Principal Peaks • Lantau Peak (934 m, Lantau Island) • Sunset Peak (869 m, Lantau Island)

28. Geography • Climate • Subtropical (South of the Tropic of Cancer) = Hawaii • Winter – Strong and cold winds from the north • Summer – Wind reverses, warm/humid air from the south • May – End of ‘rainy season’ • Land • 1,076 square miles • 75% open countrysides • 2600 vascular plants • 450 species of birds • 200 species of butterflies/100 species of dragonflies • 40 species of mammals • 80 species of reptiles/20 species of amphibians • End of May, some pretty quirky MBA Students from Fuqua

29. Ecosystems • Mangroves – Habitats of enclosed intertidal mud flats with reduced wave action and influx of freshwater • Deep Bay • Rocky Shores – Transition from terrestrial to a marine environment. • Day/High Tide – Covered; Night/Low Tide - Exposed • Luk Keng • Kei Ling Ha Lo Wai • Streams – lotic habitats • Wa Mei Shan • Lam Tsuen River • Sandy Shores • Exposed vs. Protected • Starfish Bay

31. Japan Daigoji Temple (Kyoto)

32. Japan - Overview • Population: 127.3 million • Size: 377,835 sq. km. (roughly the size of Italy or California) • Government: constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government • Capital: Tokyo • Currency: Yen • Religion: Shinto and Buddhist 84%

33. Japan - History

34. History – Early Japan • During the Jomon Period (13000 BC to 300BC), inhabitants of Japan were primarily hunters and gatherers • Agriculture (in particular rice as a crop) was introduced around 100BC, allowing for the development of social classes and landowners • Around 400AD, the country was united under an emperor as Yamato Japan • Good relations with Kudhara kingdom (Korean peninsula), lead to increased influence from the mainland • Buddhism was introduced circa 550AD and promoted by the ruling class • Confucianism, Taoism, and the Chinese writing system were all introduced to Japan during this same period

35. History – Nara and Heian Periods (710 - 1185) Kana Symbols • In the year 710, the first capital was established in Nara • In 794, the capital was moved to Heian (Kyoto), where it would remain for 1000 years • This era represented a gradual decline in mainland influence and growth of a more pure Japanese culture • Development of Kana symbols in 9th century allowed for the creation of Japanese literature • Several distinct Buddhist sects emerged at this time as well

36. History – Emergence of Military Power • Due to a “death spiral” created by land and taxation reforms, power gradually shifted from central government to wealthy land owners • As public order became difficult to control, land owners hired Samurai for protection – thus beginning to raise the importance of military might in Japan • A number of wars emerged between various clans and militant Buddhist monasteries seeking to establish ruling power • Japan was essentially ruled by the Shoguns, the highest military officer, until their power declined in the 15th and 16th centuries • Once again, wealthy land-owning families began to dominate by becoming military families (ji-samurai) and warlords

37. History – Edo Period (1603 - 1867) • Tokugawa Ieyasu was appointed Shogun by the emperor in 1603 and established his government in Edo (modern day Tokyo) • Ieyasu brought all of Japan under his control, and with the elimination of his major rivals, peace prevailed during the Edo period • Samurai focused on educating themselves in martial arts, literature, and philosophy • The Tokugawa government lasted nearly 250 years unopposed Tokugawa Ieyasu

38. History – Edo Period (cont.) Shogun Iemitsu • In 1633, Shogun Iemitsu established a strict isolationist policy, forbidding travel abroad and nearly completely restricting foreign trade • External pressures grew in the 18th century as Russia sought to expand trade with Japan • In the 19th century, Europeans and Americans also sought to establish trade • In 1853 and 1854, Commodore Perry forced the Tokugawa government to open trade for a limited number of ports Commodore Perry

39. History – Edo Period (cont.) • Despite isolationism, Japanese culture flourished during this time • New art forms emerged (kabuki, ukiyo-e) • Over time, various factors began to impact the effectiveness of the Tokugawa government • Decline in government financial situation • Regular natural disasters • Collapse of social hierarchy (merchant class increases relative power compared with military) • In 1868, the reign of the Tokugawa government came to an end as Emperor Meiji was restored to power • With the restoration of the emperor, the capital was moved from Kyoto to Tokyo

40. History – Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Emperor Meiji • The new regime sought to make Japan a respected world power and close the gap with Western nations • Establishment of a democratic state gradually brought down the social classes in place for centuries (decline of the samurai) • Feudal lords returned all lands to the emperor (creation of prefectures in 1870) • Creation of human rights, including religious freedom in 1873 • National conscription for military was created, and the Japanese army and navy were modeled after the Prussian and British military • Japanese scholars were sent to study Western science and technology to stimulate Japan’s industrialization • The education system was remodeled to mimic the French and German systems

41. History – Meiji Period (cont.) • The first European style constitution was created in 1889 • A parliament, the Diet, was established, though the emperor kept sovereign rule • Victories in the Sino-Japanese (1894-1895) and Russo-Japanese wars (1904-1905) built international respect for Japan and fostered nationalism among the Japanese population

42. History – Early 20th Century (1912 - 1945) • Japan joined the allied forces in WW1, but played only a minor role in the war • Tension between Japan and the Western powers increased as the League of Nations rejected Japan’s “racial equality clause” proposal at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 • In 1933, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations due to increased perceived racism and for criticism over military actions in China • In 1940, Japan allied with the Axis powers (Germany and Italy) which then led to an oil boycott from USA and Great Britain • Deteriorating relations eventually led Japan to declare war on the US and Britain

43. History – World War II • In December 1941, Japan attacked US forces at Pearl Harbor • In June 1942, Allied forces defeated the Japanese at the Battle of Midway, the turning point of the war in the Pacific • On July 27th, 1945 in the Postdam Declaration, the US demanded an unconditional surrender, but no surrender was given • On August 6th and 9th of the same year, the US dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki • On August 14th, Emperor Showa finally offered unconditional surrender

44. History – Postwar Period (1945 - ) • Japan was devastated following the war • All major cities, industries, and transportation were damaged • A severe food shortage existed for several years • Japan was occupied from 1945 – 1952 • A new constitution went into effect in 1947 • The emperor lost all official power and became a symbol of the state • Universal suffrage and human rights were guaranteed • Reconstruction following the war and aid from the allied powers helped to rebuild Japan into an international power • In addition, the oil crisis of 1973 caused Japan to make a conscious shift to high technology industries

45. Japan - Geography

46. Geography • Japan’s islands lie between 45˚ and 32˚ north • The Sea of Japan separates the Asian continent from the Japanese archipelago • Japan’s closest neighbors are Korea, Russia and China

47. Geography • Japan consists of several thousand islands. The four largest are • Honshu (largest, “mainland”) • Hokkaido • Kyushu • Shikoku • Japan is officially divided into 8 regions and 47 prefectures • Kanto (Tokyo) • Kinki (Kyoto)

48. Geography – Climate • Due to Japan’s long north-south range, its climate ranges from tropical in the south to cool, temperate in the north • Japan’s climate is moderated by the sea • Milder winters than places of equal latitude on the mainland • Far more precipitation

49. Geography –Terrain • Japan’s terrain is mostly rugged and mountainous • Mountains cover 2/3 of Japan’s land mass • Limiting to both transportation and agriculture • Roughly 12% of Japan’s total land is arable • Japan is located where several continental & oceanic plates meet • Active and extinct volcanoes in Japan • Hot springs • Active earthquake region (1500 seismic occurrences a year) • Japan’s highest mountain, Mt. Fuji (3,776m/12,388ft), can be seen from Tokyo on clear days

50. Resources • The World FactBook (www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook) • Japan-guide.com (www.japan-guide.com) • Infoplease.com (www.infoplease.com) • Google Images (www.google.com) • BBC World Weather (www.bbc.co.uk/weather) • Weather.com (www.weather.com) • University of Alabama Maps (http://alabamamaps.ua.edu/world/asia/) • Useful links • http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ch.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Chinese_history • http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/chinahist.htm • http://www.aasianst.org/EAA/mccoll.htm • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Chinese_history • http://www.answers.com/topic/people-s-republic-of-china&method=6