Asia’s Culture Part II

1. Asia’s Culture Part II Mrs. Sumlin Ms. Seabrooks

2. Southeast/East Asia

3. Traditions • Some Buddhists choose to live in a monasteries where stricter requirements apply. • Other Buddhist greatly respect those who choose to live as monks. • They (monks) are considered among the “three jewels” of Buddhism with the Dharma, or religious teachings and Buddha.

4. Rituals • In both Hinduism and Buddhism meditation is an important practice. • Most include either physical or mental control and relaxation. • Both religions pray, but the form and direction differ. • Hindus pray to many gods that Buddhists do not worship. • However, several Buddhists countries do pray to spirits and ancestors.

5. Other Religions There are many small religions groups in Asia. • The largest and most vocal group are the Sikhs. • This religion originated in the 15th century. • It combines beliefs of Hinduism and Islam. • Some Sikhs in recent decades have become quite militant (). • Hindus and Muslims were given there own nations on the Subcontinent, but the Sikhs were not and want their own homeland.

6. China

7. Other Means of Division • Religious differences are not the only source of cultural division in Asia. • Languages also pose problems there. • In India and China large numbers of ethnic groups with their own language and culture live within the borders. • People in India speak over 100 languages and Chinese speak more than 50. • Different languages makes communication difficult.

8. Mandarin Chinese • The Communist government in China established Mandarin Chinese as the official language. • All schools, newspapers, books and radios speak Mandarin. • This effort was to help unify the country, but viewed by many as wiping out ethnic groups.

9. Tibetans • Tibet was taken over by China in 1950 and many Tibetans including the Dalai Lama went into exile in India. • Some have begun “escaping back” to their homeland to try to prevent the destruction of their culture. • Some who were deprived over learning their own language are learning it in India and returning to teach it to people in Tibet.

10. Overpopulation • The greatest cultural problem faced by Asians is overpopulation. • China has insufficient land to grow crops and feed it growing population. • The rugged terrain and dense population allows only about 10% of the land to be farmed.

11. ONE CHILD POLICY • In 1979 the Chinese government implemented the One Child Policy. • It was supposed to reverse population growth. • It has slowed the birth rate, but given rise to human rights violations. • Law officials have often used force. • Abortion, abandonment and murder of female babies have left an uneven ration of males to females in China.

12. Indian Subcontinent • This area is dangerously overpopulated resulting in poverty. • The government and organizations have tried to help but numbers have only decreased slightly. • This is because of the overpopulation. • Area also has low literacy rates and low life expectancy.

13. Statistics • 51% of India’s population can not read and 61% females can not read or write. • China and India both suffer from anti-female attitudes and there are 927 females for every 1,000 males. • 2.2 million babies die each year. • 53% of children are malnourished. • 85% have access to fresh water, but is decreasing because of increasing drought and pollution. • Social problems and overpopulation resulting in poverty seriously threaten this region.

14. Comprehension Questions • 1. Describe some of the basic beliefs and practices of Hinduism. • 2. Describe some of the basic beliefs and practices of Buddhism. • 3. Describe some cultural differences that exist within some of Asia’s countries andhow those differences affect the countries. • 4. Explain some of the major social problems that affect the countries of Asia.