Eastern world, also known as the East, is an umbrella term for various cultures or social structures, nations and philosophical systems, which vary depending on the context. It most often includes at least part of Asia or, geographically, the countries and cultures east of Europe, the Mediterranean region and Arab world, specifically in historical (pre-modern) contexts, and in modern times in the context of Orientalism.[1] It is often seen as a counterpart to the Western world, and correlates strongly to the southern half of the North-South divide.
The various regions included in the term are varied, hard to generalize, and do not have a single shared common heritage, as is frequently claimed for the Western world. Although the various parts of the Eastern world share many common threads, most notably being in the Global South they have never historically defined themselves collectively.[2]
The term originally had a literal geographic meaning, referring to the eastern part of the Old World, contrasting the cultures and civilizations of Asia with those of Europe (or the Western world). Traditionally, this includes all of North, Southeast and East Asia (the Far East), Greater Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia (Afghanistan and the Indian subcontinent).
Conceptually, the boundary between east and west is cultural, rather than geographical, as a result of which Australia is typically grouped in the West, while Islamic nations and much of the former Soviet Union are, regardless of location, grouped in the East.[3] Other than Asia and some parts of Africa, Europe has successfully absorbed almost all of the societies of Oceania, and the Americas into the Western world,[4][5]Turkey, the Philippines and Israel, which are geographically located in the Eastern world, are considered at least partially westernized due to the cultural influence of Europe.[6][7][8]
In some cases, the definition may be rarely used to refer to the former Eastern Bloc and Third World Non-aligned nations.
Identity politics
Asian concepts
Although the concept of a unified Asian race does exist, its legitimacy is dubious, given how many different countries and cultures Asia comprises.[9][10] This concept is even more debatable due to the fact that common parlance links the "Asian identity" to the people of South and East Asia and exclude regions of Western Asia, which do not typically consider themselves part of the Eastern world; such areas include the Arab nations, Israel, Turkey and Iran.[11]
Asian cultures often have strong traits of nationalism and ethnic individualism, but the presence of many different cultures, environments, economics, historical ties and government systems often results in cultural identities specific to individual nations and ethnic groups, not inclusive of the rest of the continent. People of Asia may prefer not to identify with their continent or region, but rather with their specific nation or cultural group.
The division between 'East' and 'West' is a product of European cultural history, and of the distinction between European Christendom and the cultures beyond it to the East. With the European colonization of the Americas the East/West distinction became global. The concept of an Eastern, "Indian" (Indies) or "Oriental" sphere was emphasized by ideas of racial as well as religious and cultural differences. Such distinctions were articulated by Westerners in the scholarly tradition known as Orientalism and Indology. The notion of an Asian identity may, therefore, be considered a primarily European construct. Orientalism, interestingly, has been the only Western concept of a unified Eastern world not limited to any specific region(s), but rather all of Asia together.[12][13]
European concepts
During the Cold War, the term "Eastern world" was sometimes used as an extension of Eastern bloc, connoting the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China and their communist allies, while the term "Western world" often connoted the United States and its NATO allies such as the United Kingdom.
The concept is often another term for the Far East - a region that bears considerable cultural and religious commonality. Eastern philosophy, art, literature, and other traditions, are often found throughout the region in places of high importance, such as popular culture, architecture and traditional literature. The spread of Buddhism and Hindu Yoga is partly responsible for this.
Eastern culture
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Eastern culture has developed many themes and traditions. Some important ones are:
- Abrahamic religions (a.k.a. West Asian religions)
- Christianity -- the majority of the modern world adheres to this faith although it isn't widely practiced in its native continent of Asia anymore and since the faith had spread to the Western World the notion of "Europe" and the "Western World" has been intimately connected with the concept of "Christianity and Christendom" many even attribute Christianity for being the link that created a unified European identity.[14] Nonetheless, vibrant indigenous minorities in the Levant have preserved their ancient beliefs, adhering to Syriac Christianity (i.e. Assyrian and Maronite people), an Eastern Christian sect.
- Islam -- the majority of the world Muslim population have always lived in Asia, due to Islam spreading and becoming the dominant religion of these areas.
- Judaism -- the national religion of the Israelites/Hebrews of the Fertile Crescent, or what is now Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. They eventually evolved into the Jews (particularly Ashkenazi, Sephardic, Mizrahi) and Samaritans of today.
- Zoroastrianism -- the monotheistic state religion of Sassanid Iran
- Eastern religions / Eastern philosophy
- Indian religions
- Buddhism -- the path of liberation attained through insight into the ultimate nature of reality.
- Hinduism
- Jainism
- Sikhism -- a religion that developed in the warring plains of Punjab in an atmosphere of ideological clash between Islam and Hinduism. Its followers retain spiritual as well as martial qualities.
- Taoic religions (a.k.a. East Asian religions)
- Chinese folk religion
- Confucianism -- the belief that human beings are teachable, improvable and perfectible through personal and communal endeavour especially including self-cultivation and self-creation.
- Shinto
- Taoism
- Indian religions
- Asian Cinema
- Middle Eastern cuisine
- South Asian cuisine
- Central Asian cuisine
- East Asian cuisine
- Southeast Asian cuisine
- Culture of Asia
- Culture of China
- Culture of Korea
- Culture of Japan
- Cultures of Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and East Timor
- Culture of Taiwan
- Culture of Vietnam
- Cultures of Thailand & Laos
- Culture of Israel
- Arab culture
- Culture of Lebanon
- Culture of Palestine
- Culture of Iran
- Culture of Turkey
- Culture of Azerbaijan
- Culture of India
- Culture of Pakistan
- Culture of Sri Lanka
- Oriental medicine
Gallery
Mongolian Buuz
Kebabs are a popular cuisine among Middle Easterners.
Round challah, a special bread in Jewish cuisine
Sushi has become prevalent even among westerners.
Armenian khash (or pacha), which is also commonly eaten by Assyrians, Arabs and Kurds.
Ramoji Film City located in Hyderabad, holds the Guinness World Record for the World's largest film studio.[15]
The Tian Tan Buddha statue in Hong Kong.
A Syro-Malabar Catholic bishop holding the Mar Thoma Christian Cross which symbolizes the heritage and identity of the Syrian Church of Saint Thomas Christians of India
The Monastery of St. Matthew, located atop Mount Alfaf in northern Iraq, is recognized as one of the oldest Christian monasteries in existence.
The Western Wall and Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.
Aerial view of Masada, Israel
Color drenched Gopis during the Holi celebrations in Krishna Temple, Mathura.
Minangkabau Tari Lilin (candle dance)
Izumo-taisha shrine in Izumo, Japan.
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See also
References
- ^ Thompson, William; Joseph Hickey (2005). Society in Focus. Boston: Pearson plc. 0-205-41365-X.
- ^ Lee, Sandra S. Mouth, Joanna. Barbara, Koening A. The Meanings of Race in the New Genomics: Implications for Health Disparities Research. Yale University. 2001. October 26, 2006. [1] Archived 2006-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Me?trovic, Stjepan (1994). Balkanization of the West: The Confluence of Postmodernism and Postcommunism. Routledge. p. 61. ISBN 0-203-34464-2.
- ^ "Embassy of Brazil - Ottawa". Brasembottawa.org. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 2011.
- ^ Falcoff, Mark. "Chile Moves On". AEI. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 2011.
- ^ Sheldon Kirshner (16 October 2013). "Is Israel Really a Western Nation?". Sheldon Kirshner Journal. Retrieved 2013.
- ^ "EU-Turkey relations". European Information on Enlargement & Neighbours. EurActiv.com. 23 September 2004. Retrieved 2008.
- ^ "Fifty Years On, Turkey Still Pines to Become European". TIME. 8 September 2009. Retrieved 2009.
- ^ Cartmill, M. (1999). The Status of the Race Concept in Physical Anthropology. American Anthropologist 100(3)651 -660.
- ^ For example, "Asian and Indian people" are referred to in the New Zealand Heart Foundation's BMI calculator Archived 2009-05-31 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Khatib, Lina (2006). Filming the modern Middle East: politics in the cinemas of Hollywood and the Arab world. Library of Modern Middle East Studies, Library of International Relations. 57. I.B. Tauris. pp. 166-167, 173. ISBN 1-84511-191-5.
- ^ Tromans, 6
- ^ from the Latin oriens; Oxford English Dictionary
- ^ Dawson, Christopher; Glenn Olsen (1961). Crisis in Western Education (reprint ed.). p. 108. ISBN 9780813216836.
- ^ "Ramoji Film City sets record". Business Line. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 2007.
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