1. Ch. 27: East Asia’s Cultural Geography

2. China Beijing Cities are growing at an alarming rate in China!
How might this impact the people, landscape etc.
Beijing

3. Rural v. Urban
Rural
Urban

4. Population patterns The people
92% of the Chinese population belong to the Han ethnic group
The Hans a powerful ancient ruling family.
8% belong to over 55 different ethnic groups
Tibet: (non-Chinese ethnic group) –
once a Buddhist kingdom
Taiwan: (descended from Chinese)
Mongolia: (ethnic Mongolians)
Descended from the Mongols – largest ethnic empire!

5. Mongolians
Tibetans
Taiwanese

6. Population Patterns Density and Distribution
China – 90%+ live on 1/6th of land
Fertile valleys like the Huang He, Chang Jiang, and Xi rivers.

7. Population Patterns Urban Growth:
Majority of Chinese work and live on farms
Millions, migrating to the cities = overcrowding
Leads to farm shortages
China is building new AGR. Towns with amenities
Led to 1979 one child policy
Largest age group (as of 2009) 35-44
Think about when the one child policy was enacted!

9. History and Government
Early History
Home to the earliest East Asian Civilization more than 5,000 years ago.
Records kept under the Shang Dynasty (ruling family)
Faced rebellions, attacks and natural disasters – eventually leading to its demise =(
It no longer had the “Mandate of Heaven”
Zhou dynasty follows the Shang Dynasty

10. History and Government
Early History
Zhou Dynasty
Lasted 800 years
Brings the spread of culture
Confucius – Confucianism – based on moral conduct.        
“I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?”
Laozi – Daoism – based on living in harmony with nature
The art of doing nothing

11. History and Government
Early History
Qin Shi Huang Di Dynasty (Chin…where china comes from)
Unites China-ward off attacks from central asia – GREAT WALL
Han and Tang Dynasties – culture is spread to all of east Asia
Ming Dynasty – Chinese infliuences reach east Africa
Many Europeans wanted to be involed with Asia…they refused until 1890s when they claim part of China with Japan – Spheres of Influence

12. During its construction, the Great Wall was called “the longest cemetery on earth” because so many people died building it. Reportedly, it cost the lives of more than one million people died

13. History and Government
Modern China
Revolutionary China
1911 – end of emperical rule
1927 – Chiang Kai-shek – nationalist gov.
1949 – Mao Zedong and communists take over
NOTE: Nationalists flee to Taiwan

14. History and Government
Modern China
Economic Changes
“Great Leap Forward” 1950s
Lg. gov owed farms replace small scale farms
Don’t produce enough food for country
MILLIONS die of starvation
1970s Deng Xiaoping – allows private biz and foreign enterprise
Late 1900’s – strict communism – allows some free markets
Taiwan = democratic reforms.

15. Great Leap Forward Famine

16. Great Leap Forward Protests

17. History and Government
Modern China
A tale of Two Chinas
Taiwan –
economic powerhouse that wants to reunite
Intertwined with china – invested billions in factories on mainland China
Makes key computer and electronic parts.

18. History and Government
Modern China
A Free Mongolia
1911 – revolution – outer Mongolia was province of China
– communists state under the Soviets
1991 – adopts democratic constitution = free elections and economic reform.

19. Culture Education and Health Care
Communist government pushed for literacy for all!
Cultural revolution - Upheaval in the 1960s
Literacy suffers, schools and factories close
Better Health care – life expectancy 70
Gov. pays for healthcare

20. Culture Language and Religion Majority speak Mandarin – Han dialect
Uses ideograms - pictures

21. Culture Language and Religion
Communism discourages Religion – large atheist population
Some Buddhists, Confucians, and Daoists
Chinese government restricts religious practices in Tibet
Can’t even own a photo of the Dalai Lama

22. Culture
The Arts