1. An Overview for China, Hong Kong & Japan
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 2004 chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
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
Source:

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) B.C
Confucius, a scholar, lived at this time. He developed one of the Chinese religions known as Confucianism.
Until 1911, China was ruled by a number of dynasties. A dynasty was rule by a series of emperors from the same family ,

7. History: Imperial China
Qin Dynasty 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)
Jin Dynasty
Southern and Northern Dynasty
Sui Dynasty
The Grand Canal is built. This 1800 kilometre waterway linked many parts of China enabling people to travel and trade with each other. ,

8. History: Imperial China
Tang Dynasty
Greater contact is made with other countries and China begins to trade with India, Malaysia, Japan. Buddhism is introduced from India.
Five Dynasties
Song Dynasty
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.
Mongol, Genghis Khan invades China, breaking through the Great Wall. The Yuan dynasty established by his grandson rules the Chinese. ,

9. History: Imperial China
Yuan Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
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
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. ,

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 ,

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
a wide range of climatic and geographical regions ranging from subarctic in the north to tropical in the south. The western part of this region is largely dominated by the mountains and deserts of the Tibetan plateau and the Himalaya, while the eastern part consists largely of hills, plains and river deltas.
Source:

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:

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
China contains a large variety of landscapes. In the east, along the shores of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea, are found extensive and densely populated alluvial plains; the shore of the South China Sea is more mountainous and southern China is dominated by hill country and lower mountain ranges. In the central-east are found the deltas of China's two major rivers, the Huang He and Chang Jiang. Other major rivers include the Xi Jiang, Mekong, Brahmaputra and Amur.
To the west, major mountain ranges, notably the Himalaya with China's highest point Mount Everest, and high plateaus feature among the more arid landscape of deserts such as the Takla-Makan and the Gobi Desert.
Source:

14. “Fragrant Harbor” Or “Xianggang”
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 ( )

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 ( )
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 City
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, 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 Land
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)
SHINTO: the indigenous religion of Japan consisting chiefly in the cultic devotion to deities of natural forces and veneration of the Emperor as a descendant of the sun goddess
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%
SHINTO: the indigenous religion of Japan consisting chiefly in the cultic devotion to deities of natural forces and veneration of the Emperor as a descendant of the sun goddess

33. Japan - History
SHINTO: the indigenous religion of Japan consisting chiefly in the cultic devotion to deities of natural forces and veneration of the Emperor as a descendant of the sun goddess

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
DEATH SPIRAL: High taxes resulted in the impoverishment of many farmers who then had to sell their properties and became tenants of larger land owners. Furthermore, many aristocrats and the Buddhist monasteries succeeded in achieving tax immunity. As a result, the state income decreased, and over the centuries, the political power steadily shifted from the central government to the large independent land owners.
SAMURAI: The Fujiwara family controlled the political scene over several centuries through strategic intermarriages with the imperial family and by occupying all the important political offices in Kyoto and the major provinces. The power of the clan reached its peak with Fujiwara Michinaga in the year After Michinaga, however, the ability of the Fujiwara leaders began to decline, and public order could not be maintained. Many land owners hired samurai for the protection of their properties. That is how the military class became more and more influential, especially in Eastern Japan.

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
KAMIKAZE:
In 1274 and again in 1281 the Mongols under Kublai Khan tried unsuccessfully to invade the country.
kamikaze [Jap.,=divine wind], the typhoon that destroyed Kublai Khan's fleet, foiling his invasion of Japan in 1281.
In World War II the term was used for a Japanese suicide air force composed of fliers who crashed their bomb-laden planes into their targets, usually ships. The kamikaze was first used extensively at Leyte Gulf and was especially active at Okinawa

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
KABUKI: Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theater with its origins in the Edo period. Kabuki, in contrast to the older surviving Japanese art forms such as No, was the popular culture of the townspeople and not of the higher social classes.
Kabuki plays are about historical events, moral conflicts in love relationships and the like. The actors use an old fashioned language which is difficult to understand even for some Japanese people. They speak in a monotonous voice and are accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments.
UKIYO-E: Ukiyo-e are Paintings of the Floating World which originated during the early Edo Period in the city of Edo (Tokyo). The paintings were most popular amongst the townspeople of Edo. They show sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, and beautiful women and landscapes.
Most Ukiyo-e are made by the technique of woodblock printing. Some of the great early artists are Suzuki Harunobu, Torii Kiyonaga, Kitagawa Utamaro, Toshusai Sharaku, Katsushika Hokusai and Ando Hiroshige.

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 ( ) and Russo-Japanese wars ( ) 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
KABUKI: Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theater with its origins in the Edo period. Kabuki, in contrast to the older surviving Japanese art forms such as No, was the popular culture of the townspeople and not of the higher social classes.
Kabuki plays are about historical events, moral conflicts in love relationships and the like. The actors use an old fashioned language which is difficult to understand even for some Japanese people. They speak in a monotonous voice and are accompanied by traditional Japanese instruments.
UKIYO-E: Ukiyo-e are Paintings of the Floating World which originated during the early Edo Period in the city of Edo (Tokyo). The paintings were most popular amongst the townspeople of Edo. They show sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, and beautiful women and landscapes.
Most Ukiyo-e are made by the technique of woodblock printing. Some of the great early artists are Suzuki Harunobu, Torii Kiyonaga, Kitagawa Utamaro, Toshusai Sharaku, Katsushika Hokusai and Ando Hiroshige.

45. Japan - Geography
SHINTO: the indigenous religion of Japan consisting chiefly in the cultic devotion to deities of natural forces and veneration of the Emperor as a descendant of the sun goddess

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
Avg. Minimum Temp in May (˚C / ˚F)
Avg. Maximum Temp. in May (˚C / ˚F)
Tokyo
12 / 54
22 / 72
Kyoto
13 / 56
24 / 75

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 (
Infoplease.com (
Google Images (
BBC World Weather (
Weather.com (
University of Alabama Maps (
Useful links