21st ppt-group 1(Asian Culture and Traditions).pptx

The culture of Asia encompasses the collective and diverse customs and traditions of art, architecture, music, literature, lifestyle, philosophy, politics and religion that have been practiced and maintained by the numerous ethnic groups of the continent of Asia since prehistory. Identification of a specific culture of Asia or universal elements among the colossal diversity that has emanated from multiple cultural spheres and three of the four ancient River valley civilizations is complicated. However, the continent is commonly divided into five geographic sub-regions, that are characterized by perceivable commonalities, like culture, religion, language and relative ethnic homogeneity. These regions are Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia.The Chinese script is one of the oldest continuously used writing systems in the world, and has been a major unifying force and medium for conveying Chinese culture in East Asia. Classical Chinese was the literary language of elites and bureaucrats. Historically used throughout the region, it is still in use by Chinese diaspora communities around the world, as well as in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and pockets of Southeast Asia.

1. ASIAN CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

2. The culture of Asia encompasses the collective and diverse customs and traditions of art, architecture, music, literature, lifestyle, philosophy, politics and religion that have been practiced and maintained by the numerous ethnic groups of the continent of Asia since prehistory. Identification of a specific culture of Asia or universal elements among the colossal diversity that has emanated from multiple cultural spheres and three of the four ancient River valley civilizations is complicated. However, the continent is commonly divided into five geographic sub-regions , that are characterized by perceivable commonalities, like culture, religion, language and relative ethnic homogeneity. These regions are Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia.

3. Cultures from each Subcontinents

4. East Asia The Chinese script is one of the oldest continuously used writing systems in the world, and has been a major unifying force and medium for conveying Chinese culture in East Asia. Classical Chinese was the literary language of elites and bureaucrats. Historically used throughout the region, it is still in use by Chinese diaspora communities around the world, as well as in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and pockets of Southeast Asia.

5. South Asia Evidence of Neolithic culture has been found throughout the modern states Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka that represent South Asia (also known as the Indian subcontinent). The great significance of the Vedic texts (that don't mention cities or urban life) for South Asian culture, their impact on family, societal organisation , religion, morale, literature etc. Vedic texts

6. SouthEast Asia A common feature found around the region are stilt houses. These houses are elevated on stilts so that water can easily pass below them in case of a flood. Another shared feature is rice paddy agriculture, which originated in Southeast Asia thousands of years ago. Dance drama is also a very important feature of the culture, utilizing movements of the hands and feet perfected over thousands of years. Furthermore, the arts and literature of Southeast Asia is very distinctive as some have been influenced by Indian (Hindu), Chinese, Buddhist, and Islamic literature.

7. Central Asia Central Asia, in between the Caspian Sea and East Asia . The region was conquered and dominated by a variety of cultures, such as the Chinese, Greeks, Mongols, Persians, Tatars, Russians, and Sarmatians. As some Central Asian areas have been inhabited by nomadic people, numerous urban centers have developed in a distinct local character .

8. West Asia Today, almost 93% of Western Asia's inhabitants are Muslim and is characterized by political Islamic, with the exception of Israel, a Jewish state. At its north-western end, Armenia and Georgia have an unmistakable Christian tradition, while Lebanon shares a large Christian and a large Muslim community. Ethnically, the region is dominated by Arab, Persian, Kurdish, Azerbaijani, and Turkish people. Among them smaller indigenous groups are the Jews, Assyrians, Druze, Samaritans, Yazidis and Mandeans .

9. Some of the Notable Traditions

10. Different greetings While you might be used to a handshake, it’s not always the best way to greet someone in Asia. In Thailand, the main way to greet someone is the ‘ wai ’. You bring your hands together in a prayer gesture and give a slight bow or nod of the head while saying hello or goodbye. You should also acknowledge the oldest people in the room when you arrive and leave, as this is a great sign of respect. In Japan and South Korea, and china, bowing can be used as a greeting and symbol of respect. You perform a bow by bending from the waist with your back straight and eyes down. On the other hand, Filipinos greet elders with “mano” to show respect.

11. Mind your head and feet In many Asian cultures, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body. You should never touch anyone on the head – even children or Buddha statues. On the other end, feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body as they touch the ground and are furthest from the head. You should never point the soles of your feet at anyone or anything sacre . If you’re sitting down in a temple, restaurant or home, remember to keep your feet politely tucked beneath you.

12. Share your food Another common Asian tradition is sharing food. Most Asian households like to prepare a bunch of dishes and share them all together around a big table. E ach Asian country has its own unique traditions. For example in China or Japan, you should never leave your chopsticks standing up in your bowl, as this is similar to funeral practices. If you’re finished with your meal, simply lay them to the side on the table or on a special chopsticks rest.

13. Public displays of affection In practically every Asian culture, it’s rude for members of the opposite sex to kiss, hug or hold hands in public. These are considered to be intimate acts that are only done in private . Holding hands On the flip side, hand-holding between people of the same gender is totally okay in many Asian countries like India. It’s simply seen as a sign of companionship.

14. Asian New Year traditions In most Asian cultures, New Year is a big deal . And they don’t all celebrate it on January 1st. China and Vietnam celebrate the date according to the Lunar calendar (usually at the start of February), while Thailand, Cambodia and Laos celebrate their Buddhist New Year in April.

15. Thank You!