Culture of Asia 1738605 225438407 2008-07-13T18:20:55Z Fundamental metric tensor 3081794 /* South Asia (Indian Subcontinent) */ {{for|discussion of the area sometimes termed [[southwest Asia]]|Middle East}} The '''culture of Asia''' is the artificial aggregate of the [[cultural heritage]] of many [[Nationality|nationalities]], [[society|societies]], [[religion]]s, and [[ethnic group]]s in the region, traditionally called a continent from a Western-centric perspective, of [[Asia]]. The region or "[[continent]]" is more commonly divided into more natural geographic and cultural [[subregion]]s, including the [[Caucasus]], [[Central Asia]], [[East Asia]], [[South Asia]] (the "[[Indian subcontinent]]"), [[North Asia]], [[Southwest Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. Geographically, Asia is not a distinct continent; culturally, there has been little unity or common history for many of the cultures and peoples of Asia. [[Asian art]], [[Asian music|music]], and [[Asian cuisine|cuisine]], as well as [[literature]], are important parts of Asian culture. [[Eastern philosophy]] and religion also plays a major role, with [[Buddhism]], [[Hinduism]], [[Taoism]], [[Confucianism]], [[Islam]], and [[Christianity]] all playing major roles. One of the most complex parts of Asian culture is the relationship between traditional cultures and the [[Western world]]. ==Nationalities and ethnic groups== There are an abundance of ethnic groups throughout Asia, with adaptations to the climate zones of Asia, which can be Arctic, subarctic, temperate, subtropical or tropical. The ethnic groups have adapted to mountains, deserts, grasslands, and forests. On the coasts of Asia, the ethnic groups have adopted various methods of harvest and transport. Some groups are primarily [[hunter-gatherer]]s, some practice [[transhumance]] (nomadic lifestyle), others have been agrarian/rural for millennia and others are becoming industrial/urban. Some groups/countries of Asia are completely urban ([[Singapore]] and [[Hong Kong]]). The colonization of Asia was largely ended in the twentieth century, with national drives for independence and self-determination across the continent. {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} ===[[East Asia]]=== East Asia is usually thought to consist of [[China]], [[Japan]], and [[Korea]]. The dominant influence [[history of East Asia|historically]] has been China, though in modern times, cultural exchange has flowed more bi-directionally. Major characteristics of this region include shared [[Chinese language|Chinese]]-derived language characteristics, as well as shared religion, especially [[Buddhism]] and [[Taoism]]. There is also a shared social and moral philosophy derived from [[Confucianism]]. The [[Chinese character|Chinese Script]] is generally agreed to be the unifying principle. It was historically used throughout the region, and is still used to some extent in most countries of the region. In most cases, the meaning of the characters remain unchanged, but the pronunciation differs between regions. Even within China, for example, a [[Cantonese people|Cantonese]] person and a person from [[Mandarin (linguistics)|northern China]] probably cannot hold a conversation, but they can certainly understand each other by passing notes. The Chinese writing system is the oldest continuous writing system in the world (but by no means primitive). It was passed on first to [[Korea]], and was the main writing system there until the end of [[World War II]], and to [[Japan]], where it now forms a major component of the Japanese writing system. In Vietnam, classical Chinese ([[Han Tu]]) was used during the millennium of Chinese rule, with the vernacular [[Chu Nom]] script replacing it later on. However, this has now (since the early 20th century) been replaced completely by the [[Latin Alphabet]]-based [[Quoc Ngu]]. In these cultures, especially in China and Japan the educational level of person is traditionally measured by the quality of his or her [[calligraphy]], rather than diction, as is sometimes the case in the west. Though [[Korea]] and [[Japan]] are not Chinese speaking regions, their languages have been heavily influenced by Chinese. Even though their writing systems have changed over time (with limited use of Chinese characters in Korea), Chinese is still found in the historical roots of many borrowed words, especially technical terms. Apart from the unifying influence of [[Confucianism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Chinese characters]], and other [[Culture of China|Chinese Cultural Influences]], there is nevertheless much diversity between the countries of the region. ===[[South Asia]] (Indian Subcontinent)=== [[Image:South Asian Language Families.jpg|thumb|220px|Language families in South Asia]] Some [[North India]]n states and the nations of [[Pakistan]] and [[Afghanistan]] share a common heritage from the [[Indus Valley Civilization]] and the [[Mauryan]], [[Kushan]], [[Gupta]] and [[Mughal]] empires. The four [[South India|South Indian]] states and [[Sri Lanka]] share a [[Dravidian people|Dravidian]] culture, due to the prominence of [[Dravidian languages]] there. [[Bangladesh]] and the state of [[West Bengal]] share a common heritage and culture based on the [[Bengali language]]. [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]], the states of [[Sikkim]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[Ladakh]] in the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir]] and parts of the states of [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Uttaranchal]] have a great cultural similarity to [[Tibet]], [[Tibetan Buddhism]] being the dominant religion there. Finally the states of [[Assam]], [[Meghalaya]], [[Mizoram]], [[Manipur]], [[Nagaland]] and [[Tripura]] have great cultural affinities with [[South East Asia]]. [[Image:Jaipurgarments.jpg|left|thumb|220px|Traditional [[Rajasthan]]i garments from [[Jaipur]], [[Rajasthan]].]] [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]] and [[Sikhism]], the four major world religions founded in the region that is today's India, are spread throughout the subcontinent. While 80% of Indians are Hindus and Nepal is a Hindu-majority State, [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Bhutan]] have a majority of Buddhists. [[Islam]] is the pre-dominant religion of [[Pakistan]] and [[Afghanistan]]. [[Indo-Aryan]] languages are spoken in [[Pakistan]] and most of [[North India|North]], [[West India|West]] and [[East India|East]] India and [[Nepal]]. [[Dravidian languages]] are spoken in [[South India]] and [[Sri Lanka]]. [[Tibeto-Burman languages]] are spoken in the [[North India|North]] and [[North East India]]. ===[[Southeast Asia]]=== Southeast Asia consists of [[Indochina|Mainland Southeast Asia]] and [[Maritime Southeast Asia]]. The region has been greatly influenced by the cultures and religions of [[India]] and [[China]] as well as the religions [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]] from [[Southwest Asia]]. Southeast Asia has also had a lot of [[Western culture|Western]] influence due to the lasting legacy of [[colonialism]]. One example is the [[Philippines]] which has been heavily influenced by [[United States of America|America]] due to the invasion. A common feature found around the region are [[stilt house]]s. Another shared feature is [[rice paddy]] agriculture, which originated in Southeast Asia thousands of years ago. Dance 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. ==Architecture== In Japan, the temples of [[Kyoto]] and [[Nara, Nara|Nara]] might be over 1,000 years old in style, but be completely rebuilt, in the exact same style, every 20 years. The best example would be the Shinto Shrine. The primary reason for this was that the materials might be wood and thatch rather than stone and tile. Other cultures might build from stone, but the jungles and forests might overgrow the buildings, as in [[Angkor Wat]]. ==Art== [[Image:DragonThrone.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Detail of Dragon Throne used by the [[Qianlong]] Emperor of China, [[Forbidden City]], [[Qing Dynasty]]. Artifact circulating in U.S. museums on loan from Beijing]] {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} ===Visual arts=== {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} <!-- ====Painting==== {{sectstub}} --> ====Crafts==== *''See also'': [[Vietnamese Embroidery Art]] ===Performing arts=== {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} --> ====Music==== {{main|Asian music}} [[Harmonic music]] can follow the [[pentatonic scale]] as well as the [[twelve-tone scale]]; [[percussive music]] can use cymbals as well as gongs, in Asia. {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} =====South Asia===== {{main|South Asian music}} In the [[Punjab region]] of India and Pakistan, [[bhangra]] music is very popular. =====East Asia===== {{main|East Asian music}} =====Middle East===== {{main|Middle Eastern music}} =====Central Asia===== {{main|Central Asian music}} The music of [[Central Asia]] is as vast and unique as the many cultures and peoples who inhabit the region. The one constant throughout the musical landscape is [[Islam]], which defines the music's focus and the musicians' inspiration. Principal instrument types are two- or three-stringed [[lute]]s, the necks either fretted or fretless; [[fiddle]]s made of horsehair; [[flute]]s, mostly open at both ends and either end-blown or side-blown; and [[Jews' harp]]s, either metal or, often in [[Siberia]], wooden. [[Percussion instrument]]s include frame drums, tambourines, and kettledrums. Instrumental [[polyphony]] is achieved primarily by lutes and fiddles. On the other hand, vocal polyphony is achieved in different ways: [[Bashkir]]s hum a basic pitch while playing solo flute. [[Image:Traditional indonesian instruments04.jpg|thumb|[[Gong]]s from [[Indonesia]]]] =====Southeast Asia===== {{main|Southeast Asian music}} ====Dance==== In the [[Punjab region]] of India and Pakistan, [[bhangra]] dance is very popular. The bhangra is a celebration of the harvest. The people dance to the beat of a drum while singing and dancing. In [[Thailand]] which is never [[colonized]] by [[Western countries]], has retained cultural connections with the two great centers of Asian civilizations, [[India]] and [[China]]. [[Dances of Myanmar]], a country which was colonized only for a brief period, also retain very strong influences from these cultures. In [[Southeast Asia]], dance is an integral part of the culture; the styles of dance vary from island to island. There are courtly dances, found, for example, wherever there are [[Rajah]]s and [[princess]]es. There are also dances of celebration. For example, according to oral history, in 1212, when 10 [[Borneo|Bornean]] [[tribal chief|datu]]s left the rule of [[Sri Vijaya]]n empire on [[Borneo]], they sailed away and negotiated [[Antique province#History|settlement right]]s with the [[tribal chief|chieftain]] of the [[Negrito]]s on the island of [[Panay]]. In commemoration of the agreement, they danced; the Negritos danced as well. {{Expand-section|date=June 2008}} ===Martial arts=== {{main|Martial arts|History of martial arts|Asian martial arts (origins)|Modern history of East Asian martial arts}} ==Mythology and folklore== [[Image:Matsya painting.jpg|thumb|100px|left|[[Vishnu]] as [[Matsya]].]] The story of [[Deluge (mythology)|Great Floods]] find reference in most of the regions of Asia. The [[Hindu mythology]] tells about an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu|God Vishnu]] in the form of a [[Matsya|fish]] who warned [[Manu (Hinduism)|Manu]] of a terrible flood. In ancient [[Chinese mythology]] [[Shan Hai Jing]], the Chinese ruler [[King Yu of Xia of China|Da Yu]] had to spend ten years to control a deluge which swept out most of the ancient China and was aided by the goddess [[Nuwa]] who literally "fixed" the "broken" sky through which huge rains were pouring. <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Rangda.jpeg|right|100px|thumb|right|The child-eating [[Rangda]].]] --> The regions of Asia has a rich variety of [[Legendary creature|mythical fauna]]. [[Japanese mythology|Japan]] has [[Nekomata]]s, cats with two tails and having magical powers; whereas [[Balinese mythology]] has child-eating [[Rangda]]s. [[Hindu mythology]] have [[Pishacha]]s haunting the cremation grounds to eat half-burnt human corpses, and [[Bhut]]s hanting the desolate places. Asia has a rich tradition of [[folklore]]s and [[storytelling]]. In the [[Indian subcontinent]], the [[Panchatantra]], a collection of fables 200 BC, has remained a favorite for 2000 years. ==Languages== {{main|Languages of Asia}} Asia is a continent with great linguistic diversity, and is home to various [[language family|language families]] and many [[language isolate]]s. A majority of Asian countries have more than one language that is natively spoken. For instance, according to [[Ethnologue]] over 600 languages are spoken in [[Indonesia]] while over 100 are spoken in the [[Philippines]]. The official figure of 'mother tongues' spoken in India is 1683, of which an estimated 850 are in daily use. [[Korea]], on the other hand, is home to only one language. The main language families found in Asia, along with examples of each, are: *'''[[Austro-Asiatic languages|Austro-Asiatic]]''': [[Khasi language|Khasi]], [[Khmer language|Khmer]], [[Mundari language|Mundari]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] *'''[[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]]''': [[Atayal language|Atayal]], [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]], [[Cham language|Cham]], [[Ilokano language|Ilokano]], [[Indonesian language|Indonesian]], [[Javanese language|Javanese]], [[Malay language|Malay]], [[Paiwan language|Paiwan]], [[Sundanese language|Sundanese]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Tetum language|Tetum]] *'''[[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]]''': [[Kannada language|Kannada]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] *'''[[Indo-European languages|Indo-European]]''': [[Armenian language|Armenian]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[English language|English]], [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Hindi]], [[Kurdish language|Kurdish]], [[Nepali language|Nepali]], [[Pashto language|Pashto]], [[Persian language|Persian]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Sanskrit]], [[Tajik language|Tajik]], [[Urdu]] *'''[[Japonic languages|Japonic]]''': [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Okinawan language|Okinawan]] *'''[[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan]]''': [[Burmese language|Burmese]], [[Cantonese (linguistics)|Cantonese]], [[Mandarin (linguistics)|Mandarin]], [[Tibetan language|Tibetan]] *'''[[Tai-Kadai languages|Tai-Kadai]]''': [[Lao language|Lao]], [[Thai language|Thai]] *'''[[Turkic languages|Turkic]]''': [[Azerbaijani language|Azeri]], [[Kazakh language|Kazakh]], [[Kyrgyz language|Kyrgyz]], [[Tatar language|Tatar]], [[Turkish language|Turkish]], [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]], [[Uzbek language|Uzbek]] Other languages that do not belong to the above groups include [[Ainu language|Ainu]], [[Burushaski language|Burushaski]], [[Georgian language|Georgian]], [[Hmong language|Hmong]], [[Korean language|Korean]], [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]], various [[Romance languages|Romance]]-based [[creole language|creoles]] ([[Chavacano language|Chavacano]], [[Macanese language|Macanese]], and [[Kristang language|Kristang]]) and many others. ==Literature== [[Image:LiBai.jpg|thumb|left|125px|[[Tang dynasty]] [[Chinese language poets|Chinese poet]] [[Li Bai]], in a 13th century depiction by [[Liang Kai]].]] ===Classical Indian literature=== {{Main|Indian literature}} ===Classical Chinese and Japanese literature=== {{Main|Chinese literature|Japanese literature}} In [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] and [[Song dynasty]] [[China]], famous [[poet]]s such as [[Li Bai]] authored works of great importance. They wrote ''shī'' ([[Classical Chinese]]: 诗) poems, which have lines with equal numbers of [[Chinese character|characters]], as well as ''cí'' (词) poems with mixed line varieties. [[Japanese literature#Early-Modern Literature|Early-Modern Japanese literature]] (17th&ndash;19th centuries) developed comparable innovations such as [[haiku]], a form of [[Japanese poetry]] that evolved from the ancient ''[[hokku]]'' ([[Japanese language]]: 発句) mode. Haiku consists of three lines: the first and third lines each have five ''morae'' (the rough [[phonology|phonological]] equivalent of [[syllable]]s), while the second has seven. Original haiku masters included such figures as [[Edo period]] poet [[Matsuo Bashō]] (松尾芭蕉); others influenced by Bashō include [[Kobayashi Issa]] and [[Masaoka Shiki]]. ===Classical Persian and Arabic literature=== {{Main|Persian literature|Arabic literature}} ===Modern literature=== [[Image:Tagore3.jpg|thumb|right|125px|Rabindranath Tagore|Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian [[Nobel Prize|Nobel laureate]].]] The [[polymath]] [[Rabindranath Tagore]], a [[Bengali literature|Bengali]] [[poet]], [[drama]]tist, and [[writer]] who was an [[India]]n, became in 1913 the first Asian [[Nobel Prize|Nobel laureate]]. He won his [[Nobel Prize in Literature]] for notable impact his prose works and poetic thought had on [[English literature|English]], [[French literature|French]], and other national literatures of [[Europe]] and the [[Americas]].He also wrote the [[Indian anthem]] Later, other Asian writers won Nobel Prizes in literature, including [[Yasunari Kawabata]] ([[Japan]], 1966), and [[Kenzaburo Oe]] ([[Japan]], 1994). In [[Pakistani literature]], [[Saadat Hasan Manto]] ([[Urdu]]: ‏‏سعادت حسن منٹو) was a [[Punjab (Pakistan)]]-born [[Kashmir]]i short story writer who was notable for confronting controversial topics &mdash; including incest and social injustice &mdash; with wit, humor, and [[satire]]. ==Philosophy== {{main|Eastern philosophy|Chinese philosophy}} Asian philosophical traditions originated in [[India]] and [[China]], and has been classified as [[Eastern philosophy]] covering a large spectrum of philosophical thoughts and writings, including those popular within India and [[China]]. The [[Indian philosophy]] include [[Hindu philosophy|Hindu]] and [[Buddhist philosophy|Buddhist]] philosophies. They include elements of non-material pursuits, whereas another school of thought [[Cārvāka]], which originated in India, and was propuned by [[Charvak]] around 2500 years before, preached the enjoyment of material world. During the 20th century, in the two most populous countries of Asia, two dramatically different political philosophies took shape. [[Gandhi]] gave a new meaning to [[Ahimsa]], and redefined the concepts of [[nonviolence]] and [[nonresistance]]. During the same period, [[Mao Zedong]]’s [[Communism|communist]] [[Maoism|philosophy]] was crystallized. ==Religions== [[Image:Lightmatter buddha3.jpg|left|thumb|100px|A stone image of the [[Gautam Buddha|Buddha]].]] [[Hinduism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Jainism]] and [[Sikhism]] originated in India, a country of [[South Asia]]. In [[East Asia]], particularly in [[China]] and [[Japan]], [[Confucianism]], [[Taoism]], [[Zen|Zen Buddhism]] and [[Shinto]] took shape. Other religions of Asia include the [[Bahá'í Faith]], [[Shamanism]] practiced in [[Siberia]], and [[Animism]] practiced in the eastern parts of the [[South Asia|Indian subcontinent]]. Today 30% of [[Muslims]] live in the [[South Asia]]n region of [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and [[Bangladesh]]. The world's largest single Muslim community (within the bounds of one nation) is in [[Indonesia]]. There are also significant Muslim populations in the [[Philippines]], [[China]], [[Central Asia]], [[Iran]], and [[Russia]]. In the [[Philippines]] and [[East Timor]], [[Roman Catholicism]] is the predominant religion; it was introduced by the [[Spain|Spaniard]]s and the [[Portugal|Portuguese]], respectively. In [[Armenia]], [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] is the predominant religion. Various [[Christian]] sects have adherents in portions of the [[Middle East]]. A large majority of people in the world who practice a religious faith practice one founded in Asia. Religions founded in Asia and with a majority of their contemporary adherents in Asia include: *[[Ahmadi]] (Qadiani): [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[India]]. *[[Bahá'í Faith]]: slightly more than half of all adherents are in Asia *[[Buddhism]]: [[Cambodia]], [[China]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]], [[Laos]], [[Malaysia]], [[Mongolia]], [[Myanmar]], [[Singapore]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Thailand]], [[Vietnam]], parts of northern, eastern, and western [[India]], and parts of central and eastern [[Russia]] (Siberia). **[[Mahayana Buddhism]]: China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam. **[[Theravada Buddhism]]: Cambodia, parts of China, Laos, mainly northern parts of Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, as well as parts of [[Vietnam]]. **[[Vajrayana Buddhism]]: Parts of China, [[Mongolia]], parts of northern and eastern [[India]], parts of central and eastern [[Russia]] and [[Siberia]]. *[[Hinduism]]: [[India]], [[Nepal]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Sri Lanka]], [[Pakistan]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Bali]]. *[[Islam]]: [[Central Asia|Central]], [[South Asia|South]] and [[Southwest Asia]], [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], [[Philippines]], and [[Brunei]]. **[[Shia Islam]]: largely to specific [[Iran]], [[Azerbaijan]], parts of [[Iraq]], [[Bahrain]], parts of [[Afghanistan]], parts of [[India]], parts of [[Pakistan]]. **[[Sunni Islam]]: dominant in the rest of the regions mentioned above. *[[Jainism]]: [[India]] *[[Shinto]]: [[Japan]] *[[Sikhism]]: [[India]], [[Malaysia]], [[Hong Kong]] *[[Taoism]] (Daoism): [[China]], [[Korea]], [[Vietnam]], [[Singapore]], and [[Taiwan]] *[[Zoroastrianism]]: [[Iran]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]] *[[Shamanism]]: [[Japan]]([[Itako]]) [[Korea]], [[Siberia]] *[[Animism]]: Eastern [[India]] Religions founded in Asia that have the majority of their contemporary adherents in other regions include: *[[Christianity]] ([[Lebanon]], [[Syria]], [[Palestinian territories|Palestine]], [[Armenia]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]], [[South Korea]], [[Singapore]], [[Malaysia]], [[Indonesia]], [[East Timor]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]] and the [[Philippines]]) *[[Judaism]] (slightly fewer than half of its adherents reside in Asia; [[Israel]], [[Iran]], [[India]], [[Syria]].) ==Festivals & celebrations== Asia has a variety of festivals and celebrations. In [[China]], [[Chinese New Year]], [[Dragon Boat Festival]], and [[Mid-Autumn Moon Festival]] are traditional holidays, while [[National Day]] is a holiday of the [[People's Republic of China]]. In [[Japan]], [[Japanese New Year]], [[National Foundation Day]], [[Children's Day]], [[The Emperor's Birthday]], and [[Christmas worldwide#Japan|Christmas]] are popular. [[Buddhist]] festivals include [[Vesak]] and [[Asalha Puja]]. In [[India]], [[Republic Day]] and [[Independence Day]] are important national festivals celebrated by people irrespective of faith. Major [[Hindu]] festivals of [[India]] include [[Diwali]], [[Dussehra|Dussehra or Daserra]], [[Holi]], [[Makar Sankranti]], [[Pongal]], [[Mahashivratri]], [[Ugadi]], [[Navratri]], [[Ramanavami]], [[Baisakhi]] , [[Onam]], [[Rathayatra]], [[Ganesh Chaturthi]], and [[Krishna Janmaashtami|Krishna Janmastami]]. Islamic festivals such as [[Eid ul-Fitr]] and [[Eid ul-Adha]], Sikh festivals such as [[Vaisakhi]], and Christian festivals such as Christmas, are also celebrated in India. In Pakistan EID-MILAD-UN-NABI is also celebrated with zeal and zest. other festivals are basant. Pakistan also celebrates its independence day on 14 August. Pakistan celebrates its resolution day on 23 march. The [[Philippines]] is also tagged as the "Fiesta Country"" because of its all-year-round celebrations nationwide. There is a very strong [[Spain|Spanish]] influence in their festivals, thus making the Philippines, distinctively occidental. [[Fiesta]] is the term used to refer to a [[festival]]. Most of these fiestas are celebrated in honor of a patron Saint. To summarize it all, at least every municipality has a [[fiesta]]. Some prime examples include [[Sinulog]] from [[Cebu Province|Cebu]] and [[Iloilo]]'s [[Dinagyang]]. ==Food & drinks== [[Image:Unidentified thai food.jpg|thumb|left|Thai seafood curry]] In many parts of Asia, [[rice]] is a staple food, and it is mostly served [[steam]]ed or as a [[porridge]] known as [[congee]]. [[China]] is the world largest producer and consumer of rice. In [[India]], people often eat food with their hands, and many [[spice]]s are used in every dish. Most spices originated around India or neighboring countries such as [[Sri Lanka]].[[Image:Durian.png|thumb|[[Durian]]]] Durians are a common fruit in [[Southeast Asia]], which, [[Alfred Russel Wallace]], attested to its delicious flavor as worth the entire cost of his trip there. In every special [[Filipino Cuisine|Filipino banquet]], people will see a unique set of dishes compared to other Asian cuisine. Because of the country's long years of colonization and interactions with other neighboring cultures and nations, it has inherited Latin, Malay, Chinese, and American influences to its people's local blend. {{clear}} ==Culture by people== {{div col|cols=4}} * [[Ainu people]] * [[Afghan people]] * [[Armenian people]] * [[Assyrian people]] * [[Aryan]] * [[Baloch|Baloch people]] * [[Burmese people]] * [[Culture of China|Chinese people]] * [[Cambodian people]] * [[Dravidian people]] * [[Filipino people]] * [[Iranian people]] * [[Japanese people]] * [[Kazakh people]] * [[Korean people]] * [[Kyrgyz|Kyrgyz people]] * [[Mongolian people]] * [[Tibetan people]] * [[Russian people]] * [[Sindhi people]] * [[Tajik people]] * [[Taiwanese people]] * [[Thai people]] * [[Uzbek people]] * [[Vietnamese people]] {{div col end}} ==See also== * [[Culture of Africa]] * [[Culture of Europe]] ==Notes== {{note|TreasuryOfBotanyVol1}} John Lindley (1889), ''Treasury of Botany'' vol 1. p.435. Longmans, Green, & Co; New and rev. ed edition (1889) {{Template group |list = {{Asia topics}} {{Asia topic|Culture of}} }} ==External links== *[http://pem.org/yinyutang/ '' Yin Yu Tang: A Chinese Home ''] showcases Chinese culture through a detailed examination of a family residence located in the Anhui province of East China. *[http://www.city.fukuoka.jp/asiaprize/english/index.html '' Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize ''] was established to honor the outstanding work of individuals or groups/organizations to preserve and create unique and diverse cultures of Asia. [[Category:Asian culture| ]]