Eastern world
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223295611
2008-07-03T13:06:10Z
Paul Barlow
4709
/* Foundations of Eastern culture */
{{dablink|For this article's counterpart regarding the West, see [[Western world]] or [[Western culture]].}}
The term '''Eastern world''' refers very broadly to the various [[culture]]s, [[society|social structures]] and [[philosophy|philosophical]] systems of "'''the East'''", namely [[Asia]] and [[Eastern Europe]] (including [[Russia]], the [[Indian subcontinent]], the [[Far East]], the [[Middle East]], and [[Central Asia]]).
==Concept of "the East"==
[[Image:LocationAsia.png|thumb|left|275px|An image of the "Eastern world" defined as [[Asia]].]]
[[Image:Eastern World.PNG|thumb|left|275px|An image of the "Eastern world" defined as the [[Indian subcontinent]] and the "[[Far East]]", consists of three overlapping cultural blocks: [[East Asia]], [[Southeast Asia]], and [[South Asia]].]]
[[Image:Abraham Dharma.png|thumb|250px|right|The distribution of the two major families of world religion, [[Dharmic religion]] and [[Abrahamic religion]], highlights the cultural difference between the far east and the rest of the world.]]
The division between "East" and "[[Western world|West]]" is a product of European cultural history, and of the distinction between European [[Christendom]] and the alien cultures beyond it to the East. Before the discovery of the [[Americas]] and the exploration of [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] by the Europeans, only North Africa and other Islamic countries to the East were known in detail, though [[India]] and [[China]] were vaguely known of. The [[crusades]] established what became a border between "Eastern" and "Western" peoples. 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]]. People from the East are known by certain regions in [[Western world|the West]] as "Oriental". Before the arrival of Islam in India, people from the Indian subcontinent were generally known as [[Hindu]]s and the subcontinent was known as [[Hindustan]] or [[Bharat]]. During the [[Cold War]], the term "Eastern world" was sometimes used as an extension of [[Eastern bloc]], connoting the [[Soviet Union]], [[China]] and their [[communist]] allies, while the term "Western world" often connoted the [[United States]] and its [[NATO]] allies such as the [[United Kingdom]] and [[France]]. 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 [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Yoga]] is partly responsible for this.
==Foundations of Eastern culture==
Eastern culture has developed many themes and traditions. Some important ones are:
*[[Buddhism]]—religion whose aim is the cessation and elimination of suffering in sentient beings achieved through the practice of the [[Noble Eightfold Path]].
*[[Confucianism]]—social hierarchy where position is based upon merit as determined through the imperial examination system. This social hierarchy promoted respect for elders and authority, and valued harmony within family.
*[[Hinduism]]—the oldest surviving religion, which contributed the concept of [[Dharma]] and served as the origin of the [[Dharmic religion]]s.
*[[Islam]]—the majority of the world [[Muslim]] population have always lived in Asia, due to the influence of the [[Islamic Golden Age|Islamic civilization]].
*[[Sikhism]]-A religion that developed in the warring plains of [[Punjab region|Punjab]] in an atmosphere of ideological clash between [[Islam]] and [[Hinduism]]. Its followers retain spiritual as well as martial qualities.
*[[Taoism]]—concepts of good and bad energy, the connectedness of mind and body and nature, etc.
*"Oriental Medicine"—[[reflexology]], [[acupuncture]], [[herbal medicine]], etc.
*[[Zoroastrianism]]—the oldest surviving [[monotheism|monotheistic]] religion that was practiced in [[Persian Empire|ancient Persia]]
*[[Judaism]] - although not as a presence as it once was, Judaism still exist in [[Asia]], the continent in which it originates from. Judaism set the foundations of [[Islam]].
*[[Christianity]] - like other [[Abrahamic religions]] like Judaism and Islam, originates in the [[Middle East]] but is now a small minority religion. Like Judaism, Christianity is one of the foundations of Islam.
== References ==
*{{cite book|last= Ankerl |first= Guy |title= Global communication without universal civilization |origyear= 2000 |series= INU societal research |volume= Vol.1: Coexisting contemporary civilizations : Arabo-Muslim, Bharati, Chinese, and Western |publisher= INU Press |location= Geneva |isbn= 2-88155-004-5 |pages= }}
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[[Category:Country classifications]]
[[ko:동양]]
[[ja:東洋]]
[[zh:东方文化]]