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East Asia: Geography, Economy, and Society

The document discusses several topics related to geography, economics, and society in East Asia. It compares the physiographies of the Huang He and Yangtze River valleys in China. It also discusses reasons for differences in forest coverage between China and Japan, factors contributing to Shanghai's emergence as China's most populous urban area, and differences between cities in Japan and the United States.

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Claudia Sanchez
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50 views3 pages

East Asia: Geography, Economy, and Society

The document discusses several topics related to geography, economics, and society in East Asia. It compares the physiographies of the Huang He and Yangtze River valleys in China. It also discusses reasons for differences in forest coverage between China and Japan, factors contributing to Shanghai's emergence as China's most populous urban area, and differences between cities in Japan and the United States.

Uploaded by

Claudia Sanchez
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1.

How does the physiography of the Huang He River valley


differ from that of the valley of the Yangtze?
- Yangtze River is the largest river in China and the third largest in the
world. Beginning at the Qinghai Province, it crosses from west to the East
China Sea at Shanghai. As the largest water system in China it is
historically, economically and culturally important to the country. The Three
Gorges Dam on the river is the largest dam and hydropower station in the
world. People consider the river a dividing line between North China and
South China. The north and the south of the river have many differences in
climate, scenery, economics, and culture.
The Yellow River is the second longest river in China. It originates from the
northern slope into the Bohai Sea. More than 30 branches and countless
streams join the Yellow River on the way to the sea. Being the river with
the most excessive deposit in the world, the Yellow River gets its name
from the muddiness of its water.

2. Why is Japan so much more heavily forested than China?


- Japan has been able to maintain the forest due to their mild, rainy climate
and strict history of forest conservation. Japan ensures that timber and
firewood extraction would be balanced with tree growth. China's climate
and conservation efforts are not the same.

3. Why has Shanghai emerged as the most populous urban area


in China?
- Shanghai is a multi-cultural city with both modern and traditional Chinese
features. The city has a status equivalent to a province, and reports directly
to the central government. It is the largest base of Chinese industrial
technology; one of the most important seaports and China's largest
commercial and financial center which are the reasons as why Shanghai
emerged as the most populous urban area in China.

4. What are the major ways in which Japanese cities differ from
those in the United States?
- Some of the major differences between Japanese and American cities
are that the living standards are somewhat lower despite its affluence.
Although the living expenses are much higher the cities are very crammed
compared to the ones in the US. Another major difference is that Japan
lacks the extreme poverty found in places in the United States.

5. Where are the non-Han peoples of China concentrated? Why


are they concentrated in these areas?

- The majority of the non-Han minority that composes of about 100 million
people live outside of the Han occupied eastern china. They are mainly
concentrated in these areas because the culture and way of life of he Han
majority is different than the non-Han so its easier and more confortable to
live separate from them.

6. What have been the main consequences of the geographical


division of Korea into two states?
- North Korea's communist government has controlled over a statecontrolled economy dependent upon immense support from Russia and
China to survive. South Korea, meanwhile, has developed into one of the
world's leading economies, employing free enterprise economic policies as
well as development a democratic government. Since the 1990s, the two
Koreas have held two symbolic summit meetings and slightly increased
economic cooperation, but reunification still seems a relatively distant goal,
barring unexpected events.

7. Historically speaking, how did China and Japan act differently


as imperial powers?
- The period between 1750 and 1914 was pivotal in world history, and
particularly in East Asia. China had long been the only superpower in the
region, secure in the knowledge that it was the Middle Kingdom around
which the rest of the world pivoted. Japan, cushioned by stormy seas, held
itself apart from its Asian neighbors much of the time, and had developed a
unique and inward-looking culture.
Beginning in the 18th century both Qing China and Tokugawa Japan faced
the threat of imperial expansion by the European powers and later the
United States. Both countries responded with growing nationalism, but
their versions of nationalism had different focuses and outcomes. Japan's
nationalism was aggressive and expansionist, allowing Japan itself to
become one of the imperial powers in an astonishingly short amount of
time. China's nationalism, in contrast, was reactive and disorganized,
leaving the country in chaos and at the mercy of foreign powers until 1949.

8. How have the different countries of East Asia followed


different paths to economic development?
- Since 1960 Asia, the largest and most populous of the continents has
become richer faster than any other region of the world. This growth has
not happened at the same pace all over the continent. The western part of
Asia grew during this period at about the same rate as the rest of the
world, but, as a whole, the eastern half showed a superior performance.
China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand achieved growth rates of

3-5 percent. This impressive achievement is still diffident compared with


the remarkable growth of Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.
These countries have had annual growth rates of output per person well in
excess of 6 percent. These growth rates, sustained over a 30-year period,
are amazing. While the average resident of a non-Asian country in 1990
was 72 percent richer than his parents were in 1960, the corresponding
figure for the average Korean is no less than 638 percent

9. Where in China would one find the most rapid economic


development, and why would one find it there?
- Shenzhen because of its proximity to Hong Kong and distance from
Communist Centered Beijing and Xian.

10. How does the position of women in Japan compare to the


position of women in other wealthy, industrialized countries?
- In their private family role, women quite often dominate the male

members of the household. The women of Japan are dedicated to their


families. The current position of women in Japanese society can be
attributed to the two old philosophies - Confucianism, and feudalism.
Japan, more so than any other country, has undergone numerous, radical
transformations during the past century. Every generation of Japanese has
Women, though exploited became the key to the country's success. In a
time of social change, women were to be the moral foundation of the
country. The government pushed the traditional notion of the Confucian
family, i.e.- father to son, senior to junior, husband to wife, as it attempted
to increase the birth rate so that Japan could compete on a more equal
footing with the countries of the West. Women were urged to live according
to the saying produce more babies and increase the population, which a
lot have tried to avoid by delaying marriage until later in their lives in more
recent times.

Common questions

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Non-Han peoples, comprising about 100 million individuals, are mainly concentrated outside Han-dominated eastern China due to cultural differences and a desire to maintain distinct communal identities . The geographical distribution aligns with the existing cultural and social divergences, promoting separation from the Han majority .

During the period from 1750 to 1914, China and Japan took significantly different paths as imperial powers. China, historically a dominant superpower, had a reactive and disorganized approach to nationalism, which left it vulnerable to foreign control . Conversely, Japan embraced an aggressive and expansionist form of nationalism, rapidly transforming itself into an imperial power .

Confucianism and feudalism have significantly influenced gender roles in Japan, positioning women as central to family life and the moral fabric of society . Despite the broader industrialization, women in Japan often dominate the private family sphere, yet remain subjected to traditional norms promoting subservience as guided by historical philosophies, in contrast to the relatively egalitarian roles observed in other wealthy industrialized nations .

The Huang He River, known for its high sediment load, creates the world's most extensive deposition, leading to frequent flooding and a muddy course . In contrast, the Yangtze River, being the largest water system in China, holds significant historical, economic, and cultural importance, characterized by major infrastructure like the Three Gorges Dam . The two valleys are distinguished by their distinct climatic, scenic, and cultural differences, with the Yangtze often considered the dividing line between North and South China .

Shanghai has become the most populous urban area in China due to its status as a multicultural city and its significant industrial, commercial, and financial roles, as well as being one of the country's most important seaports . Its direct reporting to the central government, equivalent to a provincial status, further underpins its growth and prominence .

Despite East Asia's overall impressive economic growth since 1960, countries have developed at varying rates. While China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand grew at 3-5 percent annually, economies like Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan achieved growth rates exceeding 6 percent per year, far outpacing their counterparts due to more rapid industrialization and adoption of modern economic policies .

Japanese cities, although affluent, have lower living standards compared to American ones, with higher living expenses and denser urban environments . Despite these differences, Japan lacks the extreme poverty found in some parts of the United States, reflecting societal commitments to equitable resource distribution, which is a stark contrast to certain socio-economic disparities in the U.S. .

Since the 1990s, summit meetings between North and South Korea have led to symbolic but limited improvements in economic cooperation. These efforts reflect a nuanced approach towards reconciliation despite the stark differences, with North Korea's state-controlled economy supported externally and South Korea's vibrant free-market economy . Reunification remains a distant objective amidst ongoing political and economic divides .

Japan's extensive forestation is attributed to its mild, rainy climate and a historical commitment to conservation, ensuring that timber harvesting is balanced with tree growth . In contrast, differing climatic conditions and conservation practices in China have led to a less forested landscape .

Shenzhen's rapid economic development is largely due to its strategic location near Hong Kong, which facilitates trade and economic exchange, while its distance from the more controlled Communist center in Beijing allows for greater economic liberalization and innovation . This proximity supports its emergence as a leading economic hub .

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