Ethnic groups in Asia: Difference between revisions
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[[File:East Asia map of Köppen climate classification.svg|thumb|250px|East Asia map of Köppen climate classification.]] |
[[File:East Asia map of Köppen climate classification.svg|thumb|250px|East Asia map of Köppen climate classification.]] |
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[[East Asian people|East Asians]] is a term used for ethnic groups that are indigenous to [[East Asia]], which consists of [[ |
[[East Asian people|East Asians]] is a term used for ethnic groups that are indigenous to [[East Asia]], which consists of [[Mainland China]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Macau]], [[Japan]], [[Mongolia]], [[North Korea]], [[South Korea]], and [[Taiwan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imb.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Introducing_EAP_Booklet_09_2016_10.pdf |title=Introducing East Asian Peoples |date=September 10, 2016 |website=International Mission Board}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia |last= Minahan |first= James B. |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2014 |isbn=978-1610690171 |pages=xx}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2015/09/daily-chart-14 |title=How Asians view each other |date=September 18, 2015 |website=The Economist}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/05/30/difference-between-east-asians-and-south-asians_n_16872338.html |title=The Difference Between East Asians And South Asians Is Pretty Simple |last=Khoo |first= Isabelle |date=May 30, 2017 |website=Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, Volume 1 |last=Silberman |first=Neil |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-0195076189 |publication-date=December 5, 1996 |pages=151}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Asia Civilizations: Ancient to 1800 AD |last= Lim |first= SK |publisher=ASIAPAC |isbn=978-9812295941 |page=56}}</ref> The major ethnic groups that form the core of East Asia are the [[Han Chinese|Han]], [[Korean people|Joseon]], and [[Yamato people|Yamato]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1= Wang, Yuchen|author2= Lu Dongsheng |author3= Chung Yeun-Jun |author4= Xu Shuhua |title=Genetic structure, divergence and admixture of Han Chinese, Japanese and Korean populations|year=2018 |publisher= [[Springer Science+Business Media|SpringerLink]] |url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186%2Fs41065-018-0057-5.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Yuchen |last2= Lu |first2=Dongsheng |last3=Chung |first3=Yeun-Jun |last4=Xu |first4=Shuhua |title=Genetic structure, divergence and admixture of Han Chinese, Japanese and Korean populations |url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41065-018-0057-5 |journal=Hereditas |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|SpringerLink]] |publication-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.imb.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Introducing_EAP_Booklet_09_2016_10.pdf |title=Introducing East Asian Peoples |date=September 10, 2016 |website=International Mission Board}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Race and the Genetic Revolution: Science, Myth, and Culture |last=Sloan |first=Kathleen |last2=Krimsky |first2=Sheldon |publisher= Columbia University Pres |year=2011 |isbn=978-0231156967 |page=156}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/nobody-knows-what-an-asian-person-is_us_591cb4f8e4b03b485cae4d18 |title=Basically Nobody Knows Who Counts As An Asian Person |last=Herreria |first=Carla |date=May 17, 2017 |website=The Huffington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite paper |last=Lin |first=Yu-Cheng |last2=Wang |first2=Mao-Jiun J. |last3=Wang |first3=Eric M. |date=June 23, 2003 |year=2003 |orig-year=2003 |title=The comparisons of anthropometric characteristics among four peoples in East Asia |url=https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f72f/ed869a3b2edc37ed6f386fc6ddef67c95443.pdf |department=Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management |publisher=Elsevier Ltd. |publication-date=June 23, 2003 |page=173}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Current Controversies in Experimental Philosophy (Current Controversies in Philosophy) |last=Machery |first=Edouard |last2=O'Neill |first2= Elizabeth |publisher=Routledge |year=2014 |isbn=978-0415519670 |publication-date=February 28, 2014 |pages=6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice |last=Ludwig |first=Theodore M. |publisher= LWW |year=2003 |isbn=978-0781740968 |pages=165}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Deep Culture: The Hidden Challenges of Global Living |last= Shaules |first=Joseph |publisher=Multilingual Matters |year=2007 |isbn= 978-1847690173 |pages=43}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Race and Racism in Modern East Asia: Western and Eastern Constructions |last=Kowner |first=Rotem |last2=Demel |first2=Walter |publisher=Brill Academic Publishing |year=2014 |isbn=978-9004285507 |edition=1st |pages=41}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Cultural Diversity and Suicide: Ethnic, Religious, Gender, and Sexual Orientation Perspectives |last= Leach |first= Mark M. |publisher=Routledge |year=2006 |isbn= 978-0789030184 |pages=127}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=East and Southeast Asia 2016-2017 |last=Leibo |first=Steve |publisher= Rowman & Littlefield |year=2016 |isbn=978-1475829068 |pages=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Boy Culture: An Encyclopedia, Volume 1 |last=Steinberg |first=Shirley R. |last2=Kehler |first2=Michael |last3=Cornish |first3=Lindsay |publisher=Greenwood |isbn=978-0313350801 |publication-date=June 17, 2010 |pages=58}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology |last=Salkind |first=Neil J. |publisher=Sage Publications |year=2008 |isbn= 978-1412916882 |pages=56}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia |last= Minahan |first= James B. |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2014 |isbn=978-1610690171 |pages=xx-xxvi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Race, Ethnicity, and Leisure: Perspectives on Research, Theory, and Practice |last=Stodolska |first=Monika |publisher=Human Kinetics |year=2013 |isbn=978-0736094528 |pages=229}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Asia Civilizations: Ancient to 1800 AD |last= Lim |first= SK |publisher=ASIAPAC |isbn=978-9812295941 |page=56}}</ref> Other ethnic groups of East Asia include the [[Bai people|Bai]], [[Hui people|Hui]], [[Tibetan people|Tibetans]], [[Manchu]]s, [[Ryukyuan people|Ryukyuan]], [[Ainu people|Ainu]], [[Zhuang people|Zhuang]], and [[Mongols]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=History Education and National Identity in East Asia |last=Vickers |first=Edward |year=2010 |isbn=978-0415948081 |publication-date=October 21, 2010 |pages=125}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Race and Racism in Modern East Asia: Interactions, Nationalism, Gender and Lineage |last=Demel |first=Walter |last2= Kowner |first2= Rotem |publisher=Brill |year=2015 |isbn=978-9004292925 |publication-date=April 23, 2015 |page=255}}</ref> |
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The major East Asian language families are the [[Sinitic languages|Sinitic]], [[Japonic languages|Japonic]], and [[Korean language|Koreanic]] families.<ref>''Sinitic'' means relating to China or the Chinese. It is derived from the Greco-Latin word ''Sīnai'' ('the Chinese'), probably from Arabic ''Ṣīn'' ('China'), from the Chinese dynastic name [[Qin Dynasty|Qín]]. ([[OED]])</ref><ref>Shimabukuro, Moriyo. (2007). ''The Accentual History of the Japanese and Ryukyuan Languages: a Reconstruction,'' p. 1.</ref><ref>Miyake, Marc Hideo. (2008). {{google books|MkSDqluKPxsC|''Old Japanese: a Phonetic Reconstruction.'' p. 66.|page=66}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Making of the Korean Language|last=Kim|first=Chin-Wu|publisher=Center for Korean Studies, University of Hawai'i|year=1974|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> Other language families are [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]], [[Ainu languages]], [[Mongolic languages|Mongolic]], [[Tungusic languages|Tungusic]], [[Turkic languages|Turkic]], [[Hmong–Mien languages|Miao–Yao]], [[Tai–Kadai languages|Tai–Kadai]], [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] and [[Mon–Khmer languages|Mon–Khmer]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Modern East Asia: An Introductory History |last=Miller |first=David |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 |isbn= 978-0765618221 |publication-date=December 15, 2007 |page=7-8}}</ref> |
The major East Asian language families are the [[Sinitic languages|Sinitic]], [[Japonic languages|Japonic]], and [[Korean language|Koreanic]] families.<ref>''Sinitic'' means relating to China or the Chinese. It is derived from the Greco-Latin word ''Sīnai'' ('the Chinese'), probably from Arabic ''Ṣīn'' ('China'), from the Chinese dynastic name [[Qin Dynasty|Qín]]. ([[OED]])</ref><ref>Shimabukuro, Moriyo. (2007). ''The Accentual History of the Japanese and Ryukyuan Languages: a Reconstruction,'' p. 1.</ref><ref>Miyake, Marc Hideo. (2008). {{google books|MkSDqluKPxsC|''Old Japanese: a Phonetic Reconstruction.'' p. 66.|page=66}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=The Making of the Korean Language|last=Kim|first=Chin-Wu|publisher=Center for Korean Studies, University of Hawai'i|year=1974|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> Other language families are [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]], [[Ainu languages]], [[Mongolic languages|Mongolic]], [[Tungusic languages|Tungusic]], [[Turkic languages|Turkic]], [[Hmong–Mien languages|Miao–Yao]], [[Tai–Kadai languages|Tai–Kadai]], [[Austronesian languages|Austronesian]] and [[Mon–Khmer languages|Mon–Khmer]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Modern East Asia: An Introductory History |last=Miller |first=David |publisher=Routledge |year=2007 |isbn= 978-0765618221 |publication-date=December 15, 2007 |page=7-8}}</ref> |
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Throughout the ages, the greatest [[sinicization|influence]] on East Asia [[History of East Asia|historically]] has been from [[Imperial China|China]], where the span of its cultural influence is generally known as the [[East Asian cultural sphere|Sinosphere]] laid the foundation for East Asian civilization.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite book |title=East Asia: A New History |last=Walker |first=Hugh Dyson |publisher=AuthorHouse |year=2012 |pages=2}}</ref> |
Throughout the ages, the greatest [[sinicization|influence]] on East Asia [[History of East Asia|historically]] has been from [[Imperial China|China]], where the span of its cultural influence is generally known as the [[East Asian cultural sphere|Sinosphere]] laid the foundation for East Asian civilization.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite book |title=East Asia: A New History |last=Walker |first=Hugh Dyson |publisher=AuthorHouse |year=2012 |pages=2}}</ref> Chinese culture not only served as the foundation its own society and civilization, but for also that of its East Asian neighbors, Japan and Korea.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Political Systems of East Asia: China, Korea, and Japan |last=Hayes |first=Louis D |publisher=Greenlight |year=2009 |isbn=978-0765617866 |pages=xi}}</ref> The knowledge and ingenuity of Chinese civilization and the classics of Chinese literature and culture were seen as the foundations for a civilized life in East Asia. China served as a vehicle through which the adoption of Confucian ethical philosophy, Chinese calendar systems, political and legal systems, architectural style, diet, terminology, institutions, religious beliefs, [[Imperial_examination#East|imperial examination]]s that emphasized a knowledge of Chinese classics, political philosophy and culture, as well as historically sharing a common [[Written_Chinese|writing system]] reflected in the histories of [[Japanese_writing_system|Japan]] and [[Korean writing system|Korea]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Building Area Studies Collections |last= Hazen |first= Dan |last2=Spohrer |first2=James H. |publisher=Otto Harrassowitz |year=2005 |isbn=978-3447055123 |publication-date=December 31, 2005 |pages=1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Redesigning Asian Business: In the Aftermath of Crisis |last= Richter |first=Frank-Jurgen |publisher=Quorum Books |year=2002 |isbn=978-1567205251 |pages=15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=East Asia Before the West: Five Centuries of Trade and Tribute |last=Kang |first=David C. |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2012 |isbn=978-0231153195 |pages=33-34}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2">{{Cite book |title=China's Cosmopolitan Empire: The Tang Dynasty |last=Lewis |first=Mark Edward |publisher=Belknap Press |year=2012 |isbn= 978-0674064010 |publication-date=April 9, 2012 |page=156}}</ref><ref name="Reischauer">Edwin O. Reischauer, "The Sinic World in Perspective," ''Foreign Affairs ''52.2 (January 1974): 341—348. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/20038053 JSTOR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115220455/https://www.jstor.org/stable/20038053 |date=2017-01-15 }}</ref><ref name="auto3">{{Cite book |title=Asia Civilizations: Ancient to 1800 AD |last= Lim |first= SK |publisher=ASIAPAC |isbn=978-9812295941 |page=89}}</ref> The relationship between China and it's cultural influence on East Asia has been compared to the historical influence of [[Greco-Roman civilization]] on Europe and the [[Western culture|Western World]].<ref name="Reischauer" /> Major characteristics exported by China towards Japan and Korea include shared [[Chinese language|Chinese]]-derived language characteristics, as well as similar social and moral philosophies derived from [[Confucianism|Confucianist]] thought.<ref name="auto3"/><ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto4">{{Cite book |title=The Penguin History of Modern Vietnam: A History |last= Goscha |first= Christopher |publisher= Allen Lane |year=2016 |isbn= 978-1846143106}}</ref> |
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The [[Written Chinese|script of the Han Chinese characters]] has long been a unifying feature in East Asia as the vehicle for exporting Chinese culture to its East Asian neighbors.<ref name="auto4"/> Chinese characters became the unifying language of bureaucratic politics and religious expression in East Asia.<ref name="auto4"/> The Chinese script was passed on first to [[Korea]] |
The [[Written Chinese|script of the Han Chinese characters]] has long been a unifying feature in East Asia as the vehicle for exporting Chinese culture to its East Asian neighbors.<ref name="auto4"/> Chinese characters became the unifying language of bureaucratic politics and religious expression in East Asia.<ref name="auto4"/> The Chinese script was passed on first to [[Korea]] and then to Japan, where it forms a major component of the [[Japanese writing system]]. In Korea, however, [[Sejong the Great]] invented the [[hangul]] alphabet, which has since been used as the main [[orthography|orthographic]] system for the [[Korean language]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/10/economist-explains-7|title=How was Hangul invented?|author=|date=|website=The Economist|accessdate=5 May 2018|deadurl=no|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328041626/https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/10/economist-explains-7|archivedate=28 March 2018|df=}}</ref> In Japan, much of the [[Japanese language]] is written in [[hiragana]], [[katakana]] in addition to [[Kanji|Chinese characters]].<ref name="auto3"/> |
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==North Asia== |
==North Asia== |
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Revision as of 22:23, 2 August 2018
![]() | This article possibly contains original research. (May 2018) |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2017) |
In terms of Asian people, there is an abundance of ethnic groups in Asia, with adaptations to the climate zones of the continent, which include Arctic, subarctic, temperate, subtropical or tropical, as well as extensive desert regions in Central and Western Asia. The ethnic groups have adapted to mountains, deserts, grasslands, and forests, while on the coasts of Asia, resident ethnic groups have adopted various methods of harvest and transport. The types of diversity in Asia are cultural, religious, economic and historical.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Pamir_ethnological_map-fr.svg/220px-Pamir_ethnological_map-fr.svg.png)
Some groups are primarily hunter-gatherers, whereas others practice transhumance (nomadic lifestyle), have been agrarian for millennia, or have adopted an industrial or urban lifestyle. Some groups or countries in Asia are completely urban (e.g., Qatar and Singapore); the largest countries in Asia with regard to population are the People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Iran, Thailand, Burma, and South Korea. Colonisation of Asian ethnic groups and states by European peoples began in the 16th century, reaching its peak in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (except in the former Soviet Union, which was dissolved in 1991).
Central Asia
Central Asia, in its most common definition, is deemed to consist of five former Soviet Socialist Republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. In a wider view, Xinjiang of western China, Mongolia, Afghanistan, and northern Pakistan are included. Turkic, Indo-Iranian, and Mongolic peoples comprise its general ethnicities.
The main religions of Central Asia are Islam (Turkic/Indo-Iranian peoples) and Buddhism (Mongolia). Central Asia has a long, rich history mainly based on its geographical location along the ancient Silk Road. It has been conquered by Mongols, Tibetans, Persians, Tatars, Russians, Afghans and Sarmatians, and thus has a very distinct, vibrant culture. The culture is influenced by Chinese, Indian, Persian, Afghan, Arabian, Turkish, Russian, Sarmatian and Mongolian cultures.
The music of Central Asia is rich and varied and is appreciated worldwide. Meanwhile, Central Asian cuisine is one of the most prominent cuisines of Asia, with cuisines from Pakistan, India, China and Azerbaijan showing significant influence from the foods of Central Asia. One of the most famous Central Asian foods is the kebab.
The literature of Central Asia is linked with Persian literature as historically it has been part of the Persian Empire for a lot of its history. Furthermore, sitting at the junction of the Silk Road, it has numerous Chinese, Indian and Arabian literary works.
East Asia
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/East_Asia_map_of_K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification.svg/250px-East_Asia_map_of_K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification.svg.png)
East Asians is a term used for ethnic groups that are indigenous to East Asia, which consists of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The major ethnic groups that form the core of East Asia are the Han, Joseon, and Yamato.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] Other ethnic groups of East Asia include the Bai, Hui, Tibetans, Manchus, Ryukyuan, Ainu, Zhuang, and Mongols.[24][25]
The major East Asian language families are the Sinitic, Japonic, and Koreanic families.[26][27][28][29] Other language families are Tibeto-Burman, Ainu languages, Mongolic, Tungusic, Turkic, Miao–Yao, Tai–Kadai, Austronesian and Mon–Khmer.[30]
Throughout the ages, the greatest influence on East Asia historically has been from China, where the span of its cultural influence is generally known as the Sinosphere laid the foundation for East Asian civilization.[31] Chinese culture not only served as the foundation its own society and civilization, but for also that of its East Asian neighbors, Japan and Korea.[32] The knowledge and ingenuity of Chinese civilization and the classics of Chinese literature and culture were seen as the foundations for a civilized life in East Asia. China served as a vehicle through which the adoption of Confucian ethical philosophy, Chinese calendar systems, political and legal systems, architectural style, diet, terminology, institutions, religious beliefs, imperial examinations that emphasized a knowledge of Chinese classics, political philosophy and culture, as well as historically sharing a common writing system reflected in the histories of Japan and Korea.[33][34][35][31][36][37][38] The relationship between China and it's cultural influence on East Asia has been compared to the historical influence of Greco-Roman civilization on Europe and the Western World.[37] Major characteristics exported by China towards Japan and Korea include shared Chinese-derived language characteristics, as well as similar social and moral philosophies derived from Confucianist thought.[38][36][39]
The script of the Han Chinese characters has long been a unifying feature in East Asia as the vehicle for exporting Chinese culture to its East Asian neighbors.[39] Chinese characters became the unifying language of bureaucratic politics and religious expression in East Asia.[39] The Chinese script was passed on first to Korea and then to Japan, where it forms a major component of the Japanese writing system. In Korea, however, Sejong the Great invented the hangul alphabet, which has since been used as the main orthographic system for the Korean language.[40] In Japan, much of the Japanese language is written in hiragana, katakana in addition to Chinese characters.[38]
North Asia
For the most part, North Asia is considered to be made up of the Asian part of Russia solely. North Asia is geographically the northern extremity of East Asia and the physical characteristics of its native inhabitants generally resemble that of East Asians, however this is principally divided along political lines under separate national identities, particularly that of China, Mongolia and Russia. The main ethnic groups of the region speak languages of the Uralic, Turkic, Mongolic, and Tungusic language families, along with East Slavs and various "Paleo-Siberian" peoples, with most of these ethnic groups being composed of nomads or people with a nomadic history.
The geographic region of Siberia was the historical land of the Turkic people, the Tatars, in the Siberia Khanate[dubious – discuss]. Russia, under expansion of its territory however, took control of the region now known as Siberia, and thus today it is under Russian rule. There are roughly 40 million people in North Asia.
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is often split into two parts: Mainland Southeast Asia, comprising Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam; and Maritime Southeast Asia, which includes Brunei, East Timor, Indonesia, East Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The region has been greatly influenced by the cultures and religions of India and China, as well as the religions of Islam and Christianity from Southwest Asia.
Southeast Asia seems to be more influenced by India rather than China with the exception of Vietnam, which is considered part of the Sinosphere. Southeast Asia has also had a lot of Western influence due to the lasting legacy of colonialism. One example is the Philippines, which has been heavily influenced by Spain and the United States of America over the course of almost four centuries of colonisation.
A common feature found around the region are stilt houses, while another is rice paddy agriculture, which originated in the region 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, Islamic and Buddhist literature.
West Asia
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Cyprus_19th_cent_costumes.png/220px-Cyprus_19th_cent_costumes.png)
West Asia is sometimes referred to as "Southwest Asia". West Asia consists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
The region's dominant ethnic groups are Arab (about 650 million), Turkic (about 60 million), Persian (about 50 million) and Kurds (about 35 million) alongside smaller but significant numbers of Greek (600 thousand), Jews (6.2 million), Assyrian (about 400,000), Armenians (about 4.5 million), Azeris (about 20 million) and other minorities - such as Mandaeans, Yazidis, Circassians and others. Many of the West Asian countries are desert, and thus many nomadic groups exist today, most notably the Bedouin Arabs.
South Asia
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/South_Asian_Language_Families.jpg/220px-South_Asian_Language_Families.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Jaipurgarments.jpg/220px-Jaipurgarments.jpg)
South Asia, in general definition, consists of the countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The five Southern Indian states share a Dravidian culture, due to the prominence of Dravidian languages there. The Brahuis of speak Sri Lanka has two main languages, Sinhalese which has Indo-Aryan roots and Tamil which has Dravidian roots. Bangladesh and the Indian province West Bengal share a common Bengali heritage and culture. The provinces of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan share a common Dardic heritage with the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Similarly the Punjab province of Pakistan and Indian state of Punjab share a common Punjabi ethnicity, language and culture. In Pakistan, the two western regions of Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa share a greater Iranian heritage and while the provinces of Sindh share a more Indo-Aryan culture. Iranian is most prevalent in Afghanistan, with significant Turkic speakers.
Regions of Nepal and parts of the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir(Ladakh), Sikkim and Uttarakhand have cultural similarity to Tibet, Tibetan Buddhism being the dominant religion there. Finally the Northeast Indian states of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and some people of Assam and Tripura have cultural affinities with South East Asia.
Bhutanese are often referred to in literature as "Bhote" (people of Bhutia/Bhotia or Tibet). They follow Tibetan Buddhism to and it is dominant political and cultural element in modern Bhutan. Their language, Dzongkha, is the national language and is descended from Old Tibetan.
Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, religions founded in the region that is today's India, are spread throughout the subcontinent. Islam and Christianity also have significant region-specific histories. While India and Nepal have a majority of people following Hinduism, Sri Lanka and Bhutan have a majority of Buddhists. Islam is the second largest religion after Hinduism with Muslim countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Indo-Aryan languages are spoken in most of North, East, West and Central India; Nepal; Bangladesh; Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Dravidian languages are spoken in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Maldives, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Tibeto-Burman languages are spoken in the hills of Bangladesh, Nepal, North and North East India. Austroasiatic languages are spoken in certain northern and eastern areas of Bangladesh, parts of Nepal and scattered across different zones of India mostly concentrated around Chota Nagpur Plateau and the state of Meghalaya. Iranian languages are most prevalent in Afghanistan and western Pakistan. Turkic speakers are significant in Afghanistan as well.
References
- ^ "Introducing East Asian Peoples" (PDF). International Mission Board. September 10, 2016.
- ^ Minahan, James B. (2014). Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. xx. ISBN 978-1610690171.
- ^ "How Asians view each other". The Economist. September 18, 2015.
- ^ Khoo, Isabelle (May 30, 2017). "The Difference Between East Asians And South Asians Is Pretty Simple". Huffington Post.
- ^ Silberman, Neil (1996). The Oxford Companion to Archaeology, Volume 1. Oxford University Press (published December 5, 1996). p. 151. ISBN 978-0195076189.
- ^ Lim, SK. Asia Civilizations: Ancient to 1800 AD. ASIAPAC. p. 56. ISBN 978-9812295941.
- ^ Wang, Yuchen; Lu Dongsheng; Chung Yeun-Jun; Xu Shuhua (2018). "Genetic structure, divergence and admixture of Han Chinese, Japanese and Korean populations" (PDF). SpringerLink.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ Wang, Yuchen; Lu, Dongsheng; Chung, Yeun-Jun; Xu, Shuhua (April 6, 2018). "Genetic structure, divergence and admixture of Han Chinese, Japanese and Korean populations". Hereditas. SpringerLink.
- ^ "Introducing East Asian Peoples" (PDF). International Mission Board. September 10, 2016.
- ^ Sloan, Kathleen; Krimsky, Sheldon (2011). Race and the Genetic Revolution: Science, Myth, and Culture. Columbia University Pres. p. 156. ISBN 978-0231156967.
- ^ Herreria, Carla (May 17, 2017). "Basically Nobody Knows Who Counts As An Asian Person". The Huffington Post.
- ^ Lin, Yu-Cheng; Wang, Mao-Jiun J.; Wang, Eric M. (June 23, 2003) [2003]. "The comparisons of anthropometric characteristics among four peoples in East Asia" (PDF). Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management. Elsevier Ltd.: 173.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Machery, Edouard; O'Neill, Elizabeth (2014). Current Controversies in Experimental Philosophy (Current Controversies in Philosophy). Routledge (published February 28, 2014). p. 6. ISBN 978-0415519670.
- ^ Ludwig, Theodore M. (2003). Spiritual Care in Nursing Practice. LWW. p. 165. ISBN 978-0781740968.
- ^ Shaules, Joseph (2007). Deep Culture: The Hidden Challenges of Global Living. Multilingual Matters. p. 43. ISBN 978-1847690173.
- ^ Kowner, Rotem; Demel, Walter (2014). Race and Racism in Modern East Asia: Western and Eastern Constructions (1st ed.). Brill Academic Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 978-9004285507.
- ^ Leach, Mark M. (2006). Cultural Diversity and Suicide: Ethnic, Religious, Gender, and Sexual Orientation Perspectives. Routledge. p. 127. ISBN 978-0789030184.
- ^ Leibo, Steve (2016). East and Southeast Asia 2016-2017. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 1. ISBN 978-1475829068.
- ^ Steinberg, Shirley R.; Kehler, Michael; Cornish, Lindsay (June 17, 2010). Boy Culture: An Encyclopedia, Volume 1. Greenwood. p. 58. ISBN 978-0313350801.
- ^ Salkind, Neil J. (2008). Encyclopedia of Educational Psychology. Sage Publications. p. 56. ISBN 978-1412916882.
- ^ Minahan, James B. (2014). Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. xx–xxvi. ISBN 978-1610690171.
- ^ Stodolska, Monika (2013). Race, Ethnicity, and Leisure: Perspectives on Research, Theory, and Practice. Human Kinetics. p. 229. ISBN 978-0736094528.
- ^ Lim, SK. Asia Civilizations: Ancient to 1800 AD. ASIAPAC. p. 56. ISBN 978-9812295941.
- ^ Vickers, Edward (2010). History Education and National Identity in East Asia (published October 21, 2010). p. 125. ISBN 978-0415948081.
- ^ Demel, Walter; Kowner, Rotem (2015). Race and Racism in Modern East Asia: Interactions, Nationalism, Gender and Lineage. Brill (published April 23, 2015). p. 255. ISBN 978-9004292925.
- ^ Sinitic means relating to China or the Chinese. It is derived from the Greco-Latin word Sīnai ('the Chinese'), probably from Arabic Ṣīn ('China'), from the Chinese dynastic name Qín. (OED)
- ^ Shimabukuro, Moriyo. (2007). The Accentual History of the Japanese and Ryukyuan Languages: a Reconstruction, p. 1.
- ^ Miyake, Marc Hideo. (2008). Old Japanese: a Phonetic Reconstruction. p. 66., p. 66, at Google Books
- ^ Kim, Chin-Wu (1974). The Making of the Korean Language. Center for Korean Studies, University of Hawai'i.
- ^ Miller, David (2007). Modern East Asia: An Introductory History. Routledge (published December 15, 2007). p. 7-8. ISBN 978-0765618221.
- ^ a b Walker, Hugh Dyson (2012). East Asia: A New History. AuthorHouse. p. 2.
- ^ Hayes, Louis D (2009). Political Systems of East Asia: China, Korea, and Japan. Greenlight. pp. xi. ISBN 978-0765617866.
- ^ Hazen, Dan; Spohrer, James H. (2005). Building Area Studies Collections. Otto Harrassowitz (published December 31, 2005). p. 1. ISBN 978-3447055123.
- ^ Richter, Frank-Jurgen (2002). Redesigning Asian Business: In the Aftermath of Crisis. Quorum Books. p. 15. ISBN 978-1567205251.
- ^ Kang, David C. (2012). East Asia Before the West: Five Centuries of Trade and Tribute. Columbia University Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-0231153195.
- ^ a b Lewis, Mark Edward (2012). China's Cosmopolitan Empire: The Tang Dynasty. Belknap Press (published April 9, 2012). p. 156. ISBN 978-0674064010.
- ^ a b Edwin O. Reischauer, "The Sinic World in Perspective," Foreign Affairs 52.2 (January 1974): 341—348. JSTOR Archived 2017-01-15 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Lim, SK. Asia Civilizations: Ancient to 1800 AD. ASIAPAC. p. 89. ISBN 978-9812295941.
- ^ a b c Goscha, Christopher (2016). The Penguin History of Modern Vietnam: A History. Allen Lane. ISBN 978-1846143106.
- ^ "How was Hangul invented?". The Economist. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
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See also
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