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Orient

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Culture of Asia
Oriental redirects here. For information on the financial institution, see Oriental Financial Group, Inc.

The Orient is a term traditionally used in Western culture to refer to the Middle-East, South Asia, and Far-East.


Derivation

The term "Oriental" is derived from the Latin word oriens, which is the present participle of "orior": to rise. The implication is that it refers to the rising sun, hence the use of Orient to describe the "land of the rising sun", i.e. the Far East, and is exactly analogous with the Chinese (and Japanese) term for Japan. Comparable terms are the French-derived "Levant" and "Anatolia" from the Greek anatole, two further locations for the direction in which the sun rises. The opposite term "Occident" - derived from the Latin word occidens, from the verb "occido": I fall - was once used to describe the western world, i.e. the "land of the falling (setting) sun", but is slowly falling into disuse.

The creation of a polarity oriens/occidens originated in Roman imperial administration from the time of Diocletian and was taken up in Christian Latin literature, but the term Orient did not enter Western European languages until the time of the Crusades[1]

Usage of term

File:Map of orient.jpg
Map of the world: Orient - Blue for Middle East, Red for Indosphere, and Green for Sinosphere; Purple for Occident; Orange for other civilizational areas including Viking, Mesoamerica, and Polynesia

Traditionally, the Orient referred primarily to the cultures and countries of what are now considered the Middle East. This particularly included regions that used to be known as Persia, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Egypt. As awareness of the countries of Eastern Asia grew in Western European and American consciousness in the late 19th century, the term came to refer to China, Japan, Korea, and surrounding nations. Remnants of the older conception of the Orient still exist in the English language in such collocations as Oriental rug and Oriental harem, but these days the word Orient typically refers to that part of Asia where both Dharmic religions are dominant and the majority of natives have an epicanthic fold.

"Oriental" has been used by the West as a term to describe cultures, countries, peoples and goods from the Orient. Some usages of Oriental are still common, for example, Mizrahi Jews (native to the Middle East) are often referred to as Oriental Jews and it is common in older universities: the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute and the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge both have a Faculty of Oriental Studies that focuses on the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia. The American Oriental Society remains the premier body for the study of Oriental societies.

Oriental is also used as an adjective akin to "eastern", especially in the Spanish-speaking world. For example, the Philippine island Mindoro is divided into two provinces whose titles include the words "oriental" and "occidental" respectively. Uruguay used to be known as the República Oriental del Uruguay because it was located to the east of the Rio de la Plata.

Perceptions & Connotations

Although oriental is generally considered a neutral term in the UK, other parts of the Commonwealth and most of Europe, there is some controversy regarding the connotations and implications of the term in North America. Some people in 21st century America consider the term "Oriental" derogatory. There are others who dispute this connotation. Many discussion groups on the net debate the connotations from and perceptions implied by the term, and it is not difficult to find opinion pieces describing why the term is appropriate or inappropriate. Both sides feel they have rational arguments for why the term may or may not be considered derogatory.

It's important to understand that the discussion about this term is a tiny battleground in a much larger debate about political correctness and the beneficial and/or detrimental consequences of political correctness on thought and speech. As with all arguements pertaining to political correctness the debate is about words, and words are the tools used to characterize the debate. Thus describing the debate inevitably spawns debates about how to describe the debate. It is evident that a fact-based discussion cannot settle this issue at this time, so this article attempts to inform the reader about some of the underlying justifications for these opposing viewpoints. These viewpoints are presented without challenge, but this article neither endorses nor condemns either viewpoint.


Viewpoint of those who believe the term has derogatory implications. Viewpoint of those who favor continued use of the term.
The term was used by some 19th and 20th century Europeans and Americans who are thought to have held a patronizing attitude toward the region. Many of "these people" saw "the East" as backwards, while the West was seen as logical, rational and more modern. This view was first, and most famously, put forward by Edward Said in his Orientalism. It is hypocritical fight bias by stereotyping the intentions and implications of modern speakers based upon the percieved thoughts of long deceased speakers and writers. Additionally, the sum of human knowledge continues to expand and has always expanded. It is not practical or desirable to introduce a new term for every word about which knowledge in the English-speaking ambit has expanded. For example, the wolf was considered a symbol of evil, but the wolf is now considered a noble creature. [2] Snakes were associated with the devil and Satan, but new research and information from reptile experts such as Steve Irwin have put these and other creatures in a light. Vikings, Huns and other peoples were once considered savage barbarians, but new research has changed how modern people understand these people. [3] [4] The most obvious example of a people who were maligned in the 19th and 20th Century (and thoughout history) are the Jews. There is no push to substitute new terminology to distinguish the perjorative implications of the word "Jew" from the noble and proud connotations of the word "Jew". [5][6][7]
The term is an example of Eurocentrism. Eurocentrism is not bad in Western Civilization.
In 19th century academia, some works in "Oriental studies" were riddled with inaccurate information that was used to justify colonisation of these countries. This view was first, and most famously, put forward by Edward Said in his Orientalism. The works of Charles Linnaeus, Charles Darwin, Francis Galton and others have been used to justify many atrocities, including slavery, colonization, and racial genocide. Despite the fact that evil acts were justified by the works of these men during the 18th, 19th and 20th Century, the "Origin of Species", the "Theory of Evolution", the "General System of Nature", "survival of the fittest" et.al. these terms and phrases are still in use today. [8] [9] [10] [11][12]
In Washington State it is illegal to use the word oriental in legislative and government-related documents because of the term's negative connotations[13]. The term has no such prohibition in 49 other states, the District of Columbia or any US Territories. The term is found more than two hundred eighty thousand of government and state websites and documents [14] and across in the USA describing place names [15], medicine[16][17], wildlife [18][19] plants[20], food[21][22] and people [23][24][25] or communities.[26][27][28][29][30][31][32] The term is even found on Equal Opportunity Employment[33] and Fair Housing [34] documents.
Some Asians are offended by the term or consider the term archaic. [citation needed] According to the FBI, some Asian gangs refer to themselves as oriental. The thugs who call themselves teh "OPB" ("Oriental Playboys"), and the ORB ("Oriental Rutheless Boys") must not consider the term derogatory.[35][36]
The term has a derogatory connotation. Although the term is used in many business names it does not mean it is not offensive.[citation needed] Businesses such as Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Financial Group, Inc.,Orient Thai Airlines, Orient Steam Navigation Company, Orient Watch Co., Neptune Orient Lines are just a few of many successful enterprises to share this term as a part of their name and the owners of these business evidently feel there is nothing derogatory about the term.


Many American Universities will no longer accept the official use of the term "Oriental". [citation needed] The highly-regarded American Oriental Society and others continue to use the term in its publishings.
Some writers no longer use the term. [citation needed] Conservative commentators [37] and prominent Filipina Michelle Malkin regularly employ the term. [38] [39] [40][41].





Regional Variations

Major objections to the use of the word "Oriental" are chiefly limited to certain elements in North America. Its use is not controversial in Europe, where the word is neutral and in widespread usage as evidenced by its usage on the online British Monarchy Media Centre.[42] In France the terms "l'Occident" and "l'Orient" are used without any negative associations in academic contexts. In Europe the term is often used to describe such things as the East's cuisine and goods, ancient culture, and religions, at times to denote an exotic quality with upmarket or mildly positive connotations. In the UK the term "Asian" has become almost exclusively tied to the Indian subcontinent, as evidenced through BBC Asian Network, a radio station of the BBC devoted to the British Asian community.

Alternative terminology

Those who believe the term is derogatory or archaic prefer to employ geographical terms for people and places typically desribed by oriental, e.g., South Asia, East Asia, and South-East Asia. Although the Far Eastern is considered more politically correct than Oriental, East Asian is preferred because this verbiage is significantly less Eurocentric. Other politically correct alternative terms include Asia and the Pacific or the Pacific Rim or the Pacific Basin.

With regard to the now antiquated sense of the Orient, referring to the wider Islamic region, the Orientalist Marshall Hogdson tried to introduce several terms[citation needed], including Nile-to-Oxus. None of these have stuck, however.

Alternative terminology

Those who believe the term is derogatory or archaic prefer to employ geographical terms for people and places typically desribed by oriental, e.g., South Asia, East Asia, and South-East Asia. Although the Far Eastern is considered more politically correct than Oriental, East Asian is preferred because this verbiage is significantly less Eurocentric. Other politically correct alternative terms include Asia and the Pacific or the Pacific Rim or the Pacific Basin.

With regard to the now antiquated sense of the Orient, referring to the wider Islamic region, the Orientalist Marshall Hogdson tried to introduce several terms[citation needed], including Nile-to-Oxus. None of these have stuck, however.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Walter Burkert, The Orientalizing Revolution: Near Eastern Influence on Greek Culture in the Early Archaic Age (Harvard University Press) 1992 p. 1 and note.
  2. ^ http://www.wolfcountry.net/
  3. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/vikings/
  4. ^ http://history-world.org/germanic_tribes.htm
  5. ^ http://www.jewwatch.com/
  6. ^ http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/antisemitism/?gclid=CPvgrY-26okCFR57UAodyCU5Fg
  7. ^ http://jewschool.com/
  8. ^ http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9108541/philosophical-anthropology
  9. ^ http://www-personal.umich.edu/~jonmorro/race.html
  10. ^ "A History of Race/ism", Prepared by Tim McCaskell, a representative of the Toronto Board of Education
  11. ^ http://www.scholars.nus.edu.sg/victorian/history/empire/Empire.html
  12. ^ http://www.mediamonitors.net/harunyahya37.html
  13. ^ http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=1.20.130
  14. ^ http://www.google.com/search?as_q=oriental&hl=en&num=10&btnG=Google+Search&as_epq=&as_oq=&as_eq=&lr=&as_ft=i&as_filetype=&as_qdr=all&as_nlo=&as_nhi=&as_occt=any&as_dt=i&as_sitesearch=.gov&as_rights=&safe=images
  15. ^ http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/pr2004/pr04_61.html
  16. ^ http://www.acupuncture.ca.gov/pubs_forms/cons_guide_2002.pdf
  17. ^ http://www.health.gov/nhic/NHICScripts/Entry.cfm?HRCode=HR2824
  18. ^ http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/2003/January/Day-10/i491.htm
  19. ^ http://ecos.fws.gov/species_profile/servlet/gov.doi.species_profile.servlets.SpeciesProfile?spcode=B03C
  20. ^ http://www.in.gov/dnr/invasivespecies/oriental_bittersweet_1.pdf
  21. ^ http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/syah/orierice.htm
  22. ^ http://hawaii.gov/health/about/rules/11-29.pdf
  23. ^ http://bioethics.gov/transcripts/jun03/session2.html
  24. ^ http://www.michigan.gov/documents/cis_ofis_fis_1043_24817_7.pdf
  25. ^ http://www.fws.gov/midwest/horicon/nativeamericans.html
  26. ^ http://www.loc.gov/acq/devpol/sociology.html
  27. ^ http://vitalrecords.alaska.gov/dph/bvs/PDFs/1999/annual_report/Introduction.pdf
  28. ^ http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/census/Folder.2005-11-23.1639/ec02-reference/small_diner_condensed_final.pdf
  29. ^ http://www.nps.gov/archive/manz/hrs/hrs10i.htm
  30. ^ http://www.va.gov/vetapp/files1/9401243.txt
  31. ^ http://www.michigan.gov/documents/GBFT0203_61996_7.pdf
  32. ^ http://www.nifl.gov/nifl-health/1998/0198.html
  33. ^ http://ocp.dc.gov/ocp/frames.asp?doc=/ocp/lib/ocp/information/solatt/attachment_j.04_eeo_compliance_documents.doc&open=%7C34644%7C
  34. ^ http://www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/library/part109.pdf
  35. ^ http://www.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel03/release121903.htm
  36. ^ http://www.fbi.gov/publications/leb/2003/feb2003/feb03leb.htm
  37. ^ http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=16541
  38. ^ http://michellemalkin.com/archives/000239.htm
  39. ^ http://michellemalkin.com/archives/006107.htm?print=1
  40. ^ http://michellemalkin.com/archives/000239.htm
  41. ^ http://www.altavista.com/web/results?itag=ody&pg=aq&aqmode=s&aqa=oriental&aqp=&aqo=&aqn=&aqb=&kgs=1&kls=0&dt=tmperiod&d2=0&dfr%5Bd%5D=1&dfr%5Bm%5D=1&dfr%5By%5D=1980&dto%5Bd%5D=4&dto%5Bm%5D=11&dto%5By%5D=2006&filetype=&rc=dmn&swd=michellemalkin.com&lh=&nbq=10
  42. ^ http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/page5495.asp

References and further reading

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