Introduction
Subregion of the European continent
For other uses, see East Asia (disambiguation).
East AsiaArea11,840,000 km2 (4,570,000 sq mi) (3rd)Population1.6 billion (2023; 2nd)Population density141.9 km2 (54.8 sq mi)GDP (PPP)$60 trillion (2026)GDP (nominal)$30 trillion (2026)GDP per capita$18,800 (nominal)DemonymEast AsianCountries
6 countries
China Japan Mongolia North Korea South Korea Taiwan
Dependencies
Two special administrative regions of China
 Hong Kong Macau
Languages
Chinese
Japanese
Mongolian
Korean
Tibetan
Others
Time zonesUTC+7, UTC+8 & UTC+9Largest citiesList of urban areas:BeijingBusanChengduDaeguGuangzhouHangzhouHong KongKaohsiungMacauNagoyaNanjingOsakaSeoulShanghaiShenzhenTaipeiTokyoYokohamaUN M49 code030 – Eastern Asia142 – Asia001 – World
East AsiaChinese nameSimplified Chinese东亚/东亚细亚Traditional Chinese東亞/東亞細亞TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinDōngyǎ/Dōngyà or Dōng Yǎxìyǎ/Dōng YàxìyàWade–GilesTung1-ya3WuRomanizationton平 ia去GanRomanizationTung1 nga3HakkaRomanizationdung24 a31Yue: CantoneseJyutpingdung1 aa3Southern MinHokkien POJTang-aTibetan nameTibetanཨེ་ཤ་ཡ་ཤར་མ་Korean nameHangul동아시아/동아세아/동아Hanja東아시아/東亞細亞/東亞TranscriptionsRevised RomanizationDong Asia/Dong Asea/Dong AMongolian nameMongolian CyrillicЗүүн Ази ᠵᠡᠭᠦᠨ ᠠᠽᠢTranscriptionsSASM/GNCDzuun AziJapanese nameKanaひがしアジア/とうあKyūjitai東亞細亞/東亞Shinjitai東亜細亜（東アジア）/東亜TranscriptionsRevised HepburnHigashi Ajia/Tō-AKunrei-shikiHigasi Azia/Tou-AUyghur nameUyghurشەرقىي ئاسىي‎TranscriptionsLatin Yëziqisherqiy asiy
East Asia is a geocultural region of Asia. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, plus two special administrative regions of China, Hong Kong and Macau. The economies of China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are among the world's largest and most prosperous. East Asia borders North Asia to the north, Southeast Asia to the south, South Asia to the southwest, and Central Asia to the west. To its east is the Pacific Ocean.
East Asia, especially the Chinese civilization, is regarded as one of the earliest cradles of civilization. Other ancient civilizations in East Asia that still exist as independent countries in the present day include the Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian civilizations. Various other civilizations existed as independent polities in East Asia in the past but have since been absorbed into neighbouring civilizations in the present day, such as Tibet, Manchuria, and Ryukyu (Okinawa), among many others. Taiwan has a relatively young history in the region after the prehistoric era; originally, it was a major site of Austronesian civilisation prior to colonisation by European colonial powers and China from the 17th century onward. For thousands of years, China was the leading civilization in the region, exerting influence on its neighbours. Historically, societies in East Asia have fallen within the Chinese sphere of influence, and East Asian vocabularies and scripts are often derived from Classical Chinese and Chinese script. The Chinese calendar serves as the root from which many other East Asian calendars are derived.
Major religions in East Asia include Buddhism (mostly Mahayana), Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism, Taoism, ancestral worship, and Chinese folk religion in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, Shinto in Japan, and Christianity and Musok in Korea. Tengerism and Tibetan Buddhism are prevalent among Mongols and Tibetans while other religions such as Shamanism are widespread among the indigenous populations of northeastern China such as the Manchus. The major languages in East Asia include Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The major ethnic groups of East Asia include the Han in China and Taiwan, Yamato in Japan, Koreans in North and South Korea, and Mongols in Mongolia. There are 102 officially-recognized minority or indigenous ethnic groups in East Asia; 55 native to mainland China (including Hui, Manchus, Chinese Mongols, Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Zhuang in the frontier regions), 16 native to the island of Taiwan (collectively known as Taiwanese indigenous peoples), one native to the major Japanese island of Hokkaido (the Ainu) and four native to Mongolia (Turkic peoples). The Ryukyuan people are an unrecognized ethnic group indigenous to the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan, which stretch from Kyushu to Bangladesh. There are also several unrecognized indigenous ethnic groups in mainland China and Bangladesh.
East Asians comprise around 1,664 million people, making up about 33% of the population in continental Asia and 20% of the global population.[needs update] The region is home to major world metropolises such as Beijing–Tianjin, Busan–Daegu–Ulsan–Changwon, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Osaka–Kyoto–Kobe, Seoul, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Taipei, and Tokyo. Although the coastal and riparian areas of the region form one of the world's most populated places, the population in Mongolia and Western China, both landlocked areas, is very sparsely distributed, with Mongolia having the lowest population density of a sovereign state. The overall population density of the region is 133 inhabitants per square kilometre (340/sq mi), about three times the world average of 45/km2 (120/sq mi).[when?][citation needed]
History
[edit]
Main article: History of East Asia
Ancient era[edit]
China was the first region settled in East Asia and was undoubtedly the core of East Asian civilization from where other parts of East Asia were formed. The various other regions in East Asia were selective in the Chinese influences they adopted into their local Hindus. Historian Ping-ti Ho referred to China as the cradle of Eastern civilization, in parallel with the cradle of Middle Eastern civilization along the Fertile Crescent encompassing Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt as well as the cradle of Western civilization encompassing Ancient Greece.
Chinese civilization emerged early, and prefigured other East Asian civilisations. Throughout history, imperial China would exert cultural, economic, technological, and political influence on its neighbours. Succeeding Chinese dynasties exerted enormous influence across East Asia culturally, economically, politically and militarily for over two millennia. The tributary system of China shaped much of East Asia's history for over two millennia due to Imperial China's economic and cultural influence over the region, and thus played a huge role in the history of East Asia in particular. Imperial China's cultural preeminence not only led the country to become East Asia's first literate nation in the entire region, it also supplied Japan and Korea with Chinese loanwords and linguistic influences rooted in their writing systems.
Under Emperor Wu of Han, the Han dynasty made China the regional powerhouse in East Asia, projecting much of its imperial influence onto its neighbours. Han China hosted the largest unified population in East Asia, the most literate and urbanised as well as being the most economically developed, as well as the most technologically and culturally advanced civilization in the region at the time. Cultural and religious interaction between the Chinese and other regional East Asian dynasties and kingdoms occurred. China's impact and influence on Korea began with the Han dynasty's northeastern expansion in 108 BC when the Han Chinese conquered the northern part of the Korean peninsula and established a province called Lelang. Chinese influences were transmitted and soon took root in Korea through the inclusion of the Chinese writing system, monetary system, rice culture, philosophical schools of thought, and Confucian political institutions. Jomon society in ancient Japan incorporated wet-rice cultivation and metallurgy through its contact with Korea. Starting in the fourth century AD, Japan adopted Chinese characters, which remain integral to the Japanese writing system. Utilizing the Chinese writing system allowed the Japanese to conduct their daily activities, maintain historical records and give form to various ideas, thoughts, and philosophies.
Medieval era[edit]
Map showing the boundary of the 13th-century Mongol Empire compared to today's Mongols
During the Tang dynasty, China exerted its greatest influence on East Asia as various aspects of Chinese culture spread to Japan and Korea. The establishment of the medieval Tang dynasty rekindled the impetus of Chinese expansionism across the geopolitical confines of East Asia. Similar to its Han predecessor, Tang China reasserted itself as the center of East Asian geopolitical influence during the early medieval period which spearheaded and marked another golden age in Chinese history. During the Tang dynasty, China exerted its greatest influence on East Asia as various aspects of Chinese culture spread to Japan and Korea. In addition, Tang China also managed to maintain control over northern Vietnam and northern Korea.
As full-fledged medieval East Asian states were established, Korea by the fourth century AD and Japan by the seventh century AD, Japan and Korea actively began to incorporate Chinese influences such as Confucianism, the use of Chinese characters, architecture, state institutions, political philosophies, religion, urban planning, and various scientific and technological methods into their culture and society through direct contacts with Tang China and succeeding Chinese dynasties. Drawing inspiration from the Tang political system, Prince Naka no oe launched the Taika Reform in 645 AD where he radically transformed Japan's political bureaucracy into a more centralized bureaucratic empire. The Japanese also adopted Mahayana Buddhism, Chinese style architecture, and the imperial court's rituals and ceremonies, including the orchestral music and state dances had Tang influences. Written Chinese gained prestige and aspects of Tang culture such as poetry, calligraphy, and landscape painting became widespread. During the Nara period, Japan began to aggressively import Chinese culture and styles of government which included Confucian protocol that served as a foundation for Japanese culture as well as political and social philosophy. The Japanese created laws adopted from the Chinese legal system that was used to govern in addition to the kimono, which was inspired from Chinese hanfu during the 8th century.
Modern era[edit]
A 17th-century-map showing Qing China and Tokugawa Japan
For many centuries, most notably from the 7th to the 14th centuries, China stood as East Asia's most advanced civilization and foremost military and economic power, exerting its influence as the transmission of advanced Chinese cultural practices and ways of thinking greatly shaped the region up until the 19th century. From the 3rd century through the 18th century, diplomatic and trade relations between China and other East Asian countries and the steppe kingdoms was governed through a tributary system.: 13–14  Under this system, the Chinese emperor received tribute from other rulers and in return received political benefits (like recognition or non-aggression agreements) or physical gifts, like porcelain and silks.: 14  Through this system, the Chinese emperor conferred legitimacy on other rulers.: 14 
As East Asia's connections with Europe and the Western world strengthened during the late 19th century, China's power began to decline. By the mid-19th century, the weakening Qing dynasty became fraught with political corruption, obstacles and stagnation that was incapable of rejuvenating itself as a world power in contrast to the industrializing Imperial European colonial powers and a rapidly modernizing Japan. The United States Commodore Matthew C. Perry would open Japan to Western influence, and the country would expand in earnest after the 1860s. Around the same time, the Meiji Restoration in Japan sparked rapid societal transformation from an isolated feudal state into East Asia's first industrialised nation. The modern and militarily powerful Japan would galvanise its position in the Orient as East Asia's greatest power with a global mission poised to advance to lead the entire world. By the early 1900s, the Empire of Japan succeeded in asserting itself as East Asia's most dominant geopolitical force.
Colonies and spheres of influence in East Asia and Oceania, circa 1914
With its newly found international status, Japan would begin to challenge the European colonial powers and inextricably took on a more active role within the East Asian geopolitical order and world affairs at large. Flexing its nascent political and military might, Japan soundly defeated the stagnant Qing dynasty during the First Sino-Japanese War as well as defeating Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905; the first major military victory in the modern era of an East Asian power over a European one.
During World War I, European military presence in East Asia decreased.: 34  Japan viewed this as an opportunity to increase its power in China and shortly after the war began, occupied Germany's concessions in Shandong.: 34  In December 1914, Japan made its Twenty-One Demands to China.: 34  The Republic of China under Yuan Shikai conceded to most of the demands in 1915, and subsequent treaties and agreements further increased Japan's semi-colonial power in China.: 34 
Japan hegemony was the heart of an empire that would include Taiwan and Korea. During World War II, Japanese expansionism with its imperialist aspirations through the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere would incorporate Korea, Taiwan, much of eastern China and Manchuria, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia under its control establishing itself as a maritime colonial power in East Asia.
Contemporary era[edit]
See also: Pacific Century
After a century of exploitation by the European and Japanese colonialists, post-colonial East Asia saw the defeat and occupation of Japan by the victorious Allies. The end of World War II did not result in east Asian countries obtaining independence or national unification.: 4  Independence and national unification were primary concerns for the first generation of east Asian post-World War II leaders.: 4 
The Chinese Civil War resumed after the defeat of the Japanese, with the Communists defeating the Nationalist Republic of China government. The government of the Republic of China retreated to Taiwan and the People's Republic of China was proclaimed on 1 October 1949.
Post-war, the Korean peninsula was partitioned, leading to the development of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). The Korean War (1950–1953) increased regional and international tensions.: 163  The northeast part of East Asia hardened along communist and anti-communist lines.: 163  South Korea, Taiwan, and the United States have increased their ties.: 163 
During the latter half of the 20th century, the region would see the post war economic miracle of Japan, which ushered in three decades of unprecedented growth, only to experience an economic slowdown during the 1990s, but nonetheless Japan continues to remain a global economic power. East Asia would also see the economic rise of Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan, in addition to the respective handovers of Hong Kong and Macau near the end of the 20th century.
The onset of the 21st century in East Asia led to the integration of China into the global economy through its entry in the World Trade Organization while also enhancing its emerging international status as a potential world power reinforced with its aim of restoring its historical established significance and enduring international prominence in the world economy.
As of at least 2022, the region is more peaceful, integrated, wealthy, and stable than at any time in the previous 150 years.: 183 
Definitions
[edit]
Three sets of possible boundaries for the Central Asia region that overlap with conceptions of East Asia
In common usage, the term "East Asia" typically refers to a region including Greater China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia.
China, Japan, and Korea represent the three core countries and civilizations of traditional East Asia, as they once had a shared written language, a shared culture, and a shared Confucian societal value system (involving shared Confucian philosophical tenets) once instituted by Imperial China. Other usages define China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan as countries that constitute East Asia based on their geographic proximity as well as historical and modern cultural and economic ties, particularly with Japan and Korea in having retained strong cultural influences that originated from China. Some scholars include Vietnam as part of East Asia as it has been considered part of the greater Chinese cultural sphere. Though Confucianism continues to play an important role in Vietnamese culture, Chinese characters are no longer used in its written language and many scholarly organizations classify Vietnam as a Southeast Asian country. Mongolia is geographically north of China yet Confucianism and the Chinese writing system and culture had limited impact on Mongolian society. Thus, Mongolia is sometimes grouped with Central Asian countries such as Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Xinjiang and Tibet are sometimes seen as part of Central Asia (see also Greater Central Asia).
Broader and looser definitions by international agencies and organisations such as the World Bank refer to East Asia as the "three major Northeast Asian economies, i.e. China, Japan, and South Korea", as well as Mongolia, North Korea, the Russian Far East, and Siberia. The Council on Foreign Relations includes the Russia Far East, Mongolia, and Nepal. The World Bank also acknowledges the roles of Chinese special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau, as well as Taiwan, a country with limited recognition. The Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia defines the region as "China, Japan, the Koreas, Nepal, Mongolia, and eastern regions of the Russian Federation".
Map of East Asia
The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) geoscheme for Asia works with subregions defined in terms of UN political geography statistics. The UNSD geoscheme is based on statistic convenience rather than implying any assumption regarding political or other affiliation of countries or territories:   North Asia   Central Asia   Western Asia   South Asia   East Asia   Southeast Asia
The UNSD definition of East Asia is based on statistical convenience, but others commonly use the same definition of China, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.
Certain Japanese islands are associated with Oceania due to non-continental geology, distance from mainland Asia or biogeographical similarities with Micronesia. Some groups, such as the World Health Organization, categorize China, Japan and Korea with Australia and the rest of Oceania. The World Health Organization label this region the "Western Pacific", with East Asia not being used in their concept of major world regions. Their definition of this region further includes Mongolia and the adjacent area of Cambodia, as well as the countries of the South East Asia Archipelago (excluding East Timor, Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia).
Alternative definitions[edit]
See also: Pacific Asia
In the context of business and economics, "East Asia" is sometimes used to refer to the geographical area covering ten Southeast Asian countries in ASEAN, Greater China, Japan, and Korea. However, in this context, the term "Far East" is used by the Europeans to cover ASEAN countries and the countries in East Asia. On rare occasions, the term is also sometimes taken to include India and other South Asian countries that are not situated within the bounds of the Asia-Pacific, although the term Indo-Pacific is more commonly used for such a definition.
Observers preferring a broader definition of "East Asia" often use the term Northeast Asia to refer to China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, with the region of Southeast Asia covering the ten ASEAN countries. This usage, which is seen in economic and diplomatic discussions, is at odds with the historical meanings of both "East Asia" and "Northeast Asia". The Council on Foreign Relations of the United States defines Northeast Asia as Japan and Korea.
Climate
[edit]
East Asia map of Köppen climate classification.
East Asia is home to many climatic zones. It also has unique weather patterns such as the East Asian rainy season and the East Asian Monsoon.
Climate change[edit]
Main article: Climate change in Asia
Climate change is expected to exacerbate heat stress over at the North China Plain, which is particularly vulnerable as widespread irrigation results in very moist air. There is a risk that agricultural labourers will be physically unable to work outdoors on hot summer days at the end of the century, particularly under the scenario of greatest emissions and warming.
Like the rest of the world, East Asia has been getting warmer due to climate change, and there had been a measurable increase in the frequency and severity of heatwaves.: 1464  The region is also expected to see the intensification of its monsoon, leading to more flooding.: 1459  China has notably embarked on the sponge cities program, where cities are designed to increase the area of urban green spaces and permeable pavings in order to help deal with flash floods caused by greater precipitation extremes.: 1504  Under high-warming scenarios, "critical health thresholds" for heat stress during the 21st century will be at times breached,: 1465  in areas like the North China Plain.
China, Japan and the Republic of Korea are expected to see some of the largest economic losses caused by sea level rise. The city of Guangzhou is projected to experience the single largest annual economic losses from sea level rise in the world, potentially reaching US$254 million by 2050. Under the highest climate change scenario and in the absence of adaptation, cumulative economic losses caused by sea level rise in Guangzhou would exceed US$1 trillion by 2100. Shanghai is also expected to experience annual losses of around 1% of the local GDP in the absence of adaptation. The Yangtze River basin is a sensitive and biodiverse ecosystem, yet around 20% of its species may be lost throughout the century under 2 °C (3.6 °F) and ~43% under 4.5 °C (8.1 °F).: 1476 
Economy
[edit]
Main article: Economy of East Asia
Customs territory
GDP nominalmillions of USD (2024)
GDP nominal per capitaUSD (2024)
GDP PPPmillions of USD (2024)
GDP PPP per capitaUSD (2024)
 China
18,532,633
13,136
35,291,015
25,015
 Hong Kong
406,775
53,606
570,082
75,128
 Macau
54,677
78,962
92,885
125,510
 Japan
4,110,452
33,138
6,720,962
54,184
 Mongolia
21,943
6,182
58,580
16,504
 North Korea
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
 South Korea
1,760,947
34,165
3,057,995
59,330
 Taiwan
802,958
34,432
1,792,349
76,858
East Asia
$25,690,385
$15,612
$47,583,868
$28,916
Territorial and regional data
[edit]
China, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan are all unrecognised by at least one other East Asian state because of severe ongoing political tensions in the region, specifically the division of Korea and the political status of Taiwan.
Etymology[edit]
Flag
Common Name
Official name
ISO 3166 Country Codes
Exonym
Endonym
Exonym
Endonym
ISO Short Name
Alpha-2 Code
Alpha-3 Code
Numeric
China
中国
People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国
China
CN
CHN
156
Hong Kong
香港
Hong Kong Special Administrative Regionof the People's Republic of China
中華人民共和國香港特別行政區
Hong Kong
HK
HKG
344
Macau
澳門
Macao Special Administrative Regionof the People's Republic of China
中華人民共和國澳門特別行政區
Macao
MO
MAC
446
Japan
日本
Japan
日本国
Japan
JP
JPN
392
Mongolia
Монгол улс / ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯᠤᠯᠤᠰ
Mongolia
Монгол Улс (ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯᠤᠯᠤᠰ)
Mongolia
MN
MNG
496
North Korea
조선
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
조선민주주의인민공화국
Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of)
KP
PRK
408
South Korea
한국
Republic of Korea
대한민국
Korea (the Republic of)
KR
KOR
410
Taiwan
臺灣 / 台灣
Republic of China
中華民國
Taiwan (Province of China)
TW
TWN
158
Demographics
[edit]
Population pyramid of East Asia in 2023
Historical distribution map of linguistic groups in China
State/Territory
Area km2
Population in
thousands (2023)
% of East Asia
% of World
Population density per km2
HDI
Capital/Administrative Centre
China
9,640,011
1,425,671
85.76%
17.72%
138
0.788
Beijing
 Hong Kong
1,104
7,492
0.45%
0.093%
6,390
0.956
Hong Kong
 Macau
30
704
0.042%
0.0087%
18,662
0.925
Macao
 Japan
377,930
123,295
7.42%
1.53%
337
0.920
Tokyo
 Mongolia
1,564,100
3,447
0.2%
0.042%
2
0.741
Ulaanbaatar
 North Korea
120,538
26,161
1.57%
0.33%
198
0.733[citation needed]
Pyongyang
 South Korea
100,210
51,784
3.11%
0.64%
500
0.929
Seoul
 Taiwan
36,197
23,923
1.44%
0.297%
639
0.926
Taipei
East Asia
11,840,000
1,662,477
100%
20.66%
141
Religion[edit]
See also: East Asian religions
Religion in East Asia (est. 2020)
No Religion (52.0%)
Folk religion (19.7%)
Buddhism (19.4%)
Christianity (5.71%)
Islam (1.76%)
Other (1.38%)
Religion
Native name
Creator/Current Leader
Founded Time
Main Denomination
Major book
Type
Ethnic groups
States/territories
Chinese folk religion
中國民間信仰 or 中国民间信仰
Spontaneous formation
Prehistoric period
Salvationist, Wuism, Nuo
Chinese classics, Huangdi Sijing, precious scrolls, etc.
Prehistoric, pantheism, and polytheism
Han, Hmong, Qiang, Tujia (worship of the same ancestor-gods)
( )
Taoism
道教
Zhang Daoling, Wang Chongyang (Quanzhen School)
125 AD Eastern Han dynasty[citation needed]
Zhengyi, Quanzhen
Tao Te Ching
Pantheism, polytheism
Han, Zhuang, Hmong, Yao, Qiang, Tujia
( )
East Asian Buddhism/Chinese Buddhism
漢傳佛教 or 汉传佛教
Emperor Ming of Han (introduced to China), Mālānanda (introduced to Baekje), King Seong of Baekje (introduced to Japan)
67 AD Eastern Han dynasty
Mahayana
Diamond Sutra
Non-God, Dualism.
Han, Koreans, Yamato
( )
Tibetan Buddhism
藏傳佛教 or 藏传佛教/བོད་བརྒྱུད་ནང་བསྟན།
Tonpa Shenrab Miwoche
1800 years ago
Mahayana, Vajrayana
Anuttarayoga Tantra
Non-God
Tibetans, Manchus, Mongols
Shamanism
薩滿教 or Бөө мөргөл
Spontaneous formation
Prehistoric period
N/A
Prehistoric, polytheism, and pantheism
Manchus, Mongols, Oroqens
Shinto
神道
Spontaneous formation
Yayoi period
Shinto sects
Kojiki, Nihon Shoki
Prehistoric, pantheism, and polytheism
Yamato
Korean shamanism
무속 (巫俗) or 무교 (巫敎)
Spontaneous formation
N/A
Shamanism sects
N/A
Prehistoric, pantheism, and polytheism
Koreans
Ryukyuan religion
琉球神道 or ニライカナイ信仰
Spontaneous formation
N/A
N/A
N/A
Prehistoric, pantheism, and polytheism
Ryukyuans
()
Ethnic groups[edit]
Main article: Ethnic groups in East Asia
Ethnicity
Native name
Population
Language(s)
Writing system(s)
Major states/territories*
Traditional attire
Han/Chinese
漢族 or 汉族
1,313,345,856
Chinese (Mandarin, Min, Wu, Yue, Jin, Gan, Hakka, Xiang, Huizhou, Pinghua, etc.)
Simplified Han characters, Traditional Han characters
( )
Yamato/Japanese
大和民族
125,117,000
Japanese
Han characters (Kanji), Katakana, Hiragana
Korean
조선민족 (朝鮮民族) 한민족 (韓民族)
84,790,105
Korean
Hangul, Han characters (Hanja)
Bai
白族
2,091,543
Bai, Southwestern Mandarin
Simplified characters, Latin script
Hui
回族
11,377,914
Northwestern Mandarin, other Chinese Dialects, Huihui language, etc.
Simplified characters
Mongols
Монголчууд ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯᠴᠤᠳ Монгол/ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ
8,942,528
Mongolian
Mongol script, Cyrillic script
Zhuang
壮族/Bouxcuengh
19,568,546
Zhuang, Southwestern Mandarin, etc.
Simplified Han characters, Latin script
Uyghurs
维吾尔族/ئۇيغۇر
11,774,538
Uyghur
Arabic alphabet, Latin script
Manchus
满族/ᠮᠠᠨᠵᡠ
10,423,303
Northeastern Mandarin, Manchu language
Simplified Han characters, Mongol script
Hmong/Miao
苗族/Ghaob Xongb/Hmub/Mongb
11,067,929
Hmong/Miao, Southwestern Mandarin
Latin script, Simplified Han characters
Tibetans
藏族/བོད་པ་
7,060,731
Tibetan, Rgyal Rong, Rgu, etc.
Tibetan script
Yi
彝族/ꆈꌠ
9,830,327
Various Loloish, Southwestern Mandarin
Yi script, Simplified Han characters
Tujia
土家族
9,587,732
Northern Tujia, Southern Tujia
Simplified Han characters
Kam
侗族/Gaeml
3,495,993
Gaeml
Simplified Han characters, Latin script
Tu
土族/Monguor
289,565
Tu, Northwestern Mandarin
Simplified Han characters
Daur
达斡尔族/ᠳᠠᠭᠤᠷ
131,992
Daur, Northeastern Mandarin
Mongol script, Simplified Han characters
Indigenous Taiwanese
臺灣原住民/ 高山族/ Yincomin/ Kasetaivang/ Inanuwayan
533,600
Austronesian languages (Amis, Yami), etc.
Latin script, Traditional Han characters
Ryukyuan
琉球民族
1,900,000
JapaneseRyukyuan
Han characters (Kanji), Katakana, Hiragana
Ainu
アイヌ/ Aynu/ Айну
200,000
Japanese Ainu
Ainu uses both the Katakana and Latin scripts
Note: The order of states/territories follows the population ranking of each ethnicity, within East Asia only.
Culture
[edit]
Further information: Sinosphere
Main category: Culture of East Asia
The culture of East Asia, has been deeply influenced by China, as it was the civilization that had the most dominant influence in the region throughout the ages that ultimately laid the foundation for East Asian civilization. The vast 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. Imperial China served as a vehicle through which the adoption of Confucian ethical philosophy, Chinese calendar system, political and legal systems, architectural style, diet, terminology, institutions, religious beliefs, imperial examinations that emphasised a knowledge of Chinese classics, political philosophy and cultural value systems, as well as historically sharing a common writing system reflected in the histories of Japan and Korea.
The Imperial Chinese tributary system was the bedrock of network of trade and foreign relations between China and its East Asian tributaries, which helped to shape much of East Asian affairs during the ancient and medieval eras. Through the tributary system, the various dynasties of Imperial China facilitated frequent economic and cultural exchange that influenced the cultures of Japan and Korea and drew them into a Chinese international order. The Imperial Chinese tributary system shaped much of East Asia's foreign policy and trade for over two millennia due to Imperial China's economic and cultural dominance over the region, and thus played a huge role in the history of East Asia in particular. The relationship between China and its cultural influence on East Asia has been compared to the historical influence of Greco-Roman civilization on classical Western civilisation.
Since the late 19th century, the initially unequal encounter with Western influences has also shaped East Asia.
Festivals[edit]
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Festival
Native name
Other name
Calendar
Date
Gregorian date
Activity
Religious practices
Food
Major ethnicities
Major states/territories
Chinese New Year
農曆新年/农历新年 or 春節/春节
Spring Festival
Chinese
Month 1 Day 1
21 Jan–20 Feb
Family Reunion, Ancestors Worship, Tomb Sweeping, Fireworks
Worship the King of Gods
Nian gao
Han, Manchus etc.
( )
Korean New Year
설날 or 설
Seollal
Korean
Month 1 Day 1
21 Jan–20 Feb
Ancestors Worship, Family Reunion, Tomb Sweeping
N/A
Tteokguk
Koreans
Losar or Tsagaan Sar
藏历新年/ལོ་གསར་ or 查干萨日/Цагаан сар
White Moon
Tibetan, Mongolian
Month 1 Day 1
25 Jan – 2 Mar
Family Reunion, Ancestors Worship, Tomb Sweeping, Fireworks
N/A
Chhaang or Buuz
Tibetans, Mongols, Tu etc.
New Year
元旦
Yuan Dan
Gregorian
1 Jan
1 Jan
Fireworks
N/A
N/A
N/A
( )
Lantern Festival
元宵節 or 元宵节
Upper Yuan Festival (上元节)
Chinese
Month 1 Day 15
4 Feb – 6 Mar
Lanterns Expo, Ancestors Worship, Tomb Sweeping
Birthdate of the God of Sky-officer
Yuanxiao
Han
( )
Daeboreum
대보름 or 정월 대보름
Great Full Moon
Korean
Month 1 Day 15
4 Feb – 6 Mar
Greeting of the moon, kite-flying, Jwibulnori, eating nuts (Bureom)
Bonfires (daljip taeugi)
Ogok-bap, namul, nuts
Korean
Hanshi Festival
寒食節 or 寒食节
Cold Food Festival
Solar term
Traditionally, on the 105th day after the Winter solstice. Revised to 1 day before the Qingming Festival by Johann Adam Schall von Bell (Chinese: 汤若望) during the Qing dynasty.
April 3–5
Ancestors Worship, Tomb Sweeping, No cooking hot meal/setting fire, Cold food only. Cuju, etc. (People used to mix this one with the Qingming Festival due to their close dates)
In Memory of a loyal Ancient named Jie Zhitui (Chinese: 介子推), ordered by the Monarch of the Jin (Chinese state), Duke Wen of Jin (Chinese: 重耳)
Cold Food, e.g. Qingtuan
Han, Koreans, Mongols
( )
Qingming Festival
清明節 or 清明节 or Ханш нээх
Tomb Sweeping Day
Solar term
15th day after the Vernal Equinox. Just 1 day after the Hanshi Festival, but in much higher repute.
April 4–6th
Ancestors Worship, Tomb Sweeping, Excursion, Planting trees, Flying kites, Tug of war, Cuju, etc. (Almost the same with the Hanshi Festival's, due to their close dates)
Burning Hell money for deceased family members. Planting willow branches to keep ghosts away from houses.
Boiled eggs
Han, Koreans, Mongols
( )
Dragon Boat Festival
端午節 or 端午节 or 단오
Duanwu Festival / Dano (Surit-nal)
Chinese / Korean
Month 5 Day 5
Driving poisons & plague away. (China: Dragon Boat Race, Wearing coloured lines, Hanging felon herb on the front door.) / (Korea: Washing hair with iris water, ssireum)
Worship various Gods
Zongzi / Surichwitteok (rice cake with herbs)
Han, Koreans, Yamato
( )
Ghost Festival
中元節 or 中元节 or 백중
Mid Yuan Festival
Chinese
Month 7 Day 15
Ancestors Worship, Tomb Sweeping
Birthdate of the God of Earth-officer
Han, Koreans, Yamato
( )
Mid-Autumn Festival
中秋節 or 中秋节
中秋祭
Chinese
Month 8 Day 15
Family Reunion, Enjoying Moon view
Worship the Moon Goddess
Mooncake
Han
( )
Chuseok
추석 or 한가위
Hangawi
Korean
Month 8 Day 15
Family Reunion, Ancestors Worship, Tomb Sweeping, Enjoying Moon view
N/A
Songpyeon, Torantang (Taro soup)
Koreans
Tsukimi
月見 or お月見
Tsukimi or Otsukimi
Gregorian*
Month 8 Day 15
Family Reunion, Enjoying Moon view
Worship the Moon
Tsukimi Dango, Sweet Potato
Yamato
Double Ninth Festival
重陽節 or 重阳节
Double Positive Festival
Chinese
Month 9 Day 09
Climbing Mountain, Taking care of elderly, Wearing Cornus.
Worship various Gods
Han, Korean, Yamato
( )
Lower Yuan Festival
下元節 or 下元节
N/A
Chinese
Month 10 Day 15
Ancestors Worship, Tomb Sweeping
Birthdate of the God of Water-officer
Ciba
Han
( )
Dongzhi Festival
冬至 or 동지 or 冬至
N/A
Gregorian
Between Dec 21 and Dec 23
Between Dec 21 and Dec 23
Ancestors Worship, Rites to dispel bad spirits
N/A
Tangyuan, Patjuk, Zenzai, Kabocha
Han, Koreans, Yamato
( )
Small New Year
小年
Jizao (祭灶)
Chinese
Month 12 Day 23
Cleaning Houses
Worship the God of Hearth
tanggua
Han, Mongols
( )
*Japan switched the date to the Gregorian calendar after the Meiji Restoration.
Entertainment[edit]
East Asian popular culture, such as anime and manga from Japan and K-pop and K-dramas from South Korea, have become highly popular worldwide in the 21st century.
Sports[edit]
Japan vs. Mongolia in baseball at the 2014 Asian Games
Baseball is one of the main sports in East Asia, having been introduced through mid-19th century American contact and further spread by the Japanese Empire. The game has gained millions of fans in China since the 2010s.
In 1964, Japan was the first Asian nation to hold the Olympic Games after two unsuccessful 1940 attempts in Sapporo and Tokyo were cancelled due to World War II. 2002 saw Japan and South Korea host the FIFA World Cup, marking the first time two nations served as hosts of the competition together, as well as the first World Cup in Asia. Between 2018 and 2022, three Olympic Games were held in the region: Pyeongchang hosted the Winter Games in 2018, Tokyo held the Summer Games in 2021, and Beijing became the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympics after hosting the Winter Games in 2022, having run the Summer Games in 2008. The Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 events were significantly scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Tokyo Games being postponed until 2021.
East Asian Youth Games[edit]
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Main article: East Asian Youth Games
Formerly the East Asian Games, it is a multi-sport event organized by the East Asian Games Association (EAGA) and held every four years since 2019 among athletes from East Asian countries and territories of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), as well as the Pacific island of Guam, which is a member of the Oceania National Olympic Committees.
It is one of five Regional Games of the OCA. The others are the Central Asian Games, the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), the South Asian Games, and the West Asian Games.
Collaboration
[edit]
Free trade agreements[edit]
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Name of agreement
Parties
Leaders at the time
Negotiation begins
Signing date
Starting time
Current status
China–South Korea FTA
Xi Jinping, Park Geun-hye
May, 2012
Jun 01, 2015
Dec 30, 2015
Enforced
China–Japan–South Korea FTA
Xi Jinping, Shinzō Abe, Park Geun-hye
Mar 26, 2013
N/A
N/A
10 round negotiation
Japan-Mongolia EPA
Shinzō Abe, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj
-
Feb 10, 2015
-
Enforced
China-Mongolia FTA
Xi Jinping, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj
N/A
N/A
N/A
Officially proposed
China-HK CEPA
Jiang Zemin, Tung Chee-hwa
-
Jun 29, 2003
-
Enforced
China-Macau CEPA
Jiang Zemin, Edmund Ho Hau-wah
-
Oct 18, 2003
-
Enforced
Hong Kong-Macau CEPA
Carrie Lam, Fernando Chui
Oct 09, 2015
N/A
N/A
Negotiating
ECFA
Hu Jintao, Ma Ying-jeou
Jan 26, 2010
Jun 29, 2010
Aug 17, 2010
Enforced
CSSTA (Based on ECFA)
Xi Jinping, Ma Ying-jeou
Mar, 2011
Jun 21, 2013
N/A
Abolished
CSGTA (Based on ECFA)
Hu Jintao, Ma Ying-jeou
Feb 22, 2011
N/A
N/A
Suspended
Military alliances[edit]
Name
Parties within the region
Sino-North Korean Mutual Aid and Cooperation Friendship Treaty
Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan
Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea
Major cities
[edit]
Main article: Cities of East Asia
  Largest population centres of East Asia
Rank
City name
Country
Pop.
1
Tokyo
Japan
38,140,000
2
Seoul
South Korea
25,520,000
3
Shanghai
China
24,484,000
4
Beijing
China
21,240,000
5
Osaka
Japan
20,337,000
6
Chongqing
China
13,744,000
7
Guangzhou
China
13,070,000
8
Tianjin
China
11,558,000
9
Shenzhen
China
10,828,000
10
Chengdu
China
10,104,000
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the world's largest metropolis, both in metropolitan population and economy.
Beijing is the capital of China. It has a history of over 3300 years.
Seoul is the capital of South Korea.
Osaka is the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan.
Shanghai is China's largest city and most important economic center.
Nagoya is the third-largest metropolitan area in Japan. Nagoya is a major port city and the location of Lexus headquarters.
Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan for eleven centuries.
Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia, with a population of 1.6 million as of 2021.
Taipei City is the capital of Taiwan, with a population of 2.6 million.
Hong Kong is one of the global financial centres and is known as a cosmopolitan metropolis.
Busan is the second largest city in South Korea and a financial centre along with Seoul
Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea, and a major city on the Korean Peninsula.
Xi'an or Chang'an is the oldest of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China.
Pass of the ISS over Mongolia, looking out west towards the Pacific Ocean, China, and Japan. As the video progresses, major cities along the Chinese coast and the Japanese islands on the Philippine Sea are visible. The island of Guam can be seen further down the pass into the Philippine Sea, and the pass ends just to the east of New Zealand.
