East Asia

East Asia is a region of Asia that is defined by its geography and culture. It includes China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan, along with 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, fastest-growing, 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. The Pacific Ocean lies to its east.

East Asia, especially the Chinese civilization, is regarded as one of the earliest cradles of civilization. Other ancient civilizations in the region that still exist as independent countries today include the Japanese, Korean, and Mongolian civilizations. Some other civilizations, such as Tibet, Manchuria, and Ryukyu (Okinawa), were once independent but have since been absorbed into neighbouring civilizations. Taiwan has a relatively young history in the region after the prehistoric era. It was once a major site of Austronesian civilization before European colonial powers and China began colonizing it in the 17th century. For thousands of years, China was the leading civilization in the region and influenced its neighbours. Many East Asian societies fell within the Chinese sphere of influence, and their vocabularies and scripts often come from Classical Chinese and Chinese script. The Chinese calendar is the root from which many other East Asian calendars developed.

The region has many religions in East Asia. Buddhism (mostly Mahayana), Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism, Taoism, ancestral worship, and Chinese folk religion are common in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. Shinto is practiced in Japan, and Christianity and Musok are found in Korea. Many people are part of the ethnic groups of East Asia, and the region is home to 76 officially recognized minority or indigenous groups. The languages in East Asia include Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The Han people are the largest group in China and Taiwan, while the Yamato are the main group in Japan.

East Asia is home to about 1.65 billion people. This is nearly 33% of the population of continental Asia and 20% of the world's population. Major cities include Beijing–Tianjin, Busan–Daegu–Ulsan–Changwon, Chongqing, Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Macau, Osaka–Kyoto–Kobe, Seoul-Incheon, Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo. Coastal and river areas are among the most crowded places in the world. In contrast, Mongolia and Western China, both landlocked, have very few people spread across their land. Mongolia has the lowest population density of a sovereign state. As of 2025, the region's population density is 133 people per square kilometre (340 per square mile), about three times the world average of 45 per square kilometre (120 per square mile).

History

Main article: History of East Asia

China was the first region settled in East Asia and was the core of East Asian civilization. Historian Ping-ti Ho called China the cradle of Eastern civilization, in parallel with the cradle of Middle Eastern civilization along the Fertile Crescent, which includes Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, and the cradle of Western civilization, which includes Ancient Greece. Under Emperor Wu of Han, the Han dynasty made China the regional power in East Asia. Han China's northeastern expansion in 108 BC brought northern Korea under Chinese control, creating a province called Lelang. Chinese writing, money, rice farming, and ideas spread to Korea. Japan adopted Chinese characters starting in the fourth century AD, and these remain part of the Japanese writing system. The tributary system of China shaped much of East Asia's history for more than two thousand years.

During the Tang dynasty, China had its greatest influence on East Asia, as Chinese culture spread to Japan and Korea. This was another golden age in Chinese history. Tang China also kept control over northern Vietnam and northern Korea. Japan and Korea adopted Chinese ideas such as Confucianism, architecture, political philosophies, and scientific and technological methods. In 645 AD, Prince Naka no Ōe launched the Taika Reform, which made Japan's government more centralized. Japan also adopted Mahayana Buddhism, and Chinese arts such as poetry, calligraphy, and landscape painting became widespread. During the Nara period, Japan imported much of Chinese culture and government, and the kimono was inspired by the Chinese hanfu.

For many centuries, most notably from the 7th to the 14th centuries, China was East Asia's most advanced civilization and strongest military and economic power. From the 3rd through the 18th century, China's relations with other East Asian countries were governed by a tributary system. Under this system, the Chinese emperor received tribute and gave back recognition or gifts such as porcelain and silks. As East Asia's ties with Europe grew in the late 19th century, China's power began to decline. The weakening Qing dynasty was troubled by corruption and could not regain its place as a world power. The United States Commodore Matthew C. Perry would open Japan to Western influence. The Meiji Restoration turned Japan into East Asia's first industrialised nation, and by the early 1900s, the Empire of Japan had become the region's most dominant force. Japan defeated the Qing dynasty in the First Sino-Japanese War and defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. During World War I, Japan occupied Germany's concessions in Shandong, made its Twenty-One Demands to China, and the Republic of China under Yuan Shikai agreed to most of them. During World War II, Japan's expansion through the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere brought Korea, Taiwan, and other areas under its control.

See also: Pacific Century

After a century of exploitation by European and Japanese colonial powers, East Asia saw the defeat and occupation of Japan by the victorious Allies. The Chinese Civil War resumed after the defeat of Japan, and the Communists defeated the Nationalist government. The government of the Republic of China retreated to Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China was proclaimed on 1 October 1949. The Korean peninsula was partitioned, creating North Korea and South Korea. The Korean War (1950–1953) increased regional and international tensions. Later, Japan had its post war economic miracle of Japan, followed by an economic slowdown during the 1990s, but it remains a global economic power. Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan also experienced an economic rise, and Hong Kong and Macau were handed over near the end of the 20th century. In the 21st century, China was integrated into the global economy through its entry into the World Trade Organization, while also developing its emerging international status. As of at least 2022, the region is more peaceful, integrated, wealthy, and stable than at any time in the previous 150 years.

Definitions

In everyday use, "East Asia" usually means a region that includes Greater China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia. China, Japan, and Korea are seen as the three core countries of traditional East Asia. They once shared a written language, a culture, and Confucian values set up by Imperial China. Other definitions name China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan as East Asian countries, because they are close together and have strong historical and modern cultural and economic ties, especially Japan and Korea, which kept many cultural influences from China. Some scholars also include Vietnam, which has been considered part of the greater Chinese cultural sphere. Confucianism still matters in Vietnamese culture, but Chinese characters are no longer used in its writing, and many groups classify Vietnam as a Southeast Asian country. Mongolia lies north of China, but Confucianism and Chinese writing had only limited impact there, so it 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 definitions by groups such as the World Bank describe East Asia as the "three major Northeast Asian economies, i.e. China, Japan, and South Korea," along with Mongolia, North Korea, the Russian Far East, and Siberia. The Council on Foreign Relations includes the Russian Far East, Mongolia, and Nepal. The World Bank also recognizes the 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." The UNSD definition is based on statistical convenience, but others commonly use the same definition as China, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

Some Japanese islands are linked with Oceania because of their non-continental geology, their distance from mainland Asia, or their similarities in plants and animals to Micronesia. Some groups, such as the World Health Organization, place China, Japan and Korea with Australia and the rest of Oceania. The World Health Organization calls this region the "Western Pacific" and does not use East Asia as one of its major world regions. Its definition also includes Mongolia and the nearby area of Cambodia, along with the countries of the Southeast Asian archipelago (excluding East Timor, Thailand, Myanmar and Indonesia).

Alternative definitions

See also: Pacific Asia

In business and economics, "East Asia" is sometimes used for the area covering ten Southeast Asian countries in ASEAN, Greater China, Japan, and Korea. In this context, Europeans use the term "Far East" for the ASEAN countries and the East Asian countries. Rarely, the term also includes India and other South Asian countries outside the Asia-Pacific, although Indo-Pacific is more commonly used for that idea. Observers who prefer a broader view often use Northeast Asia for China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, with Southeast Asia covering the ten ASEAN countries. This use appears in economic and diplomatic discussions, but it differs from 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

East Asia has many climate zones. It also has unique weather patterns, such as the East Asian rainy season and the East Asian Monsoon.

Climate change

Main article: Climate change in Asia

Like the rest of the world, East Asia has been getting warmer because of climate change. Heatwaves have become more frequent and more severe. The region is also expected to see its monsoon grow stronger, which will lead to more flooding. China has embarked on the sponge cities program, which designs cities to have more urban green spaces and permeable pavings to help deal with flash floods caused by heavier rain. In areas like the North China Plain, heat stress may at times pass critical health limits if the world warms a lot.

China, Japan, and South Korea are expected to face some of the largest economic losses from rising sea levels. The city of Guangzhou is projected to have the largest yearly economic losses from rising sea levels in the world, potentially reaching US$254 million by 2050. Shanghai is also expected to lose about 1% of its local GDP each year without adaptation. The Yangtze River basin is home to many plants and animals. Around 20% of its species may be lost by the end of the century at 2 °C (3.6 °F) of warming, and about 43% at 4.5 °C (8.1 °F).

Economy

Main article: Economy of East Asia

Territorial and regional data

China, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan are each not recognised by at least one other East Asian country. This is because of serious, long-lasting political tensions in the region, especially the division of Korea and the political status of Taiwan.

Etymology

Demographics

See also: East Asian religions

Estimates from 2020 show that about 52.0% of people in East Asia have No religion, making it the largest group. Folk religion is followed by about 19.7% of people, and Buddhism by about 19.4%. Christianity is followed by about 5.71%, Islam by about 1.76%, and other religions by about 1.38%.

Main article: Ethnic groups in East Asia

Culture

Further information: Sinosphere

East Asian culture has been deeply influenced by China. China was the most powerful influence in the region over the ages and helped lay the foundations of East Asian civilization. Its classic books and learning were seen as the basis for civilized life. Imperial China spread Confucian ethics, the Chinese calendar, political and legal systems, building styles, foods, religious beliefs, and imperial examinations that tested knowledge of Chinese classics. Japan and Korea also shared a writing system with China. The relationship has been compared to the influence of Greco-Roman civilization on Western civilisation.

Through the tributary system, Imperial China built trade and foreign relations with its neighbours, which shaped East Asian affairs for many centuries. Since the late 19th century, Western influences have also shaped East Asia, mainly in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Festivals

Entertainment

East Asian popular culture, such as anime and manga from Japan and K-pop and K-dramas from South Korea, has become highly popular worldwide in the 21st century.

Sports

Baseball is one of the main sports in East Asia. It was introduced through American contact in the mid-19th century and further spread by the Japanese Empire. The game has gained millions of fans in China since the 2010s.

Japan was the first Asian nation to hold the Olympic Games, in 1964 Summer Olympics. Two earlier attempts in 1940, in Sapporo and Tokyo, were cancelled due to World War II. In 2002 FIFA World Cup, Japan and South Korea hosted the FIFA World Cup together. It was the first time two nations hosted the competition together, and the first World Cup in Asia. Between 2018 and 2022, three Olympic Games were held in the region. Pyeongchang hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics, Tokyo held the 2020 Summer Olympics, and Beijing became the first city to host both Summer and Winter Olympics, after running the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2022 Winter Olympics. The Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 events were greatly scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Tokyo Games were postponed until 2021.

East Asian Youth Games

After the East Asian Games ended with the 2013 edition, the East Asian Youth Games were set up as their successor. They are organized by the East Asian Games Association (EAGA) and held every four years. Athletes come from East Asian countries and territories of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), as well as Guam, a member of the Oceania National Olympic Committees. The first edition was originally planned for Taichung, Taiwan, in 2019 East Asian Youth Games, but it was cancelled. The first edition to be held took place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 2023 East Asian Youth Games.

The East Asian Youth Games are 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

Free trade agreements

Military alliances

Major cities

Main article: Cities of East Asia