ABALAJEN, MISSY E.
BSCE 2A CULTURE AND SOCIETY OF SOUTHEAST ASIA \
Outcome-Based Assessment
1. Fill in the table by identify the most influential multiple traditions that occurred and its
impact to some of the given Southeast Asian countries.
Countries Multiple Traditions
Indonesia is a vast archipelago of
more than 17,000 islands with a
population of approximately 255
million people, making it the world's
fourth most populous country.
These impressive figures also imply
that significant cultural, ethnic,
religious, and linguistic diversity can
be expected within its borders,
Indonesia ranging from daily Hindu rituals on
the island of Bali to the prevalence
of Islamic sharia law in Aceh
(Sumatra) or the semi-nomadic
hunter-gatherer lifestyles of the
Mentawai people. Animists were
historically the religious majority in
Indonesia. Hinduism was introduced
to Indonesia from India shortly after
the first century. Two thousand
years after the introduction of
Hinduism, Indonesia was introduced
to the rest of the major religions
(i.e. Christianity, Judaism, etc.)
The first Chinese domination is a
period in Vietnamese history during
which Vietnam was under Chinese
rule from the north. It is the first of
four periods of Chinese domination
of Vietnam, the first three of which
are almost continuous and referred planet, and attempted to convert
Vietnam
to as Bắcthuộc ("Northern
domination"). Under Chinese rule, Chinese citizens, a process known
Han dynasty officials imposed much
of Chinese culture, including
Chinese Buddhism, Taoism, and
Confucianism, its imperial
examination system, and mandarin
General Impact
Indonesian culture has been
shaped by a long interaction
between indigenous customs and
various foreign influences.
Multiculturalism can also be
beneficial to Indonesia. True
multiculturalism allows people to
collaborate while remaining
tolerant in the face of
disagreement. Genuine
engagement with diversity is a
source of social capital that must
be protected regardless of
location or time.
It was no coincidence that the
nearly 1000-year period of
Chinese rule had profound
effects on Vietnamese culture.
China was adamant that it was
the greatest society on the
all Vietnamese peoples into
as sanitization. Sanitation also
had practical applications; the
Chinese governors believed that
if everyone thought of
themselves as Chinese and gave
 bureaucracy. However,
implementing a foreign
administrative system and
sinification was difficult due to
frequent uprisings and rebellions
indicating Vietnamese opposition to
these changes. Some Vietnamese
welcomed the opportunity to
assimilate because they perceived
Chinese culture to be more civilized,
advanced, and superior. Though the
Vietnamese incorporated advanced
and technical elements that they
believed would benefit them, the
unwillingness to be dominated by
outsiders, the desire to maintain
political autonomy, and the drive to
reclaim Vietnamese independence
represented Vietnamese resistance
and hostility to Chinese aggression,
political dominance, and
imperialism on Vietnamese society.
The Philippines' colonial
experiences have had a significant
impact on the preservation of the
nation's literary and built cultural
heritage. The colonial experience
appears to have defined how
heritage is treated and preserved.
The colonial legacy has established
Philippines a precedent that destroys old
practices, ways of life, structures,
and edifices in order to favor the
creation of a new set of world
orders, thereby establishing a
culture of neglect and disregard for
cultural heritage conservation. The
imposition of the Roman Catholic
faith upon the Filipino population
permanently influenced the culture
and society of the Philippines.
Finally, the Spaniards enriched the
Filipino languages through
up their Vietnamese identity,
Vietnam would be less likely to
rebel. Vietnamese people were
forced to dress in Chinese attire,
follow Chinese rituals, and learn
to read and speak Chinese. This
procedure was both successful
and unsuccessful. Chinese
mannerisms and styles were
widely (and enthusiastically)
adopted. Because China was the
cultural center of East Asia, many
Vietnamese people were eager
to try Chinese cuisine.
Furthermore, when the Chinese
arrived, they brought with them
the most advanced architectural
and building technologies in the
world. Because of Chinese
infrastructure, Vietnam has been
able to grow economically and
politically.
The Spanish influences have
become indelible in Filipino
culture. They have been
internalized by the Filipino
people. They can no longer be
undone. For better or worse,
they have catapulted Filipinos
into the world of Spanish culture,
Spanish civilization, and its
products. Nonetheless, it must
be stated that the Filipinos did
not accept the cultural influences
of Spain passively. They
responded in a way that
demonstrated their ability to
master the new and balance the
new against the old, in a way that
demanded their ability to
balance values and principles
with critical and informed
judgment, and in a way that
 lexicographic studies conducted by demanded their ability to
the friars. Many Spanish words have separate what is essential from
made their way into Tagalog and what is not.
Visayan. The Spanish words fit into
the phonetic patterns of the Filipino
languages in some way. These
Spanish words, such as "mesa"
(table), "adobo" (marinated cooked
food), and others, are commonly
used in everyday practical
transactions between Filipinos.
Ironically, the friars produced
excellent studies on Filipino culture
and languages while attempting to
overthrow this same culture
through the establishment of
Spanish civilization.
Thailand's religious history is According to official census data,
fascinating, as evidenced by the more than 90% of Thais practice
many sacred sites and temples Buddhism. However, the
scattered throughout the country. country's religious life is more
With the exception of the law complex than such statistics
requiring the King to be Buddhist, portray. The majority of the large
Thailand has no official religion, Thai Chinese population who
which means that all Thai people practice Buddhism have been
have religious freedom. However, integrated into the dominant
Buddhism is the most widely Theravada tradition, with only a
practiced religion in Thailand, with small minority retaining Chinese
Thailand approximately 95 percent of the Buddhism. Otherwise, a large
population adhering to this proportion of Thai Chinese
Theravada religion. The remaining continue to practice ethnic
population is Muslim (4.6 percent), Chinese religions such as Taoism,
Catholic Christian (0.7 percent), and Confucianism, and Chinese
Hindu, Sikh, and Jewish (the Salvationist religions (such as
remaining 1%). There is no official Yiguandao and the Church of
state religion in the Thai Virtue). Despite the fact that they
constitution, which guarantees are freely practiced, these
religious freedom for all Thai religions have no official
citizens, though the king is required recognition, and their adherents
by law to be a Theravada Buddhist. are classified as Theravada
The main religion practiced in Buddhists in statistical studies. In
Thailand is Buddhism, but there is a addition, many Thai and Isan
strong undercurrent of Hinduism people practice their ethnic Tai
with a class of brahmins having folk religion.
 sacerdotal functions.
2. In a concise statement discuss the process of re-interpreting the identity of the society
and culture of some Southeast Asian countries due to the encounters of multiple
traditions significantly dominating on the aria. Write your answer on the space provided
below given country.
a. Indonesian – Indonesia is a huge archipelago with over 17,000 islands and a
population of roughly 255 million people, making it the world's fourth most
populated country. These impressive figures also imply that significant cultural,
ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity can be expected within its borders, ranging
from daily Hindu rituals on Bali's island to the prevalence of Islamic sharia law in
Aceh (Sumatra) or the Mentawai people's semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles.
The extensive interaction between original indigenous customs and diverse foreign
influences has shaped Indonesian culture.
b. Vietnam – Vietnam was managed leniently and indirectly during the first century of
Chinese rule, with no immediate changes in indigenous policies. Originally,
indigenous Vietnamese practices were regulated at the local level, but this was
abandoned in favor of replacing indigenous Vietnamese local officials with newly
established Han Chinese officials. Some Vietnamese embraced the opportunity to
assimilate into what they saw as a more civilized, advanced, and superior culture in
China. The unwillingness to be governed by outsiders, the desire to maintain political
autonomy, and the drive to reclaim Vietnamese independence symbolized
Vietnamese resistance and opposition to Chinese assault, political dominance, and
imperialism on Vietnamese society.
c. Philippines – The colonial experiences of the Philippines have greatly influenced the
preservation of the nation’s literary cultural heritage and built cultural heritage.
From the time before the Philippines were discovered by the Europeans and the way
the nation was passed on from one colonizer to another, minimal sense of heritage
conservation was developed. The Spanish friars wanted Asia's "arsenal of the Faith"
to be the Philippines. The Spanish Catholic missionaries were instrumental in the
establishment of Castilian culture and civilisation on Philippine territory. This is due
to the association of Spanishness with Catholicism. These two terms were practically
interchangeable. If one was not a devout Roman Catholic believer, he was not a true
Spaniard. By Christianizing the Filipinos, the Spanish Catholic missionaries were in
effect remodelling Filipino culture and society according to the Hispanic standard.
They would be Hispanizing the Filipinos, teaching them the trades, manners,
customs, language and habits of the Spanish people. The Filipinos accepted only
those that fitted their temperament, such as the "fiesta" that has become one of the
most endearing aspects of life in these islands, and made them blend with their
indigenous lifestyle to produce a precious Philippine cultural heritage.
d. Thailand –Thailand's predominant religion is Theravada Buddhism, which is still very
much a part of Thai society. The official Thai calendar is based on the Eastern form of
 the Buddhist Era (BE), which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian (or Western)
calendar. It takes inspirations from Hinduism and animism. More over 94 percent of
the population professes faith in Theravada Buddhism, with 4.5 percent identifying
as Muslims (mostly Sunni Muslims in the southern provinces) and fewer than 1% as
Christians. Small groups of Sikhs and Hindus, as well as a Jewish community that
arrived in Thailand in the 17th century, are also present.
3. Express your analysis on the impact and local responses to a particular aspect of the
culture and society of a particular country from the encounters within and between
traditions.
a. The impact of the animism, and Hinduism to culture of the Islamic society in Central
Jakarta.
- The culture of Indonesia has been shaped by long interaction between original
indigenous customs and multiple foreign influences. Javanese Abangan belief,
the fusion of Hinduism, Buddhism, and animism in Bodha, and the fusion of
Hinduism and animism in Kaharingan are all examples of fusions of Islam and
Hinduism. Balinese dances tell stories about ancient Buddhist and Hindu
kingdoms, while Islamic art forms and architecture can be found throughout
Sumatra, particularly in the Minangkabau and Aceh regions. PencakSilat is a
martial art form that combines traditional art, music, and sport. Despite all
differences in its multicultural society - there is a true sense of unity among the
people of Indonesia.
b. The impact of the Chinese domination to the socio-political condition of Thailand.
- During the next several hundred years of Chinese colonization and dominance, a
combination of Han imperial military power, regular settlement, and an influx of
Han Chinese refugees, officers and garrisons, merchants, scholars, bureaucrats,
fugitives, and prisoners of war brought about the Sinification of the newly
conquered Nanyue. At the same time, Chinese officials were eager to capitalize
on the region's natural resources and trade opportunities. In addition, Han
Chinese officials also seized fertile land conquered from Vietnamese nobles for
newly settled Han Chinese immigrants. I think the Chinese domination has a
great impact to socio-political condition of Thailand. Because China was the
cultural center of East Asia, many Vietnamese people were eager to try Chinese
cuisine. Furthermore, when the Chinese arrived, they brought with them the
most advanced architectural and building technologies in the world. Because of
Chinese infrastructure, Vietnam has been able to grow economically and
politically.
c. The impact of the Spanish Colonization to the dominant religious and socio-cultural
belief of the Philippines.
- The Philippines' colonial experiences have had a significant impact on the
preservation of the nation's literary and built cultural heritage. The colonial
legacy has established a precedent that destroys old practices, ways of life,
 structures, and edifices in order to favor the creation of a new set of world
orders, thereby establishing a culture of neglect and disregard for cultural
heritage conservation. Spain's policy toward the Philippines, its only colony in
Asia, had three goals: to gain a share of the spice trade, to establish contacts
with China and Japan in order to further Christian missionary efforts there, and
to convert the Filipinos to Christianity. The imposition of the Roman Catholic
faith on the Filipino population had a long-lasting impact on Philippine culture
and society. This is because the Spanish friars who took on the enormous task of
evangelizing the Filipino natives saw their missionary work and endeavor as
involving more than simple conversion. The Filipinos chosen to accept Spanish
Roman Catholic Christianity. The Spanish gathered the dispersed Filipino
population into clustered village settlements, where they could be more easily
instructed and Christianized under the supervision of a friar. This policy laid the
groundwork for the current system of politico-territorial organization of villages,
towns, and provinces.
d. The impact of the several distinct religious traditions to the Buddhist Thai.
- Thailand's Buddhist population is predominantly Theravada, but it has also
adopted Chinese and folk beliefs such as ancestor worship. Buddhism is the
religion in Thailand that is responsible for the majority of the country's
spectacular temples, with Buddhist temples known for their tall domes, golden
statues, unique architecture, and incredible detail. According to official census
figures, more than 90% of Thais practice Buddhism. However, the religious life of
the country is more complicated than such numbers suggest. Most Buddhists in
Thailand's significant Chinese population have been assimilated into the
mainstream Theravada school, with only a small minority retaining Chinese
Buddhism. The Thai constitution, which guarantees religious freedom to all Thai
citizens, contains no official state religion, yet the king is obliged by law to be a
Theravada Buddhist. Thailand's predominant religion is Buddhism, however
there is a significant Hindu undercurrent, with a class of brahmins performing
sacerdotal functions.