ASIAN

CULTURE AND TRADITIONS

 The culture of Asia encompasses the collective and diverse customs and
traditions of art, architecture, music, literature, lifestyle, philosophy, politics and
religion that have been practiced and maintained by the numerous ethnic groups
of the continent of Asia since prehistory. Identification of a specific culture of
Asia or universal elements among the colossal diversity that has emanated from
multiple cultural spheres and three of the four ancient River valley civilizations
is complicated. However, the continent is commonly divided into five
geographic sub-regions, that are characterized by perceivable commonalities,
like culture, religion, language and relative ethnic homogeneity. These regions
are Central Asia, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia.
Cultures from each Subcontinents
East Asia
The Chinese script is one of the oldest continuously
used writing systems in the world, and has been a
major unifying force and medium for conveying
Chinese culture in East Asia. Classical Chinese was
the literary language of elites and bureaucrats.
Historically used throughout the region, it is still in
use by Chinese diaspora communities around the
world, as well as in Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and
pockets of Southeast Asia.
South Asia
Evidence of Neolithic culture has been found
throughout the modern states Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka that represent VedicSouth
texts
Asia (also known as the Indian
subcontinent). The great significance of the
Vedic texts (that don't mention cities or urban
life) for South Asian culture, their impact on
family, societal organisation, religion, morale,
literature etc.
SouthEast Asia
A common feature found around the region are stilt
houses. These houses are elevated on stilts so that water
can easily pass below them in case of a flood. Another
shared feature is rice paddy agriculture, which originated
in Southeast Asia thousands of years ago. Dance drama
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, Buddhist, and
Islamic literature.
Central Asia
Central Asia, in between the Caspian Sea
and East Asia. The region was
conquered and dominated by a variety of
cultures, such as the Chinese, Greeks,
Mongols, Persians, Tatars, Russians, and
Sarmatians. As some Central Asian areas
have been inhabited by nomadic people,
numerous urban centers have developed
in a distinct local character.
 West Asia
Today, almost 93% of Western Asia's inhabitants are Muslim and is characterized by
political Islamic, with the exception of Israel, a Jewish state. At its north-western end,
Armenia and Georgia have an unmistakable Christian tradition, while Lebanon shares a
large Christian and a large Muslim community. Ethnically, the region is dominated by Arab,
Persian, Kurdish, Azerbaijani, and Turkish people. Among them smaller indigenous groups
are the Jews, Assyrians, Druze, Samaritans, Yazidis and Mandeans.
Some of the Notable Traditions
Different greetings
While you might be used to a handshake, it’s not always the best
way to greet someone in Asia. In Thailand, the main way to greet
someone is the ‘wai’. You bring your hands together in a prayer
gesture and give a slight bow or nod of the head while saying hello
or goodbye. You should also acknowledge the oldest people in the
room when you arrive and leave, as this is a great sign of respect. In
Japan and South Korea,and china, bowing can be used as a greeting
and symbol of respect. You perform a bow by bending from the
waist with your back straight and eyes down. On the other hand,
Filipinos greet elders with “mano” to show respect.
Mind your head and feet
In many Asian cultures, the head is considered the most
sacred part of the body. You should never touch anyone
on the head – even children or Buddha statues. On the
other end, feet are considered the dirtiest part of the
body as they touch the ground and are furthest from the
head. You should never point the soles of your feet at
anyone or anything sacre. If you’re sitting down in a
temple, restaurant or home, remember to keep your feet
politely tucked beneath you.
Share your food
Another common Asian tradition is sharing food. Most
Asian households like to prepare a bunch of dishes and
share them all together around a big table. Each Asian
country has its own unique traditions. For example in
China or Japan, you should never leave your chopsticks
standing up in your bowl, as this is similar to funeral
practices. If you’re finished with your meal, simply lay
them to the side on the table or on a special chopsticks
rest.
Public displays of affection
In practically every Asian culture, it’s rude for members of the
opposite sex to kiss, hug or hold hands in public. These are
considered to be intimate acts that are only done in private.

Holding hands
On the flip side, hand-holding between people of the same gender is
totally okay in many Asian countries like India. It’s simply seen as a
sign of companionship.
Asian New Year traditions
In most Asian cultures, New Year is a big deal.
And they don’t all celebrate it on January 1st.
China and Vietnam celebrate the date according
to the Lunar calendar (usually at the start of
February), while Thailand, Cambodia and Laos
celebrate their Buddhist New Year in April.
Thank You!