SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

AMONG NEIGHBORING ASIAN

COUNTRIES

Kia Jane V. Buenbrazo

ASIA
Asia, the world’s largest and most
diverse continent. It occupies the
eastern four-fifths of the giant
Eurasian landmass. Asia is more a
geographic term than a
homogeneous continent, and the use
of the term to describe such a vast
area always carries the potential of
obscuring the enormous diversity
among the regions it encompasses.
 ASIA
Asia has both the highest and the lowest points on the
surface of Earth, has the longest coastline of any
continent, is subject overall to the world’s widest
climatic extremes, and, consequently, produces the
most varied forms of vegetation and animal life on
Earth. In addition, the peoples of Asia have
established the broadest variety of human adaptation
found on any of the continents.
 ASIA
Asia is bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean
to the east, the Indian Ocean to the south, the Red Sea (as well as the
inland seas of the Atlantic Ocean—the Mediterranean and the Black)
to the southwest, and Europe to the west. Asia is separated from
North America to the northeast by the Bering Strait and from
Australia to the southeast by the seas and straits connecting the
Indian and Pacific oceans. The Isthmus of Suez unites Asia with
Africa, and it is generally agreed that the Suez Canal forms the
border between them. Two narrow straits, the Bosporus and the
Dardanelles, separate Anatolia from the Balkan Peninsula.
 ASIA
The term Asia refers conventionally to the
eastern portion of the Eurasian landmass plus
the island country of Japan and the island
nations of Maritime Southeast Asia.

The continent is situated almost entirely north

of the equator except for some Southeast Asian
islands. Asia is connected to Africa by the
Isthmus of Suez and borders Europe (part of
the same landmass) along the Ural Mountains
and across the Caspian Sea.

Area
Asia covers an area of about 49.7 million km²
(19,189,277 square miles), which corresponds
to about 30 percent of the Earth's total land
area.
 HOW MANY COUNTRIES
ARE THERE IN ASIA?
The area is shared by 50 countries.
By far the largest country in terms of
area is Russia, with more than 17
million km², of which 13 million km²
(77%) are in Asia.

The second-largest Asian country is

China, with an area of 9.6 million km².
The smallest independent state in Asia is
the island nation of Maldives with 298
km².
 ASIAN REGIONS

Conventionally there are six

main geographical regions or
subregions in Asia.

- Northern Asia, Western Asia,

Central Asia, Eastern Asia,
Southern Asia, and SouthEast
Asia
 NORTH ASIA
North Asia or Northern Asia refers to the vast northern part of Asia east of the Ural Mountains, also known as Siberia. The
region is divided into the Russian federal districts of Ural, Siberia, and the Russian Far East. The 13 million km² (5.1 million sq
mi) large territory borders the Arctic Ocean in the north, European Russia in the west, and the Bering Sea in the east. Siberia
shares international borders with Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China in the south.

Approximately 36 million people live in Northern Asia (in 2020).

 WESTERN ASIA
Western Asia refers to the western part of Asia, which includes the Arabian Peninsula and most countries of the Middle East.
There are 19 countries in Western Asia (the United Nations geoscheme lists only eighteen). Except for Armenia, Georgia, Israel, and the
Republic of Cyprus, these are all countries with a majority Muslim population.
Approximately 279 million people live in the region (in 2020).
 CENTRAL ASIA
The term Central Asia refers to a region in Asia between the Caspian Sea and Western China. Central Asia
includes Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, which are all
predominantly Muslim countries and, with the exception of Afghanistan, were all former Soviet republics.
An estimated 74 million people live in Central Asia (in 2020).
 EAST ASIA
Conventionally East Asia or Eastern Asia refers to the eastern part of the Asian continent plus the island nation of Japan.
The United Nations geoscheme lists five sovereign countries plus the Chinese Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong
and Macao, as well as the Republic of China (Taiwan), with an uncertain political status.

Approximately 1.68 billion people live in Eastern Asia (in 2020).

 SOUTH ASIA
South Asia or Southern Asia refers to the southern part of central Asia. The region is bounded by the Indian Ocean in the
south and includes the Himalayas in the north. There are eight sovereign countries in Southern Asia. The geoscheme of the
United Nations includes Afghanistan in Southern Asia.

An estimated 1.94 billion people live in South Asia (in 2020).

 SOUTHEAST ASIA
Southeast Asia refers to the part of Asia that includes the Indochinese Peninsula and the nations of Maritime Southeast Asia.
The region is situated in the southeastern part of the continent, south of China, east of India and north of Australia.

According to the United Nations Population Division, approximately 668 million people live in Southeast Asia (in 2020).
MORE ABOUT ASIA
MORE ABOUT ASIA
MORE ABOUT ASIA
 MORE ABOUT ASIA

Langauges of Asia:
There are more than 2,000 living languages throughout Asia.
Major Languages are Arabic, Bengali, Burmese, Chinese,
Filipino, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay,
Russian, Thai, Turkic, Vietnamese and others.
ASIAN CULTURE
• Asian culture is a diverse one that includes
different languages, traditions, and artwork. It is
one of the oldest cultures, comprising thousands
of elements, including music, lifestyle,
literature, politics, traditions, religion, and
philosophy.
• In Asian culture, there are different types of
ethnic groups that have been maintaining their
values and cultural beliefs from prehistoric
times. Apart from diversity in groups, this
culture has interesting traditions and customs.
Let us explore more about this culture and know
what makes it unique.
 RELIGIONS IN ASIA
• Asia has a high population in the entire world and
one can find the perfect combination and harmony of
multiple religions in this continent. The most popular
beliefs that one can see in Asia are Buddhism,
Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, and
many others. The fact is that religious values highly
influence Asian traditions. It is like a small world
living on a single continent.

•In the Asian culture, one can find numerous

religions, which are:
 Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism,
Christianity, Confucianism, Jainism, Judaism,
Shintoism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism
 RELIGIONS IN ASIA
• The Islamic religion is highly followed by the people who
reside in South and Southeast Asia. According to Islam,
Allah is the God, and Muhammad was the last prophet of
the God on the earth. Muslim sect follow his teachings very
strictly.
• The next largest religion on the Asian continent is
Hinduism. It is said to be originated in India, which is one
of the most prominent countries of the Asia Continent.
Majority of people who follow Hinduism live in India and
Nepal. In Hinduism, there are further different sectors and
people respect all the communities and their God and
Goddesses.
• Asian culture has the significant influence of the religious
values and most of the Asian American follows the
Christian cultural values. One can also find the influence of
the other common religions on this culture.
 FOOD IN ASIA
• Asian food is delectable, and one can find
a variety of palatable dishes in different
Asian countries. That being said, the list of
ultimate food items is ever-growing.
People like to experiment with different
ingredients to make the food more
delicious and healthy.
• There is a significant variation available on
the overall taste and texture among the
different Asian foods like Chinese,
Japanese, and Korean food.

• Food in this culture is also known for its variety of ingredients as well as flavors and some dishes are not only popular
in one country but in other neighboring countries too.
• One of the common traditions in this culture is that people prepare several dishes and share them with others. Some of
the famous Asian foods are- Sushi and Sake in Japan, Gulab Jamun in India, Kimchi in Korea, Chilli Crab in
Singapore, Satay in Indonesia, Beef Noodles in Taiwan, and Curry Feast in Sri Lanka.
 CLOTHING STYLE AND
FASHION IN ASIA
• There are various clothing styles in
Asia that vary from country to
country. The geographical area and
cultural values highly influence the
fabric of the clothing.
• Undoubtedly, in the modern context,
everything is changing, and one can
see the significant influence of the
western dressing sense on the new
generation.

• For example, in China and Hong Kong, any clothing style is taken into account. One can
find the various names of the dresses like Qipao, Cheongsam, and many others. There are
some particular dresses in China which men and women both can wear. The main
conventional dress of China is Cheongsam or qipao, which is a high necked, body-
hugging dress with a skirt slit.
CLOTHING STYLE AND
FASHION IN ASIA
• When it comes to Japan, one
can find a Kimono robe, which
offers a traditional look to the
wearer. It comes in different
styles and is usually made from
silk.
• Citizens of Korea prefer to wear
baggy blouses, which are
popularly known as chigori.
Further, Daruma, Chima skirt,
and Paji are the most prominent
clothing items in Korea.
CLOTHING STYLE AND
FASHION IN ASIA
• The traditional Philippine costumes for male and female
vary across different regions of the country due to the rich
cultural diversity and history of the Philippines. Here are
some examples of traditional costumes for both genders:
• Female Traditional Costumes:
• Maria Clara Dress: This costume is inspired by the
character Maria Clara from Dr. Jose Rizal’s novel “Noli Me
Tangere.” It consists of a floor-length dress with butterfly
sleeves, intricate embroidery, and a high neckline. It’s often
worn with a pañuelo (scarf) draped over the shoulders.
• Baro’t Saya: The baro’t saya consists of a blouse (baro) and
a skirt (saya). The blouse usually has wide, bell-shaped
sleeves and is often adorned with embroidery and intricate
designs. The skirt is floor-length and typically made of fine
fabric.
CLOTHING STYLE AND
FASHION IN ASIA
• . Male Traditional Costumes:
• Barong Tagalog: The barong Tagalog is the national costume for
Filipino men. It’s a formal shirt made of sheer fabric, often
embroidered with intricate patterns. It’s typically worn untucked over
an undershirt and paired with slacks or formal trousers.
• Camisa de Chino: This traditional shirt is characterized by its
Mandarin collar and button-down style. It’s typically worn with
trousers and can be both formal and casual.
• Loincloth and Bahag: In some indigenous communities, particularly
among the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera region, men
traditionally wear loincloths called “bahag.” These are made from
woven cloth and are often accompanied by other accessories like
beaded necklaces and headgear.
• Traditional Accessories: In certain tribal communities, men wear
minimal clothing such as g-strings made from woven materials. They
also adorn themselves with traditional accessories like beadwork,
feathers, and other symbolic ornaments.
CLOTHING STYLE AND
FASHION IN ASIA
• The most diverse kind of clothing one can see would be
in India. Every state of this country is extraordinary in
the matter of dress and culture. For example, kurta
pajamas (long shirt and pants with drawstring) are
majorly worn in many parts. Saree is the prominent dress
for women in India. Apart from this, women wear suits
with dupattas. In today’s time, Western dresses have
made their way in the country and men and women do
wear jeans and shirts. But still, on special occasions and
festivals, people prefer to wear traditional attire, which is
sarees for women and kurta pajamas for men.
FAMILY STRUCTURE IN
ASIA
• The traditional Asian families prefer to live in a
joint family. That being said, one family may
have several married couples living together
with unmarried children. Asian traditions put
special emphasis on family values and living
with family.
• In Asian families, people like to support each
other more often and it is a symbol of their bond
of love and care for each other. In this way, they
forward the family values, cultural values, and
traditions to the next generation.
• In general, family is a curial part of Asians and
they support each other and prefer to live
together.
 SOME GENERAL CUSTOMS,
TRADITIONS AND ETIQUETTES IN ASIA
• Asia is also known for its customs and traditions which are as
follows:
Greetings
In Asian countries, people join their hands together to greet others. For
example, Namaste from India is a well-known greeting style. Similarly, in
Thailand, people join their hands together and give a slight bow. Generally,
this mode of greeting is done to wish hello or goodbye. In Philippines, The
common gesture used to greet is known as ‘mano’, often referred to as
‘bless’ in English. Mano is performed as a sign of respect towards elders
and as a way of accepting a blessing from the elder. It is usually done
towards those who are older by two generations or more.

Bowing
Bowing is also essential in this culture and it is the symbol of saying hello
or greeting others. In South Korea and Japan, people perform a bow to greet
others and it is also a symbol of respect. In the formal setting of the
greetings, bowing is significant and an essential part of the culture.
 SOME GENERAL CUSTOMS,
TRADITIONS AND ETIQUETTES IN ASIA
• Asia is also known for its customs and traditions which are as
follows:
Nodding of the head
Nodding of the head is another way of greeting. It is usually done
to express yes or thanks to the person.

Dining etiquettes
There are some dining etiquettes one must know when visiting
countries like Japan and China. In these countries, people lay their
chopsticks to the side on the table only. It is vital to note that one
should not leave their chopsticks standing up in the bowl because
this practice relates much with funeral practices.
Asian culture list is unique in the world because of its range of
customs and traditions. If you plan to visit any Asian country, you
should be aware of basic etiquette so that you do not offend anyone