CHINA
Full country name:
Country Area:
Population:
Languages (official):
Religions:
China
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JAPAN
People:
Japan
126,182,077 (growth rate .2%)
99.4% Japanese, 0.6% other (mostly Korean)
Japanese
84% Shinto and Buddhism, 0.7% Christian, 15.3% other
Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest human life in Japan may have started around 35,000 BCE. In about the 5 th century CE, the Yamato clan unified the people under a central, imperial government, ruled by an emperor. By the 12th century, the Minamoto clan established military rule under a Shogun. Civil war broke out and lasted until the 15th century when the Tokugawa clan seized power and continued to rule until 1868. Western foreigners entered Japan in 1853 and spread their culture and influence. Japan quickly industrialized, established itself as an international power, and participated in many wars, including World War II. Today, Japan acts under a parliamentary government, with a Prime Minister as its leader.
SOUTH KOREA
Conventional Short Form:
Ethnic Groups:
Republic of Korea
South Korea
Korean, Chinese
46,884,800
Korean or Hangul
Christianity 49%; Buddhism 47%; Confucianism 3%; pervasive folk religion (shamanism), Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way), and other 1%
One of the major states of Korea, Koguryo, was founded near the Yalu river in the first century CE. Many separate kingdoms in Korea eventually united to form the Korea we know today. The Sila Kingdom emerged in 350 CE and unified the peninsula c.a. 800 CE. Further, the Yi Dynasty built a new capital, Hanyang, now known as Seoul, and claimed Confucianism as the official religion. At certain times in history, Korea has been ruled by both the Japanese and the Chinese. After the World War II, Korea was divided at the 38th parallel, forming North Korea and South Korea; and they remain separate countries to this day.
TIBET
Land:
Nickname:
Tibet (part of China)
"The Roof of the World"
2,000,000
Lamaism, Vajrayana Buddhism
During the fifth century CE, Tibet became a powerful kingdom; and the largest city, Lhasa, was founded. The land fell to China in the 1700's, the Tibetan ruler at the time being the Dalai Lama. However, the Tibetans later rebelled by driving the Chinese from their land; and a rivalry soon grew between the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. Eventually, Tibet surrendered to China and agreed to Chinese rule as long as they could hold the right to self-govern; however, the Chinese control became too strict, leading to riots protesting the Chinese rule. The Dalai Lama, who had escaped to India, found a way for peaceful coexistence between Tibet and China; and for this he won a Nobel prize.
