East Asia’s history spans thousands of years and includes a wide range of cultures and civilizations. East Asia is the region that includes China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Mongolia.
CHINA ,THE MIDDLE KINGDOM
China, the world’s longest continuous civilization, has a 5,000-year history.The Chinese referred to their civilisation as “the Middle Kingdom,” believing it to be the centre of the universe. Myth and legend surround the early dynasties, such as the Xia and Shang. The Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BC) was followed by the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BC) and the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220 AD), according to historical records. The Han Dynasty is regarded as a Golden Age in Chinese history, during which Confucianism and the Silk Road trade route flourished.
Following the Han Dynasty, China experienced a period of fragmentation and dynastic upheaval. The Tang Dynasty (618–907) delivered stability and wealth to China and is regarded as the country’s second Golden Age. Printing and gunpowder, among other breakthroughs, were developed during the Song Dynasty (960–1279).
JAPAN, THE LAND OF RISING SUN
Japan has a long and illustrious history that reaches back to prehistoric times. The Jomon, Japan’s first known civilization, lived from roughly 14,000 BC until 300 BC. Rice cultivation and ironworking were introduced during the Yayoi period (300 BC-300 AD). Buddhism was introduced to Japan during the Nara Period (710–794), and Japanese literature and culture flourished during the Heian Period (794–1185).
The Kamakura Period (1185–1333) witnessed the establishment of the samurai and the shogunate governance system. Under the Tokugawa Shogunate, the Edo Period (1603–1868) was a period of relative peace and stability during which Japan was mostly isolated from the outside world.
KOREA, THE LAND OF MORNING CALM
Korea’s history is long and varied, dating back to the Neolithic period. The kingdoms of Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla emerged during the Three Kingdoms period (57 BC-668 AD). Buddhism flourished during the Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) as did the introduction of movable type printing.
During the Joseon Dynasty (1392–1910), Confucianism flourished and the Korean script, Hangul, was introduced. Korea fell under Japanese rule in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and suffered significantly during World War II.
TAIWAN, THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Taiwan has a complicated history influenced by many colonial empires. Before the arrival of the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Following the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing Dynasty (1683–1895) took control of Taiwan before losing it to Japan. Following World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese rule by the Republic of China, which fled to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party in 1949.
MONGOLIA ,THE LAND OF HORSES
Mongolia has a rich and proud history that extends back to Genghis Khan’s Mongol Empire (1206–1368). The empire was the greatest contiguous empire in history, stretching from Asia to Europe. Mongolia was ruled by several clans and kingdoms after the empire’s decline before becoming a part of the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century. Mongolia declared independence from China in 1911 and experienced political turmoil before becoming a socialist state in 1924. Mongolia has had a democratic government since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
HONGKONG, THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT
Hong Kong has a distinct and complicated history, defined by its strategic location, British colonisation, and role as a crossroads between East and West.
The earliest known occupants of Hong Kong were the Hakka and Cantonese, who founded fishing settlements on the region’s islands and mainland. Following the end of the First Opium War in 1841, Hong Kong Island was given to the United Kingdom as part of the Treaty of Nanking. After that, the British created a colony on Hong Kong Island, which later extended to include the Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories.
Hong Kong expanded fast as a major port and economic centre during British administration. The city developed in population as individuals from all over China and other parts of Asia flocked to work and settle in the city, and it became a trading and banking powerhouse.
Hong Kong expanded fast as a major port and economic centre during British administration. The city developed in population as individuals from all over China and other parts of Asia flocked to work and settle in the city, and it became a trading and banking powerhouse.
From 1941 until 1945, Hong Kong was occupied by the Japanese during World War II. Following the war, the city was returned to British authority, and its economy grew as a result of its status as a major financial centre and gateway to China.
Negotiations regarding the future of Hong Kong began in the 1980s between the British and Chinese governments. The Sino-British Joint Declaration, issued in 1984, said that China pledged to enable Hong Kong to keep its capitalist system and way of life for the next 50 years following the handover on July 1, 1997. The handover signalled the end of British colonial control and the start of Hong Kong’s position as a Chinese Special Administrative Region
Hong Kong has gone through periods of political and social unrest since the handover, including rallies seeking political change, the Umbrella Movement in 2014, and the ongoing pro-democracy protests since 2019. China passed a national security law for Hong Kong in 2020, which has been criticised for encroaching on civil freedoms and the autonomy of the city.
