Cultures of Asia

A wide variety of societies, religions and ethnicities shape the culture of Asia. The Asian culture is an aggregation of diverse customs, traditions and social values that form the core of the Asian society. The continent of Asia is comprised of the geographic and cultural subregions of central, southern, western and eastern Asia. The Asian continent boasts of a rich cultural heritage that has given the region, an identity of its own. The different forms of Asian art and literature are widely popular around the world and the widespread influence of the Asian philosophy and religion, especially of East Asia, is worth making a mention of. The cultures of the continent of Asia are the most diverse of world cultures. Let us take a look at them.

Cultures of Asia: Central Asia

Central Asia is comprised of five former Soviet Socialist Republics, namely, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikstan. The most prominent religion in Central Asia is Islam. The vibrant nature of the Central Asian culture is the result of the influences of the Mongols, Persians and Russians who conquered their land. It also exhibits major influences of Indian, Chinese and Arabian cultures. Central Asian cuisine is appreciated throughout the world. Their music is fairly popular in different parts of the world; while their literature hosts a collection of literary works by the Persians, Indians, Arabians and Chinese.

Cultures of Asia: East Asia

China, Japan and Korea are some of the countries that lie in the East Asia. Although, different regions of East Asia host diverse cultural traditions, the Chinese influence on the East Asian culture cannot be ignored. The Chinese culture is one of the oldest in the world. Chinese customs and traditions vary across different regions of the country. It is needless to elaborate on the popularity of Chinese food. Chinese architecture and more importantly, Feng Shui, the Chinese system of aesthetics that is one of the vital components of their architecture; are some of the most important elements of the Chinese culture.

Japanese culture is another ancient culture of East Asia. It has evolved over a period of thousands of years, starting from the prehistoric Jomon and Yayoi cultures to the modern-day culture bearing European and North American influences. The Japanese martial arts and sumo wrestling, visual arts like brush-drawn calligraphy, their sculpture styles and Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, are world renowned.

Another distinct feature of this region is the equally ancient culture of Korea. The Korean civilization originated around 5000 years ago. The family institution is of prime importance in the Korean culture. Most of the Korean families maintain detailed records of their genealogical origins. The Koreans celebrate birthdays, weddings and special occasions such as the first full moon, arrival of spring and New Year. Most of the traditional festivals of Korea are based on the lunar calendar. The Korean tea and traditional Korean foods like kimchi (fermented vegetables) are some of the important constituents of the Korean cuisine. Korean paintings (prominently using naturalism), the exquisitely beautiful handicrafts and pottery are some of the other important elements of the Korean culture.

Cultures of Asia: West Asia

West Asia is shaped by the presence of Arab, Turkish and Persian cultures. Interestingly, Iraq is one nation that is home to both Persian and Arab cultures. The Arabic cultural traditions are closely associated with Islam. A majority of the Arabs are Muslims. However, there are considerable number of Jews and Christians in the Gulf countries. Arabic is one of the very ancient literary languages that is believed to have originated in the 6th century. Interestingly, many English words are derivatives of Arabic words. Arabian music, characterized by a unique tone system, small but well-designed musical instruments and predominance of vocals, form an important constituent of the Arab culture. Description of the Arab culture would be incomplete without the mention of Arabian literature, which is a collection of notable literary works like 'Arabian Nights'.

The culture of Turkey is a combination of the elements of Ottoman, European and Middle Eastern traditions. The classical and the folk genres of Turkish music make up the rich musical heritage of the country. Brass and percussion instruments play a vital role in Turkish music. Turkish pop and rock are nonetheless popular. Turkish cuisine is a blend of Turkic, Arabic, Persian and American cuisines. Besides the Arab and Turkish cultures, West Asia is also home to the Persian culture. Persian music, an important element of their culture, is indigenous to Iran and all the Persian-speaking countries. Classical Persian music focuses on vocal singing and functions as a spiritual tool. Persian dances emphasize on upper body movements and facial expressions. Apart from the New Year, the Persians celebrate the water and fire festivals and cherish the onset of winter and autumn. The Persian Garden, designed as a representation of paradise on earth, is an excellent example of the art and architecture of the Persians. West Asian culture, is thus, a beautiful blend of customs and traditions of the Arabians, the Persians and the Turkish.

Cultures of Asia: South Asia

The states in north India and countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan share a culture that is influenced by the Indus Valley Civilization and the Maurya, Gupta and Mughal empires. Sri Lanka shares a Dravidian culture with some of the South Indian states; while the culture of West Bengal and Bangladesh is a mix of the Dravidian and Aryan cultures. There is a striking similarity between the cultures of Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and Indian states like Sikkim and Ladakh. Similarities are observed in cultures of the eastern states of India and South East Asia. Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and Hinduism predominate South Asia. Influences from the Indian, Chinese, Christian and Islamic traditions, have shaped the culture of south-east Asia. Construction of stilt houses, rice paddy agriculture, dances emphasizing movements of the hands, and arts and literature bearing Indian, Chinese and Buddhist influences are some of the distinctive features of the south-east Asian culture.

This was a glimpse of the rich and varied cultural heritage of Asia. I am sure it has drawn you towards exploring the yet-undiscovered facets of the Asian culture. Only a tour to the Asian continent can give you a real taste of Asian opulence.

Culture of Malaysia

Family life is of utmost importance and holds a strong place when it comes to the culture of Malaysia. The Malay culture is native to Malaysia. Malaysia also boasts of a rich cultural heritage. The culture of Malaysia sees a healthy mix of various tribes such as the Malay, the Chinese and even the Indians. The Malaysian culture has also witnessed heavy influences from the other cultures as well. Malaysia also offers you loads of things to do and beautiful sights to see and one can notice that the culture of Malaysia is as beautiful as this land. Here’s a look at the culture of Malaysia and factors associated with it.

Glimpses of the Culture of Malaysia:

Malaysian Culture: People
Malaysia is a country that is known for its rich and cultural heritage. Here, people strongly believe in respecting each other’s culture and religion. Here, one can find a good mix of Malay, Chinese and even Indian communities. The Malay people cover more than half of the population of Malaysia. As per the laws of the Malaysian Constitution, all Malays are basically Muslims and one can get a glimpse of the traditional Malay culture in the village areas.

The Malaysian culture also includes the Chinese and they were known to have adopted the Malaysian culture since the ancient days. With the practice of intermixed marriages there emerged a whole new group where the males were called as the babas and the females were known as the nyonyas. The Chinese therefore are the second largest group out here.

The Indians are the third largest group of people that form a major part of the Malaysian culture. The Indians had always visited Malaysia since the ancient days.

Thus we see how different races have formed a part of the culture of Malaysia. The unity in diversity can be seen in the celebration of various festivals by all races in Malaysia. Apart from this, there are also certain tribes that form the oldest inhabitants of Malaysia. This forms to be at least 5 percent of the total population.

Malaysian Culture: Lifestyle
The Malaysian culture shows a lot of modern influences that is seen in the western culture today. Today, we can see many influences even in the native families, which speak the English language and follow a modern culture of pubbing and are a party going lot. This does not mean that the Malaysians do not follow their customs and traditions. Today, young girls still use a piece of cloth that covers their head which is called as Tudung. Family values forms still have a strong foothold in the culture of Malaysia.

Malaysian Culture: Music
The Malaysian music has seen influences from the Indonesia, Portugal and even has influences from Thai forms and Chinese styles. The pop scene has seen many developments in Malaysia and the more traditional kind of music was popularized in the 1920s-1930s. Yet another genre, the Pop Yeh Yeh ruled the Malaysian music scenario in from the year 1965 to 1971. Malaysian bands were heavily influenced with bands such as Scorpians and Def Leppard before the mid 1980s.

Malaysian Culture: Art and Handicrafts
A lot of influences can be seen in Malaysian art. External influences have made their presence felt in music, dancing and even literature apart from art. The traditional handicrafts of Malaysia include the textiles which are woven by the Punan tribes, basketwork, woodcarvings, patterned mats etc. The decorative art that belonged to the Malaysian art also includes batik cloth, which is dyed by hand with the help of a special technique.

Malaysian Culture: Cuisine
Rice is always the main food ingredient in Malaysian cuisine. Rice and noodles are a most favored combination. Malaysian cuisine also includes many dishes that use an array of seafood. One can even see an influence of the Indian cuisine such as naan, puris, idlis and even rotis that form a part of breakfast in the Malaysian cuisine.

Thus we can see that the Malay culture is really varied with influences from various other cultures as well. This is one place, which sees an equal amount of respect for all races and religion.

You might also be interested to read about Irish culture

Culture of Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is the second-largest nation, after Cuba, in the West Indies. In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered the island. The Spanish and the French then occupied it. The Taino Indians (Arawaks) group and a small settlement of Caribs around the Bahia de Samana were the island’s indigenous inhabitants. There were around 1 million Indians when the Europeans first made contact with them. They were almost decimated by disease, warfare, and the effects of forced labor by the 1550s. In 1503, African slaves stated arriving. The population was around 150,000 by the nineteenth century. There were about 40,000 African slaves around. Another 40,000 were of Spanish descent. The remaining were mulattoes (mixed white and black) or freed blacks. By the 1980s 11% of the population was black, 16% white and the remaining were mulattoes.

Dominican Food, Language, Religion and Sports

The Dominican Republic today is the result of many different influences over the centuries. The national beer is Presidente and the national drink is rum. The country has a rich art heritage like the Museo de Arto Moderno in Santo Domingo. The dominant language is Spanish and came about due to Spanish colonialism. English is becoming prevalent because of continued emigration to the United States. The Catholic Church is the majority religion here. Other religious groups are the Evangelical Christians and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. About 1% of the nation's inhabitants practice pure spiritism. The Taino culture has influenced many foods and medicines. The Tainos generally cook their meat and fish over barbacoas, outdoor charcoal-fueled grills. The African slave trade had a significant influence on the Dominican Republic. The national sport is baseball, which is played with passion. United States marines introduced the sport there. It gradually gained popularity until the 1960s, when Juan Marichal, the Alou Brothers (Felipe, Mateo, and Jesus), and other Dominicans became prominent major league players. All Dominicans speak Spanish, but some who live near the border with Haiti speak Creole English.

Dominican Arts and Literature

Many Dominican painters, including Ramón Oviedo, José Rincón Mora, and Leopoldo Navarro, have produced canvases ranging from exuberant Haitian-style paintings to abstract and Impressionistic works. The tourist trade has led to a renewed interest in Dominican handicrafts, such as ceramics, textiles, wood carvings, jewelry, dolls, and baskets. During the 19th-century Haitian occupation, a nationalist spirit began to develop in Dominican literature, expressed in the poetry of Félix Maria del Monte. Manuel de Jesus Galván continued the trend with his fictional epic Enriquillo: leyenda histórica dominicana (meaning The Cross and the Sword), which depicted Spanish settlers’ brutality toward Taino Indians. In the early 20th century, writers such as Américo Lugo and Gastón Fernando Deligne were more influenced by modernism. Nationalist expressions arose again in 1916 - 1924, during the American (USA) occupation of the country. In the late 20th century, social protest became a major theme, notably in the short stories of the leftist politician Juan Bosch, who wrote largely from exile. Contemporary writers have focused on daily life in the Dominican Republic. Their national dance is called 'merengue'.

Dominican Social Life

Dominican people are amicable and warm-hearted. It is common for them to invite you into their home to share in a meal. They like to smile and laugh and have a jovial spirit. You will often see a group having a lighthearted chat, slapping each other on the back, and generally enjoying life. You will frequently be greeted with a friendly 'Como Estas?', which translates to ‘How are you?’ One thing you will notice when you first arrive is the characteristic ‘manana’ attitude. ‘Manana’ means ‘tomorrow’ in Spanish, but is commonly used by people who don’t want to put a specific time and date on it. Many things do take longer here. People here have a very relaxed attitude. The thing to keep in mind is not to get annoyed too quickly. Openly showing your displeasure to a waiter or anyone else in a service industry is likely to get you less-than-satisfactory service. You’ll get a much better treatment if you smile, keep friendly and use as much Spanish as you can.

Culture of Colombia

Owing to geography, Colombia contains five main natural regions namely, the Andes mountain ranges, the Caribbean Sea coastal region, the Pacific Ocean coastal region, the Llanos (plains) and the Amazon rain forest region. Colombia is located in the northwestern region of South America. This has led to a diversified Colombian culture. Moreover globalization and urbanization have changed the Colombian way of living.

Spanish culture has highly influenced the culture of Colombia. It brought in Catholicism, the feudal encomienda system, the African slaves and the system that favored the European-born whites. The Blacks mingled with the indigenous people of Colombia, carnivals giving them an opportunity to do so. This mix created a blend of cultures. The banishment of slavery from the society, and the industrialization of the 20th century after the establishment of the Republic of Colombia were the positivities seen by the Colombian society.

Art of Colombia
The Colombian art ranges right from the sculptures and paintings of ancient times to the modern-day films, theatre and various other forms of art. Colombia has produced artists like Alejandro Obregon and Fernando Botero. Gold work, stonework and pottery constituted the pre-Colombian sculpture. The painting in Colombia was characterized by the pre-Columbian, the colonial, the Baroque and the Republican periods. Renaissance and medieval styles were the subjects of the paintings of the early colonial period. The Baroque period starting around 1600 AD bore the paintings featuring emotionalism, large gestures and populism. Mexican murals influenced the 20th century Colombian art. This period witnessed the world famous artists like Omar Rayo.

Literature of Colombia
Colombian literature of the colonial period focused on religion. Most of the expressions involved Spanish influences. Literature of the post-independence period was based on political thoughts and movements. During the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries, peasant life came to be depicted in the Columbian literature. Mystery became one of the subjects to write on, in the modern times. Children's literature that includes nursery rhymes and folk tales forms an important part of the literature of Columbia. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, one of the most significant authors of the 20th century, a Nobel Prize winner is a Colombian.

Music of Colombia
Music is one of the most beautiful expressions of any culture. The Colombian culture contains a variety of music genres. Song and dance accompany the special events of common man's life. Cumbia, one of the genres of Colombian music, is a blend of the African and the Spanish music. Salsa, born in Puerto Rica and Cuba, became popular in Colombia. Champeta, Abozao, Juga, Pilon, Porro, Seis, Socca and Tambora are some of the other music genres of the different parts of Colombia. The Colombian music of the present times includes hip-hop, pop and rock music. Shakira, a prominent name in the music industry, is from Colombia.

Religion in Colombia
The Colombian Constitution has granted freedom of religion to its people. Before 1991, Catholicism was the official religion of Colombia. During the colonial period, the health as well as the education facilities came under the Catholic Church. The culture of Colombia has accepted the freedom of religion and it is apparent in its diversified population.

Colombian Cuisine
The Colombian food shows a reflection of the European style of cooking. Fritanga that includes grilled beef and chicken, ribs and sausage with potatoes, forms a favorite dish of the Colombians. Tubers and meat form the staple food of the Colombians. The climate of Colombia is conducive for the flourish of a variety of crops and fruits. Both fresh and salt water fish are plentiful in Colombia. The popular dishes vary across the different natural regions of Colombia.

Festivals of Colombia
The carnivals held on various occasions form a major part of the festivities of Colombia. Cali Fair, held towards the end of December, The Flowers Fair, characterized by the flowers parade, Rock at the park, inviting the participation of rock bands and the traditionally celebrated Carnival of Blacks and Whites are some of the popular Colombian fiestas.

People of Colombia - The Colombians
The diverse population of Colombia mirrors the history and the diverse culture of the Colombians. Their diverse population consists of the Amerindians, Africans, Asians, and the people of the Middle East, as also those who have migrated from Europe. Most of the Colombian populace is mestizo. With the passing time the population of Colombia has increased as also progressed with respect to the education and overall development. According to a survey in 2004, the people of Colombia are one of the happiest people of the world.

Colombians are proud of their richly diverse culture. The culture of Colombia is indeed a combination of the ‘traditional’ and the ‘modern’. It is a mix of various ethnicities making Colombia a wonderful multicultural country.

Culture in South Africa

Perhaps one of the most spectacular features about the culture in South Africa would be that there isn’t just one single culture, but instead a whole cornucopia of different cultures that represent every level of an extremely stratified community. There are of course many hybrid mixtures of these varied cultures, making this nation one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world.

Culture cant get more diverse than it is in South Africa. This is a multiracial community and defining certain distinct subgroups by skin color alone will land you into a great deal of trouble. Those of British and Afrikaner descent most certainly wont be too happy to be mistaken as one another, and there are many different major and minor groupings that come under the traditional black African cultures.

The melding and mingling in the urban areas of South Africa, together with the intense suppression if the age-old traditional cultures during the years of apartheid, means that the older, more pleasant ways of life are all beginning to fade, but the traditional black cultures are still going strong in many parts of the countryside. Across the different tribes and groups, taboos and marriage customs tend to differ, but one common point that you will notice amongst most of the African traditional cultures is that they are all based on beliefs in ancestral spirits, masculine deities, and supernatural forces. On the whole, polygamy is acceptable and a dowry is generally paid. Cattle also play a very big role in most South African cultures as sacrificial animals and are looked upon as symbols of wealth and riches.

Looking at the art that has come out of the aboriginal populations of South Africa is probably the only way that we can connect with many of its lost cultures. Cave paintings and rock paintings by the San that back to nearly 26,000 years ago are just a small example of the art that has come out of this diverse cultural melting pot that is known to us as South Africa. There are many other cases, like the intricately ‘coded’ beadwork made by the Zulus, which is another good example of the traditional African art that have been created and adapted to survive in different conditions. The Zulu is probably one of the only strongest black cultures that survive till date and the Zulu songs along with their massed singing demonstrations are a very powerful reflection of this ancient culture. The Xhosa tribe also has a very strong presence in the cultural stage of South Africa and they are also known as the red people because of the red clothing worn by the adults.

The distinct culture of the Afrikaner’s has been developed throughout the years in a very deliberate isolation that saw them wandering around with their cows and a Bible in their hands while the rest of Europe experimented with liberalism and democracy. The rural communities of today still revolve around the conservative churches.

Apart from the Afrikaners, most of the white South Africans are of British descent. The British tend to be a lot more urbanized and dominate most of the financial and business sectors today. There is quite a large and extremely influential Jewish population as well, and a very significant Indian minority.

The British can be blamed for the large part of the food that is dished out in South Africa, although it isn’t as bad as it may seem, the situation is indeed improving dramatically. Boerewors sausages or steak, over boiled veggies (bland to say the least) and chips are the staple diet, and when you encounter food that seems to be a little more adventurous than the norm, then its probably going to turn out to be scary to say the least. Vegetarians will certainly not have a good time here. Traditional African dishes are generally not served in restaurants, but you’ll probably come across places that serve stew belly-fillers and cheap rice in most towns. Brandy and beer are the most popular beverages, and the excellent wines that come out of the South African vineyards are becoming increasingly popular.

Even though South Africa is home to many different cultures, most of these were suppressed during the years of apartheid, when all the daily practices of traditional as well as the contemporary cultures were ignored, destroyed or trivialized. In a society where a person could be imprisoned for just owning a politically incorrect piece of art like a painting, all the serious works of art were forced underground and the galleries and theaters were chock full bland works of art.

One of the best prospects of South Africa is that this country is always in the process of reinventing itself, and with such a large amount of the population that is marginalized from the economic mainstream; this is taking place without much input from any of those professional image makers. Music is another part of the culture that exemplifies the diversity and range of the culture in South Africa. Classical music, even though it is European in nature, is enjoyed occasionally at concerts throughout the country. Jazz is also a favorite in the larger townships and has diversified and developed into three very distinctive genres, namely: Black jazz, township jazz and Marabi. Kwaito is also very popular. Pop and rock are also favorites and many South African musicians have even created sounds that cannot really be confined to any particular genre, but are distinctly South African in nature.

So, come and enjoy the beauty of South Africa’s culture.