Far East and Oceania: Holiday 101 guide

East Asia (or Eastern Asia) is a region of Asia, including: China, Korea (North Korea and South Korea), Japan, Mongolia (sometimes attached to Central Asia) , Taiwan, possibly Vietnam and Singapore, for cultural reasons (these countries are more generally attached to Southeast Asia for their geographical position), the Russian Far East can also be attached to this region.

China was the first colonized region in East Asia and was undoubtedly the core of East Asian civilization from which the other parts of East Asia formed. The various other regions of East Asia have been selective in the Chinese influences they have adopted into their local customs.

The religious phenomenon in the Chinese world is characterized by pluralism, favored by the attitude of the State: since the beginning of the empire (3rd century BCE), the latter has exercised careful control over groups likely to constitute a threat. for power and society and brings overly active sects into line, only exceptionally granting exclusivity to a cult. Syncretism and mixing are common, making the contours of religious groups blurred; we have the impression of being faced with a constellation of philosophies and practices rather than confessions.

Taoism, or rather the Taoist currents, appeared from the 2nd century, inspired by the currents of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, as well as by the writings of the philosopher Lao Tseu (or Lao-tseu) (老子) dating from the mid-first millennium BC BC, including the famous Book of the Way and Virtue (Tao Tö King), is, with the Book of Changes (Yi Jing), at the sources of Chinese esotericism. These currents were constantly enriched with new influences and provided the whole of Chinese religion with many of its concepts and practices as well as a number of deities.

Founded on the teaching of the life of Confucius, notably through his Analects and the works of his disciples such as Mencius, Confucianism (rujiao 儒教) was established as a state doctrine, reaching its peak during the Song dynasty. Naturally devoted to the interpretations of the ruling dynasties, the original doctrine of Confucius is however not necessarily synonymous with submission to institutions, as some contemporaries observe. Historically, however, Confucianism helped to impose the ideology of the “five relationships” between subjects, intended to strengthen social order and the cosmic link between hierarchical position and celestial virtue.