CULTURES AND RELIGIONS IN
SOUTHERN AND EASTERN
ASIA
STANDARD:
SS7G12 – THE STUDENT WILL ANALYZE
THE DIVERSE CULTURES OF THE
PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SOUTHERN AND
EASTERN ASIA
a. Explain the differences between an ethnic
group and a religious group.
b. Compare and contrast the prominent
religions in southern and eastern Asia:
Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Shintoism,
and the philosophy of Confucianism.
c. Evaluate how the literacy rate affects the
standard of living.
Religious group vs. Ethnic Group
• Religious Group – group made up of
common beliefs. Can have different
languages, cultures, and race. They may
be spread over many countries.
• Ethnic Group – group made up of people
with similar language and culture. They
may or may not share religious beliefs or
values. Usually of the same race with
common ancestors.
Origins
Hinduism is an ancient religion with no
known founder or known date of origin.
Origins
The term "Hinduism" simply derives from
the word "India" and refers to a wide
variety of religious traditions and
philosophies that have developed in India
over thousands of years.
Adherents
• Hinduism is the third largest religion in the
world.
• Approximately 900 million people follow
Hinduism worldwide.
Adherents
A follower of
Hinduism is
called:
Hindu
Views
• Hinduism embraces a
great diversity of beliefs,
a fact that can be initially
confusing to westerners.
Views
Hinduism = monotheistic
• There are multiple
manifestations of one
supreme being (named
Brahman)
Three Major
Forms of
Brahman
Brahma the
Creator
Three Major
Forms of
Brahman
Shiva the Destroyer
Three
Major
Forms of
Brahman
Vishnu the
Preserver
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Everyone has a soul or Atman
Common Hindu Beliefs
• The Ultimate Goal: To reunite one’s soul
with Brahman, the universal spirit
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Reincarnation - Souls are born and reborn many
times
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Karma – the effects that good or bad
actions have on a person’s soul.
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Moksha – Salvation from the cycle of
rebirth. This happens after building
enough good karma.
Common Hindu Beliefs
• Dharma – each person has a duty to
accept his or her place in the world without
complaint.
Common Hindu Beliefs
(Rulers)
Life’s Purpose
• Humans are in bondage to ignorance and
illusion, but are able to escape.
• The purpose of life is to gain release
(moksha) from the cycle of rebirth, or at
least a better rebirth.
Afterlife
• Uniting with God (Brahman) as a drop of
rain merges with the sea.
General Practices
•
•
•
•
•
Yoga
meditation
worship (puja)
pilgrimage to holy cities
live according to one's dharma
(purpose/ role)
Holy Text(s)
• The Vedas (Book of Knowledge, most
sacred)
• Upanishads (means “Sitting near a
teacher”)
– Forms the theoretical basis for the Hindu
religion
• Bhagavad Gita
Buddhism
• Originated in India
• Fourth largest religion in the world.
• Siddhartha Gautama was the first “Buddha” or
“enlightened one”
• Traveled all over India spreading his teachings
and philosophies and gathered a following.
• Buddhists do not believe in a god.
• They follow the teachings of one man “Buddha”
• Basic ideas of their beliefs include:
Buddhist Teachings
• 1. The Four Noble Truths – basic instructions that say
suffering exists in the world and humans must reach
enlightenment to rise above the sufferings.
– You cease suffering by following The Eightfold Path
• 2. Holy Book – Tripitaka – tells Buddha’s teachings.
• 3. Man worship – they do not worship a god, but they
instead thank Buddha through reading the tripitaka to
become more enlightened.
• 4. Ultimate Goal – Nirvana – a state of enlightenment
where one can achieve peace and happiness through
meditation.
• 5. Reincarnation – a belief in a cycle of birth and
rebirth. They believe one’s behavior in this life
determines what they will be in the next life.
– Unlike Hinduism, Buddhists do not believe the soul passes on to
the next body.