A Comparison of East and West Asian Traditions
Countries of West Asia
Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Georgia,
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan,
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan,
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Russia
Traditions
Traditions are ways of doing things that
one generation hands down to the next.
West Asia contains many ancient sites,
such as the Old City of Jerusalem, where
traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
are important.
The Old City in Jerusalem
Armenian Quarter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_City_(Jerusalem)
Christian Tradition In Jerusalem
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Today the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre stands on
the site where tradition
says that Jesus was
crucified and buried.
http://holysepulchre.com/
Jewish Tradition In Jerusalem
The Western Wall
The Western Wall was once part of the walls surrounding the Second Temple
that was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70.
Jewish people write prayers on pieces of paper and place them in the cracks
between the stones of the wall.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Western_wall_jerusalem_night.jpg
Hurva Synagogue
http://image56.webshots.com/156/2/61/41/393326141IaKYHG_ph.jpg
The Hurva Synagogue, located in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem,
has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt over many years.
All that stands today is one of the synagogue’s arches.
Muslim Tradition In Jerusalem
The Dome of the Rock
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dome_of_the_Rock
The Dome of the Rock was built over a rock from which Muslims
believe Muhammad, the founder of Islam, ascended into heaven.
Pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Mecca, Muhammad’s birthplace, is the holiest city in Islam.
Five times a day, wherever they are all over the world, religious
Muslims turn towards Mecca to pray. Most Muslims try to make
a pilgrimage or “hajj” to Mecca at least once in their lifetimes.
Inside the Great Mosque is the Kaaba, which contains the Black Stone of Mecca.
Some Muslims believe God gave this stone to the first man, Adam.
The ancient city of Petra
Petra is located in a valley of
Jordan. Buildings were carved
into the rock of the mountains
that surround Petra. After an
earthquake destroyed most
of the city in A.D. 551, Petra’s
population declined and it
became home to only a very
small community.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Petra_Jordan_BW_21.JPG
Bukhara, Home of the Kalon Mosque & Minaret
Unlike many ancient cities,
people still live in Bukhara.
Bukhara is located in what is now the
country of Uzbekistan.
One of the most beautiful buildings in the
city is the Kalon Minaret, built in the
1100s. A minaret is a tower attached to a
mosque from which Muslims are called to
prayer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bukhara01.jpg
Hatra, Fortress City
http://www.atlastours.net/iraq/hatra.html
This ancient city is located in present day Iraq. It was built about
400 B.C. as a fortress, a place protected from attack. Hatra has
outer and inner walls that helped stop several Roman invasions
until Shapur I, king of Persia, destroyed it in about A.D. 240.
Masada, Desert Fortress
Overlooking the Dead Sea
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Archaeology/Masada1.html
This ancient city stands on a cliff in Israel. Its high
location made it a natural fortress. Around 35 B.C., King
Herod built walls around Masada to protect it even more.
The Ganges, India’s Sacred River
http://www.abigailsarah.co.za/myart/tantra/tantra_pics/river_ganges.jpg
Facts about the Ganges
It flows through northern India and Bangladesh.
The Hindus believe this river to be sacred.
Hindus who live close to the river drink and bathe in it every day.
When a Hindu dies, family members take the body to be cremated
and hold a special ceremony sprinkling the ashes in the river.
The water of the Ganges is believed to end the cycle of
reincarnation, allowing a person finally to go to heaven.
Travelers to the Ganges often take water home in containers
to be worshipped at their local temples.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal
Shah Jahan, the leader of the Mughal Empire, had the Taj
Mahal built in memory of his wife. It took 20,000 workers
from 1631 to 1648 to finish this magnificent building.
Countries of East Asia
http://geology.com/world/asia-map.gif
Mongolia, China, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Thailand, Cambodia,
Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, North Korea,
South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, and Russia
Traditions
Traditions are ways of doing things that one
generation hands down to the next. In East
Asia, kite flying is an ancient tradition that
started at least 3,000 years ago.
Japanese Kite Flying
http://kiteclub.org/pages/festival.htm
The Hamamatsu Kite Festival tradition dates back to the 1500s, when a large
kite was flown to honor the birth of a Japanese prince. Yet the importance
of the kites in Japanese culture dates back even further. Kites may have been
invented in China about 3,000 year ago and introduced to Japan about 1,300
years ago.
Sumo Wrestling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Asashoryu_fight_Jan08.JPG
Sumo is a type of Japanese wrestling. It is more
than a sport; it is a tradition and a way of life.
Sumo is a contest of strength, technique, and
balance.
Angkor is an ancient city that was the capital of the
great Khmer kingdom. It covers more than 150
square miles in northwestern Cambodia. About 100
religious temples and structures have been uncovered
since 1860.
http://www.flowerpictures.net/Freebeautifulpictures/Cambodia/Angkor_thom/images/angkor_thom-20.jpg
Buddha is the founder of Buddhism. In 2001,
while archaeologists were digging at one of the
temple in Angkor, they found an ancient statue
of Buddha.
This ancient Angkor temple is called Baphuon. When
it was discovered in the 1960s, archaeologists decided the
best way to save it was to tear it down and rebuild it.
http://www.cambodianangkortour.com/images/dyimg/091025082723p8.jpg
However, war broke out in Cambodia and they were
forced to stop. Only recently have attempts been made
to continue the restoration project.
Mongolian Horse Racing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Naadamceremony2006.jpg
Every summer hundreds of Mongolian children take part in the
country’s largest horserace. They are carrying on an ancient
tradition that dates back to the time of Genghis Khan, who ruled
Mongolia in the 1200s.
Shadow Puppets
http://discover-indo.tierranet.com/wayang1.htm
Wayang kulit, or shadow puppet theater, is a traditional
art form in Indonesia. The handmade puppets are moved
by a puppeteer to cast shadows against a screen. It is a
1000-year-old tradition passed through many generations.
Dragon Boat Racing, China
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:VM_3852_Singapore_-_Qu_Yuan_in_a_dragon_boat.jpg
Websites
Sacred Destinations
http://www.sacred-destinations.com
UNESCO World Heritage Centre
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list
Bibliography
Eden Force Eskin, World Cultures West Asia People and Places,
National Geographic School Publishing, 2003
Minnie Ashcroft, World Cultures West Asia People and Places,
National Geographic School Publishing, 2003