Art and Culture

Art history of East Asia: Includes the development of art styles, techniques, and materials in the region. This topic covers the art of China, Japan, and Korea.

Literature of East Asia: Includes the development of literature styles, themes, and genres in the region. This topic covers the literature of China, Japan, and Korea.

Religion in East Asia: Includes the various belief systems, practices, and rituals that have shaped the cultures of the region. This topic covers the major religions of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.

Music and dance in East Asia: Includes the various musical traditions, instruments, and dance styles that are characteristic of the region. This topic covers the music and dance of China, Japan, and Korea.

Food and cuisine in East Asia: Includes the various culinary traditions, ingredients, and dishes that are characteristic of the region. This topic covers the food and cuisine of China, Japan, and Korea.

Architecture in East Asia: Includes the various architectural styles, techniques, and features that are characteristic of the region. This topic covers the architecture of China, Japan, and Korea.

Fashion and textiles in East Asia: Includes the various fashion trends, fabrics, and clothing styles that are characteristic of the region. This topic covers the fashion and textiles of China, Japan, and Korea.

Performing arts in East Asia: Includes the various theatrical and performance traditions, actors, and plays that are characteristic of the region. This topic covers the performing arts of China, Japan, and Korea.

Film and media in East Asia: Includes the development of film and media industries, styles, and directors in the region. This topic covers the film and media industries of China, Japan, and Korea.

Cultural heritage and preservation in East Asia: Includes the various efforts to preserve and protect the cultural heritage and traditions of the region. This topic covers the cultural heritage and preservation efforts in China, Japan, and Korea.

Calligraphy: An art form of writing that is highly valued in East Asia, featuring Chinese, Korean and Japanese characters. This art requires specific techniques, tools and strokes applied in writing to produce a balance of composition and individual creativity.

Painting: Highly valued in China and Japan, painting is often done on silk or paper. Chinese landscape paintings which are characterized by intricate brushwork, spacing and shading techniques are known for their beauty.

Ceramics: Ceramic products in East Asia are not only practical, but also highly artistic. It has a reputation for elegant design, sophistication, and symbolism.

Sculpture: Most notably in Japan, sculptures can be found in the form of religious statues or art pieces that are created for aesthetics value.

Traditional Dance: East Asian countries such as Japan, China and Korea are known for their traditional dances that reflect cultural beliefs and customs. Some of the popular dances include the Chinese lion dance, Butoh dance in Japan, and the Korean fan dance.

Theatre and Drama: Popularized in the 14th century, traditional theatre and drama includes the use of puppets, masks, music instruments and highly choreographed movements. This type of theatre includes the Japanese Noh, Chinese opera and Korean Saenuri.

Martial Arts: China and Japan are the most well-known for their martial arts practices. Martial arts originated as a form of self-defense but today in East Asia, it easily recognized as a sport, performance and fitness activity.

Architecture: From traditional shrines to tea houses, many buildings in East Asia have very distinct architectural styles that showcase the countries unique design features.

Folklore and Mythology: Literally, thousands of stories and tales have been told and passed down through generations in East Asia; tales of dragons, gods, spirits, and other mythical creatures are topics that highly influence East Asian Culture.