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79-600: Sé de Cochim The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica , also known as Kotta Palli or Kottepalli , is located in Fort Kochi , Kochi. It is one of the thirty-four basilicas in India and one of nine in Kerala. This heritage edifice of Kerala is renowned for its Indo-European and Gothic architectural style. It serves as the cathedral church of the Diocese of Cochin . Originally built by

158-553: A European one. Its hegemony was the heart of an empire that would include Taiwan and Korea . During World War II, Japanese expansionism with its imperialist aspirations through the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere would incorporate Korea, Taiwan, much of eastern China and Manchuria, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia under its control establishing itself as a maritime colonial power in East Asia. After

237-596: A blend of Gothic and Indo-European architectural influences. Adorning the columns are intricate frescoes and murals , with seven large canvas paintings portraying the passion and death on the Cross, including a captivating rendition of the Last Supper inspired by Leonardo da Vinci 's masterpiece. Additionally, the Basilica's splendor is enhanced by its exquisite stained glass windows, and ceiling paintings portraying scenes from

316-501: A century of exploitation by the European and Japanese colonialists, post-colonial East Asia saw the defeat and occupation of Japan by the victorious Allies as well as the division of China and Korea during the Cold War . The Korean peninsula became independent but then it was divided into two rival states , while Taiwan became the main territory of de facto state Republic of China after

395-450: A common writing system reflected in the histories of Japan and Korea . The Imperial Chinese tributary system was the bedrock of network of trade and foreign relations between China and its East Asian tributaries, which helped to shape much of East Asian affairs during the ancient and medieval eras. Through the tributary system, the various dynasties of Imperial China facilitated frequent economic and cultural exchange that influenced

474-675: A few adjoining areas, were amalgamated to form the Kochi Municipal Corporation . Fort Kochi is rich in heritage and culture, and is a prominent tourist destination for both domestic and international travellers- being ranked as ninth among the top 25 in National Geographic’s Top Tourist Destinations To Explore In 2020. In the BC period, the region that is today known as Kerala was covered by mangrove woods. Turf and sand banks were created with

553-491: A measurable increase in the frequency and severity of heatwaves . The region is also expected to see the intensification of its monsoon, leading to more flooding. China has notably embarked on the sponge cities program, where cities are designed to increase the area of urban green spaces and permeable pavings in order to help deal with flash floods caused by greater precipitation extremes. Under high-warming scenarios, "critical health thresholds" for heat stress during

632-608: A shared written language, a shared culture, and a shared Confucian societal value system (involving shared Confucian philosophical tenets) once instituted by Imperial China. Other usages define China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan as countries that constitute East Asia based on their geographic proximity as well as historical and modern cultural and economic ties, particularly with Japan and Korea in having retained strong cultural influences that originated from China. Some scholars include Vietnam as part of East Asia as it has been considered part of

711-629: Is a neighbourhood of Kochi city in Kerala, India . Fort Kochi takes its name from the Fort Manuel of Kochi , the first European fort on Indian soil, controlled by the Portuguese East Indies . This is part of a handful of water-bound islands and islets toward the south-west of the mainland Kochi, and collectively known as Old Kochi or West Kochi . Adjacent to this is the locality of Mattancherry . In 1967, these three municipalities along with

790-519: Is a series of precolonial Chinese fishing nets on the waterfront, believed to have been introduced by Chinese traders in the early 14th century. Since the beginning of the Common Era, Arabian and Chinese traders sourced spices, especially pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, sandal wood, etc. from the Kochi region. Cultivation and trade of these valuable goods shaped the history of the region. Even today, Kochi

869-614: Is an important centre of spice export. The Arabian traders were the first to know about these spices, and they carried the highly wanted merchandise to Europe. Centuries later, they were followed by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and afterwards the British. Written documents about the Malabar Coast show that this region had Hindus, Christians, and a Jewish minority. The natural harbour of Kochi

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948-511: Is sometimes grouped with Central Asian countries such as Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Xinjiang and Tibet are sometimes seen as part of Central Asia (see also Greater Central Asia ). Broader and looser definitions by international agencies and organisations such as the World Bank refer to East Asia as the "three major Northeast Asian economies, i.e. mainland China , Japan, and South Korea ", as well as Mongolia, North Korea ,

1027-485: Is very sparsely distributed, with Mongolia having the lowest population density of a sovereign state . The overall population density of the region is 133 inhabitants per square kilometre (340/sq mi), about three times the world average of 45/km (120/sq mi). China was the first region settled in East Asia and was undoubtedly the core of East Asian civilization from where other parts of East Asia were formed. The various other regions in East Asia were selective in

1106-573: The British Indian Empire , along with the municipalities of Kozhikode , Kannur , Thalassery , and Palakkad , making them the first modern municipalities in the modern state of Kerala, as a part of the Malabar District . In January 1889, the Great fire of Cochin destroyed about 300 houses and commercial properties. East Asia East Asia has long been a crossroads of civilizations, as

1185-675: The Cape of Good Hope in South Africa to Burma , China , and Japan in East Asia . When the Dutch conquered Cochin in 1663, they destroyed most of the Portuguese establishments, including Catholic buildings in the area. However, the St. Francis Church and the Santa Cruz Cathedral were spared. While the former remained a church, the latter was repurposed as an arms storehouse by the Dutch. Later, when

1264-633: The Latin Church . This led to the famous Coonan Kurish Oath that took place at Coonan Kurish Church, MattancherryFrancis Xavier also baptised several thousand, which increased the Catholic population in Kochi. At the invitation of a deposed prince of Cochin Royal Family and the hereditary Prime Minister of Cochin, namely the Paliath Achan, the Dutch came to Kochi and conquered Kochi in 1663. The town became

1343-551: The Nara period , Japan began to aggressively import Chinese culture and styles of government which included Confucian protocol that served as a foundation for Japanese culture as well as political and social philosophy. The Japanese also created laws adopted from the Chinese legal system that was used to govern in addition to the kimono , which was inspired from Chinese hanfu during the eighth century. For many centuries, most notably from

1422-601: The Russian Far East , and Siberia . The Council on Foreign Relations includes the Russia Far East, Mongolia, and Nepal . The World Bank also acknowledges the roles of Chinese special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macau , as well as Taiwan , a country with limited recognition. The Economic Research Institute for Northeast Asia defines the region as "China, Japan, the Koreas , Nepal, Mongolia, and eastern regions of

1501-540: The Russian Federation ". The UNSD definition of East Asia is based on statistical convenience, but others commonly use the same definition of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan. Certain Japanese islands are associated with Oceania due to non-continental geology, distance from mainland Asia or biogeographical similarities with Micronesia . Some groups, such as

1580-492: The Via Crucis of Jesus Christ . All of these artistic embellishments, including the main altar, were skillfully crafted by the acclaimed Italian Jesuit brother and painter Fr. Antonio Moscheni , alongside his disciple Fr. De Gama of Mangalore. Sadly, Fr. Antonio Moscheni passed away on 15 November 1905, just four days before the cathedral's inauguration. The basilica hosts the relic of The Holy Cross of Jesus Christ, located on

1659-588: The World Health Organization , categorize China, Japan and Korea with Australia and the rest of Oceania. The World Health Organization label this region the "Western Pacific", with East Asia not being used in their concept of major world regions. Their definition of this region further includes Mongolia and the adjacent area of Cambodia , as well as the countries of the South East Asia Archipelago (excluding East Timor and Indonesia ). In

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1738-601: The economic rise of Hong Kong , South Korea , and Taiwan , in addition to the respective handovers of Hong Kong and Macau near the end of the twentieth century. The onset of the 21st-century in East Asia led to the integration of Mainland China into the global economy through its entry in the World Trade Organization while also enhancing its emerging international status as a potential world power reinforced with its aim of restoring its historical established significance and enduring international prominence in

1817-649: The frontier regions ), 16 native to the island of Taiwan (collectively known as Taiwanese indigenous peoples ), one native to the major Japanese island of Hokkaido (the Ainu ) and four native to Mongolia ( Turkic peoples ). The Ryukyuan people are an unrecognized ethnic group indigenous to the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan, which stretch from Kyushu to Taiwan. There are also several unrecognized indigenous ethnic groups in mainland China and Taiwan. East Asians comprise around 1.7 billion people, making up about 33% of

1896-769: The 1860s. Around the same time, the Meiji Restoration in Japan sparked rapid societal transformation from an isolated feudal state into East Asia's first industrialised nation. The modern and militarily powerful Japan would galvanise its position in the Orient as East Asia's greatest power with a global mission poised to advance to lead the entire world. By the early 1900s, the Empire of Japan succeeded in asserting itself as East Asia's most dominant geopolitical force. With its newly found international status, Japan would begin to challenge

1975-542: The 21st century will be at times breached, in areas like the North China Plain . China, Japan and the Republic of Korea are expected to see some of the largest economic losses caused by sea level rise. The city of Guangzhou is projected to experience the single largest annual economic losses from sea level rise in the world, potentially reaching US$ 254 million by 2050. Under the highest climate change scenario and in

2054-696: The 21st century. Baseball is one of the main sports in East Asia, having been introduced through mid-19th century American contact and further spread by the Japanese Empire. The game has gained millions of fans in China since the 2010s. Formerly the East Asian Games , it is a multi-sport event organized by the East Asian Games Association (EAGA) and held every four years since 2019 among athletes from East Asian countries and territories of

2133-490: The 7th to the 14th centuries, China stood as East Asia's most advanced civilization and foremost military and economic power, exerting its influence as the transmission of advanced Chinese cultural practices and ways of thinking greatly shaped the region up until the nineteenth century. As East Asia's connections with Europe and the Western world strengthened during the late nineteenth century, China's power began to decline. By

2212-504: The Bishop of Damao, consecrated the cathedral. Recognizing its age, artistic significance, and historical importance, Pope John Paul II , in a special Decree titled "Constat Sane Templum Sanctae Cruci" dated 23 August 1984, elevated the Santa Cruz Cathedral to the esteemed status of Basilica. The Basilica stands distinguished by its predominantly white exterior contrasting with a pastel-colored interior, graced with two imposing spires , exhibits

2291-451: The British expelled the Dutch on 20 October 1795, they maintained the church for a similar purpose, using it as a warehouse. In 1806, they demolished the Santa Cruz Cathedral.< This was part of a broader strategy of the British to dismantle Catholic infrastructure in the region. Despite the destruction, a part of the Cathedral survived as a monument. One of the decorative granite pillars from

2370-933: The Chinese influences they adopted into their local customs. Historian Ping-ti Ho referred to China as the cradle of Eastern civilization, in parallel with the cradle of Middle Eastern civilization along the Fertile Crescent encompassing Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt as well as the cradle of Western civilization encompassing Ancient Greece . Chinese civilization emerged early, and prefigured other East Asian civilisations. Throughout history, imperial China would exert cultural, economic, technological, and political influence on its neighbours. Succeeding Chinese dynasties exerted enormous influence across East Asia culturally, economically, politically and militarily for over two millennia. The tributary system of China shaped much of East Asia's history for over two millennia due to Imperial China's economic and cultural influence over

2449-542: The Dutch. Foreign control of Fort Kochi ended in 1947 with the Indian independence . A mix of old houses built by the Portuguese, Dutch and British in these colonial periods line the streets of Fort Kochi. St Francis Church was built in 1503 by the Portuguese as a Catholic church. Vasco da Gama was once buried in this church which now falls under the Church of South India and is one of the national monuments. Catholic Diocese of Cochin

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2528-600: The European colonial powers and inextricably took on a more active role within the East Asian geopolitical order and world affairs at large. Flexing its nascent political and military might, Japan soundly defeated the stagnant Qing dynasty during the First Sino-Japanese War as well as defeating Russia in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905; the first major military victory in the modern era of an East Asian power over

2607-607: The Han Chinese conquered the northern part of the Korean peninsula and established a province called Lelang . Chinese influences were transmitted and soon took root in Korea through the inclusion of the Chinese writing system, monetary system, rice culture, philosophical schools of thought, and Confucian political institutions. Jomon society in ancient Japan incorporated wet-rice cultivation and metallurgy through its contact with Korea. Starting in

2686-646: The Malabar Coast: Vasco da Gama in Kozhikode and Pedro Álvares Cabral in Kochi. The Maharaja of Kochi felt threatened by the Zamorin of Kozhikode, and he hoped that the Portuguese would help him in his defense from the neighbouring king of Kozhikode. The Maharaja welcomed the Portuguese, and they founded their first trading center in Kochi. However, the Maharaja of Kochi was largely deprived of his power, and Kochi became

2765-727: The Portuguese Mission in 1500. This cordial reception by the King of Cochin incited the Zamorin of Calicut ( Calecute , Kozhikode) to declare war on the Kingdom of Cochin. In 1505, Portuguese forces under Dom Afonso de Albuquerque successfully defended the Cochin monarch. Grateful for their support, the king granted them permission to build the Portuguese fort Immanuel (Fort Kochi) and establish trade relations with Quilon ( Coulão , Kollam ). This laid

2844-498: The Portuguese in 1505 after securing the permission of the King of Cochin , it was elevated to a cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558. Although many Catholic buildings were destroyed by Dutch conquerors who arrived in Cochin in the 17th century, this cathedral was spared. However, the British who later arrived demolished it in 1795, and a new structure was commissioned in 1887 by the then bishop of Cochin, João Gomes Ferreira . The new building

2923-618: The Santa Cruz Church to the status of a Cathedral . This followed the establishment of the Archdiocese of Goa in 1557 as an independent archbishopric, with the newly formed Diocese of Cochin — one of the first dioceses in India — made its suffragan see , along with the Diocese of Malacca . This brought the whole of the Eastern dioceses under the jurisdiction of Goa, extending its boundaries from

3002-628: The Tang political system, Prince Naka no oe launched the Taika Reform in 645 AD where he radically transformed Japan's political bureaucracy into a more centralised bureaucratic empire. The Japanese also adopted Mahayana Buddhism, Chinese style architecture, and the imperial court's rituals and ceremonies, including the orchestral music and state dances had Tang influences. Written Chinese gained prestige and aspects of Tang culture such as poetry , calligraphy , and landscape painting became widespread. During

3081-663: The absence of adaptation, cumulative economic losses caused by sea level rise in Guangzhou would exceed US$ 1 trillion by 2100. Shanghai is also expected to experience annual losses of around 1% of the local GDP in the absence of adaptation. The Yangtze River basin is a sensitive and biodiverse ecosystem, yet around 20% of its species may be lost throughout the century under 2 °C (3.6 °F) and ~43% under 4.5 °C (8.1 °F). China, North Korea, South Korea and Taiwan are all unrecognised by at least one other East Asian state because of severe ongoing political tensions in

3160-524: The arrival of the second Portuguese fleet led by Captain Pedro Álvares Cabral on 26 November 1500. The Portuguese fleet, comprising 13 ships and 18 priests, quickly won the goodwill of Unni Goda Varma Tirumulpadu, the then King of the Kingdom of Cochin ( Cohim , Kochi), who permitted four priests to conduct apostolic work among the early Christian communities in and around Cochin. The Portuguese missionaries established

3239-525: The bounds of the Asia-Pacific, although the term Indo-Pacific is more commonly used for such a definition. Observers preferring a broader definition of "East Asia" often use the term Northeast Asia to refer to China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, with the region of Southeast Asia covering the ten ASEAN countries. This usage, which is seen in economic and diplomatic discussions, is at odds with

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3318-501: The capital of Dutch Malabar and belonged to the worldwide trading network of the Dutch East India Company . The Dutch also destroyed many Catholic institutions in Cochin. Around 1760, there came uneasy times for Kochi because of trouble between the regional powers. Kochi was devastated by Hyder Ali , then later by his son Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan subordinated the town temporarily to the kingdom of Mysore. Kochi came under

3397-545: The city to Fort Kochi. Owing to the high volume of tourists visiting the place dedicated low floor Volvo buses were introduced to this route by the government. Such buses are in use on the popular routes such as Cochin International Airport (CIAL), Vytila Mobility Hub and Kakanad Info Park. The port at Kozhikode held superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur , Kollam , and Kochi were commercially important secondary ports, where

3476-488: The classics of Chinese literature and culture were seen as the foundations for a civilized life in East Asia. Imperial China served as a vehicle through which the adoption of Confucian ethical philosophy, Chinese calendar system, political and legal systems, architectural style, diet, terminology, institutions, religious beliefs, imperial examinations that emphasised a knowledge of Chinese classics, political philosophy and cultural value systems, as well as historically sharing

3555-551: The context of business and economics, "East Asia" is sometimes used to refer to the geographical area covering ten Southeast Asian countries in ASEAN , Greater China , Japan, and Korea. However, in this context, the term " Far East " is used by the Europeans to cover ASEAN countries and the countries in East Asia. On rare occasions, the term is also sometimes taken to include India and other South Asian countries that are not situated within

3634-433: The cultures of Japan and Korea and drew them into a Chinese international order. The Imperial Chinese tributary system shaped much of East Asia's foreign policy and trade for over two millennia due to Imperial China's economic and cultural dominance over the region, and thus played a huge role in the history of East Asia in particular. The relationship between China and its cultural influence on East Asia has been compared to

3713-535: The demolished Cathedral has been preserved and is now situated at the southeastern corner of the present Basilica premises. Following its demolition by the British, about a century later, Bishop João Gomes Ferreira (1887–1897), who served as both a missionary and the Bishop of Cochin, took the lead in reconstructing the Cathedral and initiating its construction plan. However, it was his successor, Bishop Mateus de Oliveira Xavier (1897–1908), who oversaw its completion. On 19 November 1905, Bishop Sebastião José Pereira ,

3792-687: The fall of Kodungallur port due to a gigantic tsunami in 1341 AD . The Perumpadappu Swaroopam or the Fort of Rajah had its palace on the banks of the Calvathy River. Owing to frequent wars between King Zamorin of Kozhikode and the western colonial forces, the Rajah left the place for Tripunithura . The king had his vaishnav leanings and the cow or maadu was his symbol. Fort Kochi can be reached from Ernakulam through roadways and water ways. Private buses and government transport buses travel from different parts of

3871-621: The first European colony in India. The Portuguese put pressure upon the small Jewish community, and even the Syrian Christians as they were practising Nestorianism . The Portuguese tried to merge the Syrian Christian Church with the Latin Church . This created conflict as most of the Syrian Christians were associated with various churches of the East and rejected the authority of the Pope and

3950-403: The forces of Afonso de Albuquerque helped him fighting the forces of Saamoothiri of Kozhikode . The Rajah also gave them permission to build Fort Emmanuel near the waterfront to protect their commercial interests. The first part of the name Fort Kochi comes from this fort, which the Dutch later destroyed. The Portuguese built their settlement behind the fort, including a wooden church, which

4029-424: The foundation for the eastern Portuguese Empire . Further developments in 1505 saw Dom Francisco de Almeida , the first viceroy of Portuguese India ( Estado da Índia )., secure permission from the king of Cochin for further Portuguese fortifications of Fort Manuel on Cochin and approval to build two churches — Santa Cruz Basilica (1505) and St. Francis Church (1506) — using stones and mortar. This construction

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4108-453: The fourth century AD and Japan by the seventh century AD, Japan and Korea actively began to incorporate Chinese influences such as Confucianism , the use of Chinese characters , architecture , state institutions, political philosophies , religion, urban planning, and various scientific and technological methods into their culture and society through direct contacts with Tang China and succeeding Chinese dynasties. Drawing inspiration from

4187-466: The fourth century AD, Japan adopted Chinese characters , which remain integral to the Japanese writing system . Utilizing the Chinese writing system allowed the Japanese to conduct their daily activities, maintain historical records and give form to various ideas, thoughts, and philosophies. During the Tang dynasty , China exerted its greatest influence on East Asia as various aspects of Chinese culture spread to Japan and Korea . The establishment of

4266-429: The greater Chinese cultural sphere . Though Confucianism continues to play an important role in Vietnamese culture, Chinese characters are no longer used in its written language and many scholarly organizations classify Vietnam as a Southeast Asian country. Mongolia is geographically north of Mainland China yet Confucianism and the Chinese writing system and culture had limited impact on Mongolian society. Thus, Mongolia

4345-415: The historical influence of Greco-Roman civilization on classical Western civilisation. Religion in East Asia (2020) *Japan switched the date to the Gregorian calendar after the Meiji Restoration. *Not always on that Gregorian date, sometimes April 4. East Asian popular culture, such as anime and manga from Japan and K-pop and K-dramas from South Korea, have become highly popular worldwide in

4424-423: The historical meanings of both "East Asia" and "Northeast Asia". The Council on Foreign Relations of the United States defines Northeast Asia as Japan and Korea. East Asia is home to many climatic zones. It also has unique weather patterns such as the East Asian rainy season and the East Asian Monsoon . Like the rest of the world, East Asia has been getting warmer due to climate change, and there had been

4503-528: The indigenous populations of northeastern China such as the Manchus . The major languages in East Asia include Mandarin Chinese , Japanese , and Korean . The major ethnic groups of East Asia include the Han in China and Taiwan, Yamato in Japan, and Koreans in North and South Korea. and Mongols in Mongolia. There are 76 officially-recognized minority or indigenous ethnic groups in East Asia; 55 native to mainland China (including Hui , Manchus, Chinese Mongols , Tibetans, Uyghurs , and Zhuang in

4582-426: The influence of the British circa 1790. In 1814, Kochi became a part of the Madras Presidency , becoming a part of the British colonial empire. The British shaped the country until the 20th century, and Kochi has always been an important harbour and trade center. The municipality of Fort Kochi was formed on 1 November 1866 according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850) of

4661-453: The largest unified population in East Asia, the most literate and urbanised as well as being the most economically developed, as well as the most technologically and culturally advanced civilization in the region at the time. Cultural and religious interaction between the Chinese and other regional East Asian dynasties and kingdoms occurred. China's impact and influence on Korea began with the Han dynasty's northeastern expansion in 108 BC when

4740-414: The latter lost Mainland China to the People's Republic of China in the Chinese Civil War . During the latter half of the twentieth century, the region would see the post war economic miracle of Japan , which ushered in three decades of unprecedented growth, only to experience an economic slowdown during the 1990s , but nonetheless Japan continues to remain a global economic power. East Asia would also see

4819-652: The medieval Tang dynasty rekindled the impetus of Chinese expansionism across the geopolitical confines of East Asia. Similar to its Han predecessor, Tang China reasserted itself as the center of East Asian geopolitical influence during the early medieval period which spearheaded and marked another golden age in Chinese history . During the Tang dynasty, China exerted its greatest influence on East Asia as various aspects of Chinese culture spread to Japan and Korea. In addition, Tang China also managed to maintain control over northern Vietnam and northern Korea . As full-fledged medieval East Asian states were established, Korea by

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4898-420: The mid-nineteenth century, the weakening Qing dynasty became fraught with political corruption, obstacles and stagnation that was incapable of rejuvenating itself as a world power in contrast to the industrializing Imperial European colonial powers and a rapidly modernizing Japan. The United States Commodore Matthew C. Perry would open Japan to Western influence , and the country would expand in earnest after

4977-462: The population in Continental Asia and 20% of the global population. The region is home to major world metropolises such as Beijing – Tianjin , Busan – Daegu – Ulsan – Changwon , Guangzhou , Hong Kong , Osaka – Kyoto – Kobe , Seoul , Shanghai , Shenzhen , Taipei , and Tokyo . Although the coastal and riparian areas of the region form one of the world's most populated places, the population in Mongolia and Western China , both landlocked areas,

5056-417: The present day include the Japanese , Korean , and Mongolian civilizations. Various other civilizations existed as independent polities in East Asia in the past but have since been absorbed into neighbouring civilizations in the present day, such as Tibet , Manchuria , and Ryukyu (Okinawa), among many others. Taiwan has a relatively young history in the region after the prehistoric era ; originally, it

5135-686: The region's prominence has facilitated the transmission of ideas, cultural exchanges, commercial trade, scientific and technological cooperation, and migration, as its position and proximity to both the Pacific Ocean and the Continental Asian landmass makes it strategically significant for facilitating international maritime trade and transportation. The contemporary economic, technological, political, and social integration of East Asia coupled with its rich history of diversity, division, and divergent development have all contributed to its enduring complexity, scientific and technological advancement, cultural richness, economic prosperity, and geopolitical significance on

5214-508: The region, and thus played a huge role in the history of East Asia in particular. Imperial China's cultural preeminence not only led the country to become East Asia's first literate nation in the entire region, it also supplied Japan and Korea with Chinese loanwords and linguistic influences rooted in their writing systems. Under Emperor Wu of Han , the Han dynasty made China the regional powerhouse in East Asia, projecting much of its imperial influence onto its neighbours. Han China hosted

5293-416: The region, specifically the division of Korea and the political status of Taiwan . thousands (2023) [REDACTED] The culture of East Asia has been deeply influenced by China , as it was the civilization that had the most dominant influence in the region throughout the ages that ultimately laid the foundation for East Asian civilization. The vast knowledge and ingenuity of Chinese civilization and

5372-400: The right side of the church. Additionally, a shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima is situated outside the church. Fort Kochi Fort Kochi ( / ˈ k oʊ tʃ i / KOH -chee , Malayalam : [foːrʈ kotˈt͡ʃi] ; Cochin Portuguese Creole : Cochim de Baixo , European Portuguese: [kuˈʃĩ ðɨ ˈβaʃu] ), formerly known as Fort Cochin or British Cochin ,

5451-403: The rise in sea-level which formed the shape of the coastal area as we see it today. The origin of the name Kochi is thought to be the Malayalam word kochu azhi, meaning 'small lagoon'. Mattancherry is the nerve town of old historic Kochi. In old Malayalam it is Maadan-cheri , from cheri meaning town. Maad or cow was the stamp of Old Royal Fort of Rajah of Kochi, who built his palace after

5530-498: The root from which many other East Asian calendars are derived. Major religions in East Asia include Buddhism (mostly Mahayana ), Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism , Taoism , ancestral worship , and Chinese folk religion in Mainland China, Hong Kong , Macau and Taiwan , Shinto in Japan, and Christianity and Musok in Korea. Tengerism and Tibetan Buddhism are prevalent among Mongols and Tibetans while other religions such as Shamanism are widespread among

5609-415: The traders from various parts of the world would gather. Fort Kochi was a fishing village in the Kingdom of Kochi in the pre-colonial Kerala. The Portuguese arrived at Kappad Kozhikode in 1498 during the Age of Discovery , thus opening a direct sea route from Europe to India . The territory that would be later known as Fort Kochi was granted to the Portuguese in 1503 by the Rajah of Kochi , after

5688-418: The world economy. As of at least 2022, the region is more peaceful, integrated, wealthy, and stable than any time in the previous 150 years. In common usage, the term "East Asia" typically refers to a region including Greater China , Japan , Korea and Mongolia . China , Japan , and Korea represent the three core countries and civilizations of traditional East Asia, as they once had

5767-513: The world stage. With the region having been home to various influential empires, kingdoms, and dynasties throughout history, each leaving its mark on the region and transforming the region's geopolitical landscape ranging from distinct dynastic kingdoms to colonial possessions to independent modern nation-states. East Asia, especially Chinese civilization , is regarded as one of the earliest cradles of civilization . Other ancient civilizations in East Asia that still exist as independent countries in

5846-530: Was a major site of Austronesian civilisation prior to colonisation by European colonial powers and China from the 17th century onward. For thousands of years, China was the leading civilization in the region, exerting influence on its neighbours. Historically, societies in East Asia have fallen within the Chinese sphere of influence , and East Asian vocabularies and scripts are often derived from Classical Chinese and Chinese script . The Chinese calendar serves as

5925-444: Was consecrated in 1905 and proclaimed a basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984. The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica is one of the finest and most impressive churches in India, attracting tourists year-round. It is not only a place of devotion but also a center of historic significance, endowed with architectural and artistic grandeur. The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica's origin is closely linked to significant historical events following

6004-521: Was created by a flood that also destroyed the harbour of the town Kodungallur . Thereafter, the town developed into one of the most important harbours on the West Coast of India. It concentrated on the spice trade with China and the Middle East. During this period, Kozhikode was ruled by king Zamorin and Kochi was ruled by the Maharaja of Kochi. This was the time when the first Portuguese ships berthed at

6083-564: Was erected under Portuguese Padroado in 1558 with its headquarters in Fort Kochi. Santa Cruz Basilica , also built by the Portuguese in the 16th century, was later destroyed by the British and rebuilt near the end of 19th century. From this period there are other residential buildings and hotels such as the Old Harbour House , some of which have been renovated in more recent times. The landmark that causes more public and visitor interest

6162-465: Was rebuilt in 1516 as a permanent structure, today known as the St Francis Church . Fort Kochi remained in Portuguese possession for 160 years. In 1683 the Dutch captured the territory from the Portuguese, destroyed many Portuguese institutions, particularly Catholic including convents. The Dutch held Fort Kochi in their possession for 112 years until 1795, when the British took control by defeating

6241-540: Was unprecedented, as local prejudices typically reserved such materials for royal palaces or temples. The foundation of this church, was laid on 4 May 1505, aligning with the feast of the invention of the Holy Cross . Upon completion, the church was named Santa Cruz, meaning Holy Cross. This site was initially positioned on the eastern side of what is now the Children’s Park in Fort Kochi. In 1558, Pope Paul IV elevated

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