Category Archive:Asia

By Elizabeth Nordgren

Japan is a nation rich in cultural traditions and history. Proper etiquette is an important part of daily life, stemming from centuries-old societal customs. Part of this etiquette is reflected in the giving of gifts for certain events. A very common example is the giving of “omiyage”, which in English translates to “souvenir”. It is expected that when one goes on a trip or vacation that he or she will bring back souvenirs for their co-workers.
​This tradition dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868) and, like many occasions of giving worldwide, involves religion. Read the rest of this entry >>

By Melissa Tan

The Japanese people, historically influenced by ethical and religious beliefs of Buddhism, have responded as a collective community and remained altruistic in spite of recent devastations in their country. These characteristics have been personified by a group of elderly citizens who have volunteered to risk their lives in place of young workers for cleanup efforts at the heavily damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck approximately 130 km off the eastern coast of Japan, resulting in a devastating tsunami and widespread destruction of property and infrastructure. Read the rest of this entry >>

By Rachel Chan

This summary attempts to report the work of Chi Heng Foundation, a non-governmental charitable organization aimed at helping HIV impacted children in China. The Foundation started with one man’s dedication and efforts to combat what UN predicted as the “verge of a catastrophe”. It was estimated in 2005 that the epidemic will grow rapidly to 10 million cases by 2010. In the 1990s, blood selling became very popular in parts of Central China especially among poor farmers as a means to earn money. Read the rest of this entry >>

By Christianna Facey-Crowther

In Taiwan the Lunar New Year is the most important festival of the year, as it is for Chinese people around the world. The festival begins on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, the day when it is believed that the house gods report to the Jade Emperor about the household activities of the past year (Cultural Taiwan, 2007). Taiwanese people celebrate the new year with family and friends and engage in symbolic meals and rituals that are meant to bring luck and prosperity for the new year.

Traditionally, on the day of the Lunar New Year, red envelopes are distributed that contain paper money. Read the rest of this entry >>

By Jessica Lamhonwah

The words ren and yi represent the fundamental moral values in Confucianism. Although varied in translation, the word ren means benevolence. Ren is the consideration of one human being for another and is what ties individual together. According to Confucian thought, ren is instilled in human nature. Read the rest of this entry >>

By Anita Mah

This research paper in Global Giving will study the relief efforts during the 1640s famine in China, towards the end of the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It illustrates instance of giving outside the Western Tradition, which is focused on individualism(self-reliant action), family traditions, and the Catholic religion.

During the late 16th century in China, there were different types of charitable institutions and organizations to release animals from captivity, Read the rest of this entry >>

By Vanessa Wong

Confucius had a great impact on developing Asian culture. Born in 550 B.C. in northern China, his family was of modest background and this was partially due to his father’s death at a early age . At the age of 50, Confucius was appointed to a political position and where he witnessed corruption and the downfall of their system. After leaving this post five years later, Read the rest of this entry >>

by Jason Guay

What is the most you have willingly given to charity? One Hundred Dollars? Five Hundred Dollars? How about giving half of your hard working income such as famed fifty percent club. By most Canadian standards, the 50% club is deemed very unique, and if it were an I.Q test they would no doubt be at least 3-4 standard deviations above the norm or 99.999 percentile. Read the rest of this entry >>