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| In popular usage, ''the Orient'' is most often used in reference to the countries of ], including ], ], ], ], ], and sometimes the rest of ]. The term ''oriental'' refers to people and culture from those areas. Asian countries such as ], ], and ] are no longer generally considered to be part of the Orient. | In popular usage, ''the Orient'' is most often used in reference to the countries of ], including ], ], ], ], ], and sometimes the rest of ]. The term ''oriental'' refers to people and culture from those areas. Asian countries such as ], ], and ] are no longer generally considered to be part of the Orient. | ||
| Some people think of the term ''oriental'' as offensive or ], largely because of its connection with nineteenth century European and American attitudes about the region. In this world view, the East was seen as backwards, exotic, and patriarchal, while the West was seen as logical, rational, and more modern. Furthermore, courses in "Oriental studies" were riddled with inaccurate information which was used to justify colonization of these countries. Some Asian Americans see parallels between the word ''oriental'' and '']'', though many see it as simply old-fashioned, as many African Americans see the word ''negro''. | Some people think of the term ''oriental'' as offensive or ], largely because of its perceived connection by some people with nineteenth century European and American attitudes about the region. In this world view, the East was seen as backwards, exotic, and patriarchal, while the West was seen as logical, rational, and more modern. Furthermore, it is claimed that some courses in "Oriental studies" were riddled with inaccurate information which was used to justify colonization of these countries. Some Asian Americans see parallels between the word ''oriental'' and '']'', though many see it as simply old-fashioned, as many African Americans see the word ''negro''. This evident controversial use of 'oriental' is cheifly limited to ], and is viewed with some bermusement from a ] perspective for whom the term has only a geographic meaning, as well as in ] where, especially in ] countries, the word is in widespread usage. | ||
| The term is also criticized as overly vague, referring to a category of peoples with widely divergent cultural and ethnic backgrounds. | The term is also criticized as overly vague, referring to a category of peoples with widely divergent cultural and ethnic backgrounds. | ||
Revision as of 12:51, 4 July 2005
The term the Orient - literally meaning "the east" - is traditionally used to refer to Near, Middle, and Far Eastern countries. For example, Mizrahi Jews (native to the Middle East) are often referred to as Oriental Jews, while the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies focuses on Africa as well as the Middle East and East Asia.
The term is derived from the Latin word oriens, referring to where the sun rises in the east. The opposite term Occident - derived from the Latin word occidens, referring to the west - was once used to describe the western world, but has fallen into disuse.
In popular usage, the Orient is most often used in reference to the countries of East Asia, including China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and sometimes the rest of Southeast Asia. The term oriental refers to people and culture from those areas. Asian countries such as India, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka are no longer generally considered to be part of the Orient.
Some people think of the term oriental as offensive or politically incorrect, largely because of its perceived connection by some people with nineteenth century European and American attitudes about the region. In this world view, the East was seen as backwards, exotic, and patriarchal, while the West was seen as logical, rational, and more modern. Furthermore, it is claimed that some courses in "Oriental studies" were riddled with inaccurate information which was used to justify colonization of these countries. Some Asian Americans see parallels between the word oriental and nigger, though many see it as simply old-fashioned, as many African Americans see the word negro. This evident controversial use of 'oriental' is cheifly limited to North America, and is viewed with some bermusement from a European perspective for whom the term has only a geographic meaning, as well as in Asia where, especially in south-east Asian countries, the word is in widespread usage.
The term is also criticized as overly vague, referring to a category of peoples with widely divergent cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Since oriental is used to describe peoples and regions that are to the East only in relation to Europe, this term is considered by many as an example of Eurocentrism. The term Middle Eastern and the geopolitical terms of "the West" and "the East" follow the same pattern, yet are subject to less controversy.