Oriental - Touyou

A name for a region from the Chinese perspective. It can be seen in Chinese history from the 14th century onwards, but its scope varies depending on the era. The South Seas were divided into Eastern and Western countries, with Brunei on the island of Borneo as the base, and the countries from its west coast to its south coast and to the west and south of that as the Western region, while the countries on the east coast and east of Borneo were called the Oriental region. This distinction was made after the Song dynasty, when seagoing ships were equipped with magnetic needles and used Western and Eastern courses. In other words, the countries that left seaports in southern China and travelled westwards from the Indochina Peninsula to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java and even India were called the Western region. The Penghu Islands, Taiwan, the Philippines, the Maluku Islands, Sulu Island, Palawan Island and other islands that travelled eastwards were called the Oriental region. However, in modern China, the Orient primarily refers to Japan.

In Japan, since the Meiji Restoration, the term has come to refer to the whole of Asia, as opposed to the West (Europe and the United States).

[Hoshi Hideo]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国からみての一地域の呼称。14世紀以後の中国史にみられるが、時代によってその範囲は異なる。南海を東洋諸国と西洋諸国に分け、ボルネオ島のブルネイを基準に、その西岸から南岸、およびそれから西と南の諸国を西洋、ボルネオの東岸および東方の諸国を東洋といった。この区別は、宋(そう)代以後、海船が磁針を備え、西洋針路と東洋針路を用いたことによる。つまり、華南の海港を出て、針路を西にとって回る諸国のインドシナ半島からマレー半島、スマトラ島、ジャワ島、さらにインドあたりまでを西洋といった。針路を東にとる澎湖(ほうこ)島、台湾、フィリピン、モルッカ、スル島、パラワン島などを東洋とよんだ。ただし、近代中国で東洋はもっぱら日本をさす。

　なお日本では、明治維新後から、西洋（欧米）に対する東洋ということで、アジア全域をさして用いている。

［星　斌夫］

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