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The vast land of China is home to 55 recognized distinct minority groups. Although approximately 93 percent of the country is Han Chinese, each of these groups is still distinguished by language, culture and religious affiliation.
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This episode examines the seven dialects of the Chinese language - all different from one another but share the same writing systems. Chinese differs from other languages in that it is all monosyllables with multiple meanings depending on pronunciation. This episode follows the evolution of the Chinese dialects.
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Architecture is usually a function of the raw materials available, geology and social standards. Architcture and design have undergone many changes in China, but have always been categorized into four classes: palaces, temples, residential houses and pavilions. This program covers the 7000 year evolution and variances of Chinese architecture throughout time, place and function.
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In this episode discover the Silk Road, the iconic trading route between Europe and Asia continues its renaissance through the teachings of Allah in Central Asia. Uzbekistan stood at the crossroads of Eastern and Western Civilization and developed into a Muslim Society. Discover the Silk Road's past and follow its majestic history
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China was a world unto itself, cut off from foreign contact by its geography. This program examines China's relationship with its neighbors and with European nations. It reports on how, in the early 20th century, China's ancient glory gave way to a new form of government, as it finally adapted to the outside world.
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Explores the lives of farmers across the globe to see how water is managed and/or mismanaged. While irrigation seems to be the key to successful agriculture, it does however have severe drawbacks, such as over exploitation of existing fresh water reservoirs. There are industries that need huge amounts of water in their production process: paper, steel and beer. A Japanese steel company is leading the industry in its water conservation and environmental policies. A modern beer industry in Bangkok, Thailand uses water conservation and wastewater reduction techniques.
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Impressive achievements included a device for indicating the direction and force of an earthquake, odometers, the compass, gimbels, intricate differential gears, double action piston bellows, continuous flamethrowers, and rudders, bulkheads, and fore and aft sails to enable a ship to sail against the wind.
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Examines the causes of genocide and ethnic conflict in parts of the world with widely differing cultural traditions. The 20 years of bitter ethnic strife in Sri Lanka have taken the lives of 100,000, but young people from both sides work together for tolerance. In Cambodia the survivors of Pol Pot's genocide struggle to create a democratic state -from a nation that was victim of a murderous radical "social engineering project" which killed 2 million men, women, and children.
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After experiments with sundials, water and candle clocks, the Chinese developed the world's first accurate clock involving an escapement device. Their mathematicians calculated pi; their astronomers recognized the egg yolk shape of the earth and developed an accurate system for measuring the movement of the stars.
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This episode chronicles Chinese trade. In the 15th century, China destroyed its great fleets and began a period of nearly 300 years of isolation. It wasn't until 1760 that trade with Westerners officially was allowed. In the early part of the century, with the rise of communism, the Chinese began to regain control of its international economic relations. China opened up, slowly at first, in the 1950s. Today, China presents an open door to the world, while maintaining full control.
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This episode examines how a secular belief system could have been responsible for unifying and stabilizing a vast and ancient nation.
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Chinese inventions and discoveries include gunpowder, bombs, shrapnel, underground and sea mines, aerial bombs and muskets (fire lances), rockets, cannon, immunization, paper, printing with movable type, modem books and bookstores, civil service exams and playing cards.
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This program looks at how the merchant class rose to become one of the most important in the empire.
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This episode examines the rapid growth of China's recent prosperity, and evaluates the long-term risk for China and the world if the great environmental, demographic, and political pressures that are growing alongside China's expanding economy explode.
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The Red River in northern Vietnam meanders through stunning scenery and eternal rice paddies before emptying into the fish-rich Gulf of Tonkin. Poverty, pride, Marxism, Confucianism and Buddhism have spread their influence and strengthened the resolve of this strong and self- sufficient people.
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This episode reveals how China's traditional domestic industry met the international demand, and how Chinese industry was able to organize itself on a scale not seen in the West until the 18th century.
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Is Confucianism - the moral system at the root of Chinese civilization - a religion or a philosophy? This episode seeks to answer that question, while explaining the basics of the code and examining how it has survived centuries of foreign religious influences and competing domestic ideologies.
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Hill tribes cling to their tradition in a land of forests, streams and paddy fields. Rice paddies provide the staple food, accompanied by vegetables, fruit and meat.
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Asia is not experiencing a run-of-the-mill economic crisis, but rather the accumulation of many crises-culminating in a crisis of orientation. Even though this has been obvious for many years, there is no short-term remedy. Southeast Asia and Korea are looking to Japan, hoping for aid and advice from their role model. But even a massive program by the government in Tokyo to stimulate the economy might prove ineffective, and Japan itself might become the biggest problem of the whole Asian crisis and this a burden on the global economy.
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In the new China open to the West, Shanghai is developing apace in a 21st century architectural style.
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Singapore is home to 2.7 million and may be the financial center of southeast Asia. This film explores the reasons for this phenomenal success. The population is multi-ethnic and also multi-religious. Its cuisine is as varied as its ethnic kaleidoscope. The Singaporean government has restricted striking and gambling, and even chewing gum is banned. Selling certain illicit narcotics can bring a death sentence. The government has gradually altered its educational emphasis from the primary to the secondary and technical level. Its'one university has grown into three. Singapore is positioned to become the world's fourth largest center of trade. Shopping and merchandising are a great preoccupation.
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Paris is no longer the gourmet capital of the world! The world has suddenly discovered that Tokyo is a gourmet's paradise. Outside Tokyo, this was secret outside a tight-knit freemasonry of glutton
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Set in Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo, Trendmakers offers a behind-the-scenes look at the work of fashion designers, makeup artists, celebrity hair stylists and photographers who are leading Asia’s fashion revolution.
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VIETNAM - A RISING DRAGON offers a variety of views of contemporary Vietnam, revealing economic reforms, improving international relations, and the life of the people as their beautiful land continues to move from agricultural to industrial status.
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An invitation to discover eight cities shown by eight well-known architects and city planners. Each architect analyzes a city he or she knows well and sees from a personal point of view. The architect presents the main geographical axis, streets, avenues, squares, etc., and the traditional quarters and contemporary creations. The historical evolution of the city, the architectural logic and the effects of a spontaneous or controlled transformation are also described.
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