Eastern philosophy refers very broadly to the various philosophies of India, Iran (Persia), China, Japan, and to an extent, the Middle East.
The usefulness of dividing philosophy into Western philosophy and other philosophies is open to challenge, partly because some see it as condescending to non-Western philosophies[citation needed]. To say this is not to deny that there are important traditions in philosophy that are intimately bound up with historical and geographical circumstances.
When the term "philosophy" is used in an academic context, it typically refers to the philosophical tradition begun with the ancient Greeks. The "Eastern philosophies" are often overlooked.
Philosophical and religious traditions
The following is an overview of the Eastern philosophic traditions. Each tradition has a separate article with more detail on sects, schools, etc. (c.f.)
Hinduism
Hinduism (????? ????; Sanatana Dharma, roughly Perennial Faith) is generally considered to be the oldest major world religion and first among Dharma faiths. Hinduism is characterized by a diverse array of belief systems, practices and scriptures. It has its origin in ancient Vedic culture at least as far back as 3000 BC. It is the third largest religion with approximately 1.05 billion followers worldwide, 96% of whom live in the Indian subcontinent.
Hinduism rests on the spiritual bedrock of the Vedas, hence Veda Dharma, and their mystic issue, the Upanishads, as well as the teachings of many great Hindu gurus through the ages. Many streams of thought flow from the six Vedic/Hindu schools, Bhakti sects and Tantra Agamic schools into the one ocean of Hinduism, the first of the Dharma religions. Also, the sacred book Bhagavad Gita is one of the most revered texts a ...