EAST
Introduction
The term East refers to one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is directly opposite to the west and is perpendicular to the north and south. The word "East" is derived from the Old English term "ēast," which itself is associated with the Proto-Germanic "*austra-", signifying 'east, toward the sunrise'. The term has been used in various contexts, including geography, culture, religion, and philosophy, each carrying its unique interpretations and connotations.
Geography
In the context of geography, east is the direction in which the Earth rotates about its axis, and therefore the direction from which the sun appears to rise. The compass rose appears on maps and nautical charts with east being at the right-hand side of the map.
Culture
In many cultures, the east has a symbolic meaning. For instance, in Buddhism, the east is linked with enlightenment as the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, found enlightenment after meditating upon the rising sun. Similarly, in Hinduism, the east is considered auspicious; temples and homes are often oriented toward the east.
Religion
In Christianity, particularly in Eastern Orthodoxy, the east has a significant religious symbolism. The "Orient" is seen as the location of humanity's original home, the Garden of Eden, and the direction facing the rising sun is associated with the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Philosophy
In philosophical terms, the east often represents birth or rebirth, as it is the direction of the rising sun. This symbolism is prevalent in many philosophical systems, including Chinese philosophy where the east represents wood in the Five Elements, signifying growth and vitality.
Astronomy
In astronomy, the east is the direction from which stars and other celestial bodies rise into the visible sky. This is due to the Earth's rotation on its axis from west to east. The term "east" is also used in the concept of Right Ascension, which is one of the coordinates used in the equatorial coordinate system to locate stars and other celestial bodies.
In navigation, east is one of the four cardinal directions on the compass. It is the direction that is 90° clockwise from north. The use of the term "east" in navigation can be traced back to the Magnetic Compass, which has been used for navigation since the 11th century.