Deck 6: The Unification of China

Question 1

The philosophy of Confucius

A)formed a thoroughly practical and secular approach to life.
B)called for a strict adherence to the will of the gods.
C)addressed abstruse philosophical questions.
D)was deeply religious.
E)was inspired by the Hindu Upanishads.

Answer 1

formed a thoroughly practical and secular approach to life.

Question 2

The Qin and Han dynasties

A)copied the ruling techniques of the Aryans.
B)did not push for centralization as thoroughly as the Achaemenids did.
C)imposed order on India.
D)never mastered the administrative brilliance and unification of the Zhou period.
E)went further than the Persian emperors in their efforts to foster cultural unity.

Answer 2

went further than the Persian emperors in their efforts to foster cultural unity.

Question 3

The Chinese philosopher who proposed that strong social discipline was the best means of bringing society into order was

A)Confucius.
B)Mencius.
C)Laozi.
D)Xunzi.
E)Shihuangdi.

Answer 3

Xunzi.

Question 4

The most important text of Daoism is the

A)Book of Songs.
B)Wuwei.
C)Daodejing.
D)Analects.
E)Dao of Reflection.

Question 5

Which of the following Confucian terms,with its translation,is NOT correct?

A)ren-benevolence
B)li-passion
C)xiao-filial piety
D)dao-way
E)junzi-superior individuals

Question 6

Junzi

A)were Chinese priests who argued that Confucius's philosophy was too secular.
B)was the honorific of the Qin emperor who united China for the first time.
C)was the classic compilation of Daoist thought.
D)were Confucian "superior individuals" who took an active role in public affairs.
E)were the Confucian model of enlightened thinkers who withdrew from society.

Question 7

Through the efforts of Confucius,the literary works of the Zhou period

A)became the core texts of traditional Chinese education.
B)were replaced by newer and more important texts.
C)were completely destroyed.
D)were translated from the original cuneiform.
E)were included in the Persian Gathas.

Question 8

The collection of Confucian sayings and teachings is known as the

A)Mencius.
B)Memoirs of a Philosopher.
C)Analects.
D)Reflections on a Quiet Life.
E)Reflections on Things at Hand.

Question 9

The Chinese concept of filial piety,which was central to the family structure,was expressed by the word

A)junzi.
B)ren.
C)li.
D)xiao.
E)vedas.

Question 10

The most learned man of the Period of the Warring States,who served as the chief spokesman for Confucius's philosophy,was

A)Xunzi.
B)Mencius.
C)Laozi.
D)Shang Yang.
E)Shihuangdi.

Question 11

What was the school of philosophical thought that returned order to China after the Period of the Warring States?

A)Confucianism
B)Draconianism
C)Daoism
D)Legalism
E)neo-Confucianism

Question 12

At the heart of Mencius's philosophy was the belief that

A)human nature was essentially good.
B)it was better to withdraw from life and follow a path of inaction.
C)a repressive government was the best approach to curbing human selfishness.
D)deep devotion would bring reward from the gods.
E)human nature was essentially bad.

Question 13

Sima Qian was

A)the founder of the Qin dynasty.
B)the leading Legalist scholar.
C)a great Chinese historian.
D)the Chinese rebel who seized control during the Han dynasty.
E)the Chinese heaven.

Question 14

The philosophy that criticized social activism and,instead,proposed a life of reflection and introspection was

A)Legalism.
B)Confucianism.
C)Daoism.
D)Mencianism.
E)Platonism.

Question 15

The Daoist thinkers spoke of wuwei,which stood for

A)disengagement from the affairs of the world.
B)the mandate of heaven.
C)a socially active lifestyle.
D)the notion of filial piety.
E)a matriarchal world order.

Question 16

Confucius believed that political and social harmony

A)came from a retreat into a quiet life of meditation.
B)arose from the proper ordering of human relationships.
C)depended on the proper structuring of a strong centralized government.
D)was available to human beings if they expressed a deep devotion to the gods.
E)could only be imposed by a powerful king.

Question 17

When discussing qualities that were essential to good character,Confucius used which of the following terms to mean an attitude of kindness or a sense of humanity?

A)dao
B)xiao
C)maodun
D)dasas
E)ren

Question 18

Chinese philosophers often spoke of which term,meaning "the way"?

A)junzi
B)li
C)ren
D)dasas
E)dao

Question 19

What was the Chinese political philosophy that called for clear and strict laws?

A)Confucianism
B)Legalism
C)Daoism
D)Buddhism
E)Hinduism

Question 20

According to tradition,the founder of Daoism is considered to be

A)Xunzi.
B)Laozi.
C)Zhuangzi.
D)Mencius.
E)Wudi.

Question 21

Wang Mang

A)was primarily known for his adherence to Legalist doctrines.
B)was famous for creating a new and lasting dynasty.
C)stood as the greatest single military threat during the Later Han period.
D)was a Daoist term referring to disengagement from the world.
E)carried out reforms so revolutionary that he is known as the "socialist emperor."

Question 22

How did Shang Yang weaken the economic position of the hereditary aristocratic classes in order to strengthen the Qin state?

A)imposing major tax increases on aristocrats
B)ending the practice of hereditary inheritance
C)forcing aristocrats to serve in the military
D)burning aristocratic lands to reduce surpluses
E)granting land rights to individual cultivators

Question 23

The Chinese script was standardized during the reign of

A)Liu Bang.
B)Jiang.
C)Wang Mang.
D)Wudi.
E)Qin Shihuangdi.

Question 24

Which popular treatise emphasized humility,obedience,subservience,and devotion to their husbands as the virtues most appropriate for women?

A)Analects
B)Admonitions for Women
C)Daodejing
D)Book of Songs
E)Lessons for Women

Question 25

In an effort to bring about effective governmental control,the Legalists

A)relied on the example set by hard-working junzi.
B)stressed that the peasants should follow the Daoist doctrine of inaction.
C)established the principle of collective responsibility before the law.
D)stressed the need for education.
E)suggested that each individual Hindu focus on his or her caste duties.

Question 26

Which one of the following was NOT one of Qin Shihuangdi's policies?

A)strong centralized rule
B)support of traditional learning
C)huge public works projects
D)disarming regional military forces
E)building protective walls

Question 27

The dividing line between the Early Han and the Later Han is marked by

A)a bloody civil war.
B)invasion by the Xiongnu.
C)the brief rule of a usurper.
D)a brief resurgence of Qin power.
E)the appearance of Buddhism in China.

Question 28

Of the following,Qin Shihuangdi's most important contribution to China was

A)building the precursor to the Great Wall.
B)his elaborate tomb,which tells us much about the Qin religious orientation.
C)his appreciation and support of education.
D)establishing a precedent for centralized imperial rule.
E)his conversion to Buddhism.

Question 29

The founder of the Han dynasty was

A)Wudi.
B)Liu Bang.
C)Shihuangdi.
D)Wang Mang.
E)Jiang Zemin.

Question 30

Shang Yang and Han Feizi hoped to control China's subjects

A)through religious devotion.
B)through ruthless strengthening and expansion of the state.
C)by adhering to certain classic Confucian concepts such as ren and li.
D)with a well-meaning government designed to bring out the inherent goodness of human beings.
E)by building peasant support through democratic reforms.

Question 31

Fifteen thousand terra-cotta soldiers were unearthed in the tomb of

A)Maodun.
B)Wang Mang.
C)Xiongnu.
D)Liu Bang.
E)Qin Shihuangdi.

Question 32

The Chinese emperor who was notorious for his hatred of Confucianism and for his burning of books was

A)Qin Shihuangdi.
B)Wudi.
C)Liu Bang.
D)Wang Mang.
E)Jiang.

Question 33

The Han philosophy of rule was

A)the high point of Legalism.
B)dependent on the constant and unrelenting use of terror.
C)dependent on the social and political activism of Daoist ministers of state.
D)a continuation of Qin policies of centralization.
E)copied from Mauryan India.

Question 34

Modu was the

A)minister of state whose usurpation of the throne brought an end to the Former Han period.
B)most successful leader of the Xiongnu.
C)founder of the Han dynasty.
D)most powerful Han emperor.
E)last Qin emperor.

Question 35

Which group of people was the greatest military threat to the Han dynasty?

A)the Hmong
B)the Koreans
C)the Mongols
D)the Japanese
E)the Xiongnu

Question 36

As the Han dynasty became more powerful and wealthy,

A)the classically Confucian concern for peasants became more pronounced.
B)social distinctions became almost invisible.
C)the status of women improved dramatically.
D)the gap between rich and poor grew dangerously large.
E)Hinduism increasingly appealed to the lower classes.

Question 37

The Book of Lord Shang is a work that helped develop the doctrine of

A)Legalism.
B)Confucianism.
C)Daoism.
D)Buddhism.
E)Zoroastrianism.

Question 38

The greatest and most dynamic Han emperor,known for his administrative centralization and imperial expansion,was

A)Wudi.
B)Liu Bang.
C)Wang Mang.
D)Shihuangdi.
E)Confucius.

Question 39

The man who first declared himself emperor of a unified China was

A)Liu Bang.
B)Prince Wu.
C)Qin Shihuangdi.
D)Wang Mang.
E)Prince Yu.

Question 40

The Chinese emperor who started an imperial institute for higher learning was

A)Han Wudi.
B)Qin Shihuangdi.
C)Liu Bang.
D)King Yu.
E)Mencius.

Question 41

Han Wudi was known as the "socialist emperor."

Question 42

Liu Bang was the founder of the Han dynasty.

Question 43

In the Daodejing,Laozi stated,"There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water,yet for attacking things that are hard and strong there is nothing that surpasses it." How is this statement representative of Daoist thought?

Question 44

The legendary founder of Daoism was Laozi.

Question 45

Laozi said in the Daodejing,"...practice non-interference in order to win the empire." What did he mean by these words? How does this quote demonstrate the fundamental difference between Confucianism and Daoism?

Question 46

Shang Yang was the most powerful Han emperor.

Question 47

The Daoist virtue of removal from the affairs of the world was known as junzi.

Question 48

The Chinese have,arguably,the longest-lasting and most stable political structure of any powerful state in world history.What factors might help to explain this fact?

Question 49

Compare and contrast the philosophies of Mencius and Xunzi.How did their contrasting views of human nature influence their political theories? In what ways were they still operating within a Confucian framework?

Question 50

Describe Legalist philosophy and how it influenced the leaders that brought order and centralization to China after a long period of unrest.

Question 51

Discuss the role that Qin Shihuangdi played in the unification of China.What were the foundations of his political philosophy?

Question 52

Xunzi was the post-Confucian scholar who believed that human beings selfishly pursued their own interests.

Question 53

Why did the political chaos of the Period of the Warring States give rise to philosophies such as Confucianism,Legalism,and Daoism?

Question 54

Chinese Daoist philosophers spoke of the dao,meaning "the way." What did they mean by this word? How did they use their philosophy to attack the philosophies of others?

Question 55

Confucius was the philosopher who believed that political and social harmony arose from the proper ordering of human relationships.

Question 56

Examine the Chinese view of action and inaction as expressed in philosophy.Could this view change the world for the better?

Question 57

The first proclaimed emperor of the unified Chinese state was Qin Shihuangdi.

Question 58

Junzi were Confucian "superior individuals" who took an active role in public affairs.

Question 59

Mencius was the post-Confucian scholar who believed that human nature was basically good.

Question 60

Discuss the significance of social order in Chinese thought.What part does family life play in the Chinese concept of social order?

Question 61

Read the section from the Analects .How do these quotes relate to basic Confucian notions such as ren,li,and junzi?

Question 62

How did the early Han contribute to the unification of China?

Question 63

In the section from the Analects ,Confucius points out that,"When a prince's personal conduct is correct,his government is effective without the issuing of orders.If his personal conduct is not correct,he may issue orders,but they will not be followed." How is this statement representative of Confucian thought? In what ways does it disagree with Legalist philosophy?

Question 64

What are the fundamental ideas and values of Confucianism? Make sure to include the concepts of ren,li,and xiao in your answer.

Question 65

Examine Map 6.1,China under the Qin dynasty,221-207B.C.E.How was Qin Shihuangdi able to create a state that large? How successful were his methods in the long run?

Question 66

Examine the philosophical school known as Daoism.Who were the founding thinkers of this philosophy? What are the basic tenets of this thought? What would be the political consequences of being a Daoist?

Question 67

Why does your book call Qin Shihuangdi "one of the most important figures in Chinese history"?

Question 68

Examine the defensive walls on Map 6.1,China under the Qin dynasty,221-207B.C.E.Why were they constructed in the north? Were there reasons for constructing the walls other than purely defensive ones?

Question 69

What were the fundamental principles of Legalism,and how do these differ from those of Confucianism and Daoism?

Question 70

Discuss the political and social reforms of Wang Mang.What led to the need for these reforms? How successful were they?

Question 71

Compare maps 6.1 and 6.2.How was the Han state different than the Qin? Discuss the threat posed by the Xiongnu.

Question 72

Examine the painting of Confucius on page 103.How is he represented in this picture? There were no contemporary portraits of Confucius.What role might a later artist play in helping to create a lasting image of a historical figure?

Question 73

Discuss the role of human nature in Chinese philosophical thought.How did the major Chinese philosophies view human nature? Compare this view to those of other civilizations we have covered.

Question 74

Examine the reign of Han Wudi.What challenges did he face and how did he overcome them? How has he influenced Chinese history?

Question 75

Look at the illustration on page 109 of the terra-cotta army surrounding the tomb of Qin Shihuangdi.What could this picture tell us about the splendor of the First Emperor's reign? Can this picture also give us an insight into the workings of Qin Shihuangdi's mind?

Question 76

Examine the thought of Confucius.What are the basic tenets of this philosophy? How has his philosophy influenced Chinese history?

Question 77

Discuss the difference between the ruling philosophies of Qin Shihuangdi and the later Han emperors.Which emperors were more successful at maintaining order,and why?

Question 78

What does the burial suit on page 115 tell us about the life and death of the wealthy classes during the Han period? How did this compare to the lives of peasants during this period?

Question 79

How does Daoism contrast with Confucianism?

Question 80

Who was Laozi? What is the Daoist view of virtue? How can it be used to rule a state? Relate these ideas to those of Confucius.