Question 1

Which of the following was NOT a Buddhist sect during the Tang?

Accepted Answer

Du Fu was not a Buddhist sect, but an influential poet during the Tang dynasty. The other three choices - Zen, Pure Land, and Maitreya - were all prominent Buddhist sects during the Tang dynasty.

Question 2

As ruler of China in the early Tang dynasty, Empress Wu

Accepted Answer

Empress Wu promoted scholar bureaucrats, who were selected through a merit-based system of examinations, instead of relying on traditional aristocratic officials. This helped to strengthen the centralized government of the Tang dynasty and furthered the development of the civil service system in China.

Question 3

Under the Tang’s “equal field system” of taxation

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

The emperor Xuanzong pursued all of the following policies except:

Accepted Answer

Emperor Xuanzong is known for his support of poetry and literature, so he did not pursue the policy of suppressing them. He did, however, encourage public works, enlarge the tax base, and reform government finances.

Question 5

During the Tang period, the government

Accepted Answer

During the Tang period, China had a prosperous and cosmopolitan culture, which was made possible through the government's openness towards foreign influences. Tang China was open to ideas from places like India, Korea, and Japan. As a result, the period was marked by a blend of Chinese and foreign cultures in art, religion, and trade.

Question 6

In its foreign relations, the Tang dynasty employed all of the following policies except:

Accepted Answer

The Tang dynasty did not focus on strengthening naval forces and coastal defense in its foreign relations. Instead, it relied more on trade and diplomacy, as well as military force and alliances with neighboring nomadic tribes.

Question 7

The reason that the Sui dynasty is often compared with the Qin is because both were

Accepted Answer

Both the Sui dynasty and Qin dynasty were able to unify China under one government after a long period of disunity. The Qin dynasty unified China in 221 BCE, while the Sui dynasty achieved unification in 589 CE after centuries of division between the Northern and Southern dynasties.

Question 8

The Tang dynasty’s reaction to Korean resistance to their rule can best be described as

Accepted Answer

The Tang dynasty changed the status of Korea to tributary and exchanged gifts as a way of appeasing and maintaining diplomatic relations with Korea, rather than engaging in wars or building walls to contain Korean resistance.

Question 9

The equal field system was abandoned in 780 C.E. because of

Accepted Answer

The equal field system was abandoned due to a decline in population after the An Lushan rebellion, which made it difficult to maintain the system of land distribution.

Question 10

During the Tang dynasty, Chinese music was heavily influenced by styles and instruments from

Accepted Answer

During the Tang dynasty, trade and cultural exchange with Central Asia flourished, resulting in the introduction of new musical styles and instruments from the region into Chinese music. These included instruments such as the pipa and the huqin, which have become integral parts of Chinese music to this day.

Question 11

The ethnic background of the general that created the Sui dynasty was

Accepted Answer

The general who founded the Sui dynasty, Yang Jian (Emperor Wen), was of mixed Chinese and Turkic descent.

Question 12

The quality of the imperial administration rose during the Tang and Song dynasties because the bureaucrats

Accepted Answer

The quality of the imperial administration in the Tang and Song dynasties was enhanced because the bureaucrats had to pass strict examinations to enter or advance in government. This ensured that the bureaucrats had basic knowledge of governance and were competent enough to perform their duties effectively.

Question 13

The Tang dynasty sought to

Accepted Answer

The Tang dynasty pursued a policy of balancing central authority with concessions to aristocratic families, which helped to stabilize their rule and maintain order. They also relied heavily on the support of nomadic Turkish peoples in their military campaigns, but did not seek to impose Buddhism by force or implement democracy at the village level.

Question 14

The primary benefit of the Grand Canal was to

Accepted Answer

The Grand Canal was primarily constructed to connect the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers, facilitating trade and transportation within China.

Question 15

The dominant religion during the Tang dynasty was

Accepted Answer

Buddhism was the dominant religion during the Tang dynasty, despite the fact that Confucianism was the official state ideology. The Tang emperors were strong advocates of Buddhism and supported the construction of Buddhist temples and monasteries, as well as the spread of Buddhism throughout their empire. This contributed to a flourishing of Chinese Buddhism, which greatly impacted the development of both Chinese culture and the broader global Buddhist tradition.

Question 16

Which of the following is the correct chronological order of Chinese dynasties?

Accepted Answer

The correct chronological order of Chinese dynasties is Sui (581-618), Tang (618-907), Song (960-1279), and Yuan (1271-1368). Therefore, the correct order is C) Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan.

Question 17

The only woman in Chinese history to hold the title of emperor was

Accepted Answer

Wu Zhao, also known as Wu Zetian, was the only woman in Chinese history to hold the title of emperor. She ruled during the Tang dynasty from 690 to 705 AD.

Question 18

During the Tang dynasty, which of the following religions entered China?

Accepted Answer

During the Tang dynasty, China was open to foreign influences, and religions such as Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and Judaism were introduced into the country.

Question 19

Tang culture had all of the following characteristics except:

Accepted Answer

Tang culture did not reject native philosophies and religions. In fact, it had a mixture of Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian beliefs, and also incorporated elements of native shamanism and folk religions.

Question 20

The short-lived Sui dynasty’s most important contribution to Chinese history was the

Accepted Answer

The Sui dynasty reunified China after centuries of division and warfare that had followed the collapse of the Han dynasty in 220 CE. This reunification was a major contribution to Chinese history, and laid the groundwork for the stability and prosperity that followed under the Tang dynasty. While the establishment of the scholar-gentry and defeat of Turkish invaders were also significant developments during this period, they were not as impactful as the reunification of the country. The adoption of Buddhism as the official religion was not a major achievement of the Sui dynasty.

Quiz 8: Imperial China,589-1368