Question 1

Examine the Han gentlemen represented in the illustration on page 170.How would their lives have been different from that of a peasant? What did Confucius mean when he discussed the creation of a gentleman?

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Question 2

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

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Question 3

How does Daoism contrast with Confucianism?

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Question 4

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?

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Question 5

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

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Question 6

In the section from the Analects (see Textbook: Sources from the Past: Confucius on Good Government),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?

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Question 7

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

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Question 8

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?

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Question 9

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

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Question 10

Look at the illustration on page 162 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?

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Question 11

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

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Question 12

What does the burial suit on page 164 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?

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Question 13

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

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Question 14

Examine Map 8.1,China under the Qin dynasty,221-207 B.C.E. How was Qin Shihuangdi able to create a state that large? How successful were his methods in the long run?

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Question 15

Examine the painting of Confucius on page 155.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?

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Question 16

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.

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Question 17

Compare maps 8.1 and 8.2.How was the Han state different than the Qin? Discuss the threat posed by the Xiongnu.

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Question 18

Read the section from the Analects (see Textbook: Sources from the Past: Confucius on Good Government).How do these quotes relate to basic Confucian notions such as ren,li,and junzi?

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Question 19

Examine the defensive walls on Map 8.1,China under the Qin dynasty,221-207 B.C.E. Why were they constructed in the north? Were there reasons for constructing the walls other than purely defensive ones?

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Question 20

Examine the feature on Laozi (see Textbook: Sources from the Past: Laozi on Living in Harmony with Dao).What is the Daoist view of virtue? How can it be used to rule a state? Relate these ideas to those of Confucius.

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Quiz 8: The Unification of China