Medieval China

Buddhism

widespread Asian religion or philosophy, founded by Siddharta Guatama in northeastern India

Tang Taizong

second emperor of the Tang Dynasty, ruled 626 - 649, encouraged Li Yaun, his father, to rebel against Sui dynasty in 617

Shi Huangdi

first emperor of Qin dynasty, used forced labor to achieve goals

Genghis Khan

founder and the first Khagan of the Mongol Empire, launched a series of military campaigns that conquered many parts of China and Central Asia

Marco Polo

travelled China for 17 years, came to China in 1271, came along with Mongols to Khan’s missions

Wu Zhao

empress during the Tang Dynasty

North China Plain

plain in eastern china, towards the middle

Chinese Characters

logographic and ideographic writing system used in China

dynastic circle

the theory that one dynasty will rise to power and collapse and another dynasty will rise to power, this continues in a circle

Mandate of Heaven

Chinese political philosophy that was used in ancient and imperial China to legitimize the rule of the King or Emperor of China

legalism

 strict, literal, or excessive conformity to the law or to a religious or moral code, ability to follow the law/rules

Confucianism

system of philosophical and ethical teachings, idea that relationships matter the most along with respect for your elders/parents/ancestors, founded by Confucius and developed by Mencius

daoism

religious or philosophical tradition of Chinese origin, idea that there are opposite forces in nature (yin and yang) and that equality exists

scholar official

one who passed the Civil Service Exam

movable type

system of printing and typography with moveable components

gentry

people of high social class in China

foot binding

applying tight binding to the feet of young girls to modify the size and shape of their feet as a status symbol and mark of beauty

civil service exam

School trains students in confucianism, poetry, and other subjects, Open to all but in reality you must be wealthy, Political connections also obtained high positions!, Result = capable governing class

Silk Road

network of trade routes connecting China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe, established during the Han dynasty

filial piety

having respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors, confucius idea

Great Wall of China

long wall in China, used as protection from invaders

landscape painting

highest form of Chinese painting, this art was not real and was idealized