China Quiz

imalayan Mountains*

A huge mountain range on China's southwest border that blocked travel and invasion.

Tibetan Plateau*

A high, cold area west of China that kept outsiders away.

Yellow and Yangtze Rivers*

China's two main rivers, which gave farmers water and rich soil.

North China Plain*

A large flat area in the north where early Chinese farming and settlement grew.

Gobi Desert*

A big dry desert on China's northern border that acted as a barrier.

Middle Kingdom*

The Chinese name for China, showing they saw themselves as the center of the world.

Population density*

How many people live in an area. Most Chinese people live near the rivers and plains.

Ethnic diversity*

China has many ethnic groups, though the Han are the largest.

Warring States Period

A violent, chaotic time in the eastern Zhou dynasty when rival states fought for power. Confucius and Laozi lived then.

Ancestor worship

Honoring dead family members. It existed before Confucius, so people were ready for his ideas.

Qi*

The life energy that flows through all living things.

Mandate of Heaven

The idea that a ruler gets the right to rule from heaven. The ruler must care for the people and keep peace and order.

Emperor Shi Huangdi

China's first emperor, who unified China under the Qin dynasty. He standardized weights and measures, linked walls into the Great Wall, destroyed books, and built the terracotta army.

Dynastic cycle*

A dynasty rises, grows weak and unfair, loses the Mandate of Heaven, and is replaced by a new one.

Sun Tzu and The Art of War*

Sun Tzu was a Chinese military thinker. His book explains strategy and how to win battles.

Confucianism

A belief system based on order, harmony, and good behavior, where leaders lead by moral example.

Confucius

A wise man born in 551 B.C.E. who wanted a peaceful society. His sayings are in The Analects.

The Five Relationships

Parent and child, ruler and subject, older and younger brother, husband and wife, and friend and friend. Those with power care for others, and those with less respect and obey.

Jen or ren

The highest virtue in Confucianism, meaning humaneness or feeling connected to other people.

Li*

Proper behavior and ritual that keep order in society.

The Dao (Confucian)

The way. When people reach ren, their natural actions match the dao, bringing peace and harmony.

Filial piety

A child's devotion to their parents. It was the foundation of all other virtues.

Civil service exams

Tests used to pick government officials. Officials had to master the Confucian classics and show good morals, not wealth.

Confucius' view of government

Rulers should lead by moral example and care for the people like a father cares for a family, not use force.

Legalism

The main philosophy of the Qin dynasty. It says people are naturally selfish and need strict laws, with rewards for obeying and punishment for disobeying.

Han Feizi

A Legalist who wrote essays that guided rulers. He stressed harsh laws and a strong military.

Daoism

A belief system that says people should understand nature and live in harmony with it.

Laozi

The name means Old Philosopher. We do not know if he was one real person or several writers.

Dao De Jing

The earliest book of Daoist teachings, also called The Way and Integrity Classic.

The Dao (Daoist)

The way of nature. It is hard to put into words, so the best way to know it is to watch nature.

Yin and yang

A symbol showing that opposites are connected and work together as one whole.

Wuwei

Actionless activity. It means acting in harmony with nature so things get done without forcing them.