Page 1: Early Chinese and Japanese Civilizations

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Page 1 notes on China and Japan.

Huang He (Yellow River)

China's sorrow due to disastrous floods; one of the cradles of Chinese civilization.

Chung Kuo (Zhongguo)

The Chinese name for China, meaning 'Middle Kingdom'.

Dynasties

Ruling families that govern China across different periods.

Shang dynasty

Early Chinese dynasty that developed a system of writing.

Chou (Zhou) dynasty

China's longest-ruling dynasty.

Lao-tze (Laozi)

Founder/philosopher associated with Taoism.

Taoism

Philosophy emphasizing harmony with the Tao; Laozi's teachings.

Confucius

Philosopher who promoted ethical virtues and social harmony.

Confucianism

Ethical system focusing on virtue and ancestor worship; based on Confucius's ideas.

Qin (Ch'in) dynasty

First imperial dynasty of China; followed the collapse of the Zhou.

Han dynasty

Dynasty that marked the height of ancient China's power and glory.

Shih Huang Ti (Shi Huangdi)

First emperor of a united China.

Mandarin

Northern Chinese dialect; basis of standard Chinese.

Cantonese

Southern Chinese dialect.

China from the Qin (Ch'in) dynasty

The name 'China' derives from the Qin (Ch'in) dynasty.

Great Wall of China

World's longest wall; built to defend against invasions.

Great Silk Road

Trade route linking China with the Roman world.

Chinese calendar

Calendar devised by Chinese astrologers.

Silk cloth

Silk production; a major Chinese invention.

Glazed pottery

Pottery with glaze; part of Chinese technological advances.

Paper making

Invention of paper in China.

Mongols

Fierce nomads from the northern steppes of Asia; led by Genghis Khan.

Yuan dynasty

Dynasty established by Genghis Khan's successors in China.

Marco Polo

Venetian traveler who journeyed to China with his father and uncle.

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan; founder of the Yuan dynasty.

Four major Japanese islands

Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku.

Mount Fuji

Japan's iconic volcano; its area covers a large portion of the country.

Nippon

Japanese name meaning 'origin of the sun'; symbolically 'Land of the Rising Sun'.

Cipango

Name used by Marco Polo for Japan; source of the modern name 'Japan'.

Ainu

Original inhabitants of Japan.

Shinto

Religion of nature worship; the oldest surviving religion in Japan.

Clan

A group of extended families.

Yamato clan

Dominant clan that established loose rule over other clans in Japan.

Princess Shotoku

Promoted Buddhism and other Chinese influences in Japan.

Taika

The great reform in Japan that centralized power.

Mikado

Emperor of Japan.

Shoguns

Feudal lords who truly controlled public affairs.

Daimios

Local landlords in feudal Japan.

Samurai

Warriors or knights who served in the private armies of the daimios.