Sinosphere and Chinese State Building Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering Chinese state building, social hierarchies, state philosophies, and foreign relations from the Sinosphere lecture notes.

Afro-Eurasia

The geographical region consisting of Africa, Europe, and Asia, also referred to as the "old world".

Yellow & Yangtze Rivers

Major rivers in China that provided large regions of arable, resource-rich land, but also caused millions of drownings due to unpredictable flooding patterns.

Confucianism

An ethical guideline and lifestyle designed to maintain and legitimize authority by defining conduct for authority figures and requiring followers to be respectful and obedient.

Filial Piety

A Chinese ethical concept centered on unconditional respect for and obligation to one's parents and ancestors to repay the debt of being cared for.

Wu Zetian

The only female Emperor of China, who was originally a concubine before leading the Tang Dynasty into reforms regarding the Civil Service Exam, protecting the Silk Roads, and allying with Korea.

Mandate of Heaven

The Chinese concept that a competent Emperor acts as an instrument of the heavens and therefore possesses divine authority over all of China.

Dynastic Cycle

The political pattern where a weak or corrupt dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven, faces justified rebellion or natural disasters, is overthrown, and is replaced by a new dynasty.

Grand Canal

An infrastructure network across the Yellow & Yangtze Rivers established 2,500 years ago and spanning over 1,000 miles, built to control flooding and promote safe travel.

Han Assimilation

The historical process where Han Chinese was declared the primary culture, enforcing Han language, customs, and state-instituted Confucianism, resulting in over 90% of Chinese being ethnically Han today.

Sinosphere

The region beyond China's political borders where Chinese culture and power exerted significant influence.

Tributaries

Foreign states and kingdoms, such as Vietnam, Korea, and Japan, that regularly brought gifts to the Chinese Emperor to gain favor.

Sinification

The process by which non-Chinese societies adopt Chinese culture, such as using chopsticks, eating rice, wearing Han fashion, and following Confucian teachings.

Zhongguo

China's endonym (中华), translating to "The Middle Kingdom," based on the belief that China was the center of the world and civilization.

China (Exonym Origin)

An exonym coined by Persian traders referring to the country where chinaware was produced.

Zhu Xi

A Song Dynasty Chinese scholar and philosopher who wrote a 1190 preface to a commentary on The Great Learning to emphasize traditional Confucian teachings over deviant doctrines.