Asian Studies Final Exam

Maui

Maui

-most famous of the mythological heroes who put the final touches on creation of the world

-demigod, hero and trickster in Polynesian mythology

-strong, wants to help people, not tolerant of criticism (turns lots of critics into rocks)

-shapeshifter and has a magic fishhook

-has a wife named Hina

-has lots of feats, including separating the heavens and the earth, pulling land out of the water, made days longer by slowing down the sun, gives fire to humankind, creates coconuts + conger eels

-failed sometimes, such as when he tried to grant humans immortality

Kupe

-the first explorerJa to go to New Zealand

-he left his island that was faced with fishing problems to kill the octopus thought to be responsible, and found New Zealand

James Cook

-one of the first European explorers who started to believe the Polynesians had settled through exploration

-he came to this conclusion after exploring Hawaii, Tahiti and the Cook Islands in the 1700s

Joseph Banks

-a scientist and botanist, he helped James Cook with his theory as he saw resemblance in the languages among the islands

-he traced the languages back to the Tahitian language

-when he compared Maori to Tahitian , he found they were nearly identical

-after speaking with natives, he learned that winds died down in certain seasons allowing Polynesians to travel

Mo’ikeha

-the most famous navigator in Hawaiian legends

-he arrived in Hawaii from Tahiti as a child

-visited Tahiti, came back to Hawaii and settled down

-all navigators trace their lineage back to him

Oceania

-region that rests between Asia and the Americas

-more ocean than continent

-millions of square miles of ocean

-part of the Ring of Fire

-consists of more than 10000 islands

Atoll

-ring shaped islands; created by sentiment built up on coral reefs; only rise a few feet out of the water (not much for agriculture and little soil)

tapu

-meaning of restriction; sacred, separate, forbidden

-restrain someone or protect something

-where word taboo comes from

-could be a long or short period

ex: person who prepares corpses, woman in childbirth to other men

Micronesia

little islands; east and southeast of the Phillippines

Lagoon

areas of water surrounded by atolls

Haka

-ancient Maori warrior dance from New Zealand; shows a tribe’s strength and solidarity

-chants speak of ancestors and events of the ribe often times

-still used today in ceremonies and to mark important events

-also used as challenge to opponents in sports

Melanesia

black islands; north and east of Australia

continental islands

formed by rising and falling of ancient rock under the sea; not created by volcanoes but can still have these (ex: New Guinea)

Moko

-Maori tattooing

-regarded as sacred

-symbol of rank, social status, power and prestige

-unique to each individual

-mostly men; some women do it

-ink made from all natural elements

-painful process; made cuts in skin using knives and then pigment chiseled into the skin

Polynesia

-many islands and is the largest area

-region goes from Hawaii in the north to New Zealand in the south to Easter Island in the east

-people have been there for over three thousand years

-made up of coral, volcanic and continental islands

wayfinding

traveling by boat without any modern navigation tools

Australasia

some definitions include this region; others don’t

polytheistic

many gods

high islands

-H

-formed by volcanoes and coral reefs

-high islands come out of the sea more than low islands

atua

-loosely means gods

-wicked diverse: range of jobs, some are good some are not

-creators, different parts of life, associated with certain families, temples, certain occupations

low islands

-L

-formed by volcanoes and coral reefs

-high islands come out of the sea more than low islands

mana

-spiritual power held by gods and some humans

-nobility, warriors, sea explorers

Qin Shi Huangdi

• ruler of the Qin

• Major goal: unite china

• fierce military leader

• clever diplomat

• conquers other states (230-221 B.C.E.)

• becomes the first emperor of China

As First Emperor:

• Goal = become immortal

  • became paranoid

  • kept moving around, built many palaces

  • tried herbs, fungi and even drank mercury

  • huge tomb with terracotta warriors

Warring States Period

period of turmoil and chaos where the states were at war with each other

Qin Dynasty

Originally one of the warring states which was led by Qin Shi Huangdi and later became the first imperial dynasty of China.

portents

An omen; a sign that something bad is going to happen.

psychotic paranoia

The fear of others devising plans to harm or kill someone.

Qin Wall

The first version of the Great Wall of China (that was later finished by the Ming Dynasty). It protected China from the nomadic tribes attacking.

Terracotta warriors

warriors sculpted with terracotta clay that covered Qin Shi Huangdi’s tomb - several thousand of them are inside

Han Dynasty

Calligraphy was developed into an artform

Paper was invented by Cai Lun

Confucianism was the official state ideology

Civil Service Exam: Difficult tests on confucianism, law, government, etc. that are necessary to become eligible for a job in the government.

Silk Road: A network of trade routes that greatly improved the Chinese economy and facilitated interactions with other countries

Tang Dynasty

Buddhism became more popular in China although it was discriminated at times

Gunpowder was developed drastically changing battle strategies of the middle ages

Large contributions to poetry

Empress Wu: The only female in Chinese history to take on the title of empress in 690 C.E. Other empresses in Chinese history were empress dowagers who were widows put in power after their husband, the emperor, died

Song Dynasty

Rice and tea became staples in the Chinese diet during the Song dynasty

First explosion of China’s population occurred during the Song dynasty

Foot binding became a practice for women to follow, “lotus foot” beauty standard

Pagodas and landscape paintings became popular

Mongols:The Song dynasty ended with the Mongols overthrowing the dynasty and replacing it with the Yuan Dynasty

Ming Dynasty

Great Wall: The Great Wall of China was restored by the Ming dynasty and the wall that can be seen in China today is the one restored by the Ming dynasty

Forbidden City: The imperial palace built in Beijing where the emperor lived. Civilians were not allowed inside thus the name “forbidden city”

Zheng He: A Chinese explorer, often edited as being China’s best explorer, who brought lots of knowledge about foreign countries to China

White and blue porcelain pottery became popular during the Ming dynasty. The form of pottery itself is often called “China” because of its origin in the Ming dynasty of China

Qing Dynasty

Manchu: Conquered china in 1644 and started the Qing dynasty

Opium Wars: Wars between China and foreign countries that weakened China by making them sign humiliating treaties and making them pay reparations

Taiping Rebellion:A rebellion led by Hong Xiuquan, who sought to overthrow the Qing dynasty and convert everyone to his version of christianity

Hong Xiuquan: Believed that he was the brother of Jesus and King of the Heavenly Kingdom of Great Peace.

Boxer Rebellion: A rebellion led by peasants and supported by the empress dowager Ci Xi. “Boxers” attacked any foreign people, especially christian missionaries, and chinese who converted to christianity. Rebellion failed and made China pay reparations.

Was the last imperial dynasty in Chinese history

Zoroaster

founder of zoroastrianism; prophet

Zoroastrianism

-Zoroaster

-Ahura Mazda

-Avesta (gathas)

-Parsi

-Fire Temples

-Good Thoughts, Good Deeds, Good Words

-Faravahar

-Dakhmas

-monotheistic

Ahura Mazda

god and creator of everything good

avesta

the main text; contains the gathas

Fire Temples

main place of worship for zoroastrians

good thoughts, good words, good deeds

motto in zoroastrianism that is like the “golden rule”

Faravahar

symbol of zoroastrianism; half eagle half human

Confucius

• A moral philosopher and teacher who hoped to play a large role in government

• Little is known about his early life

• Born to a retired warrior and a concubine; orphaned at a young age

• Born during the warring states period, which influenced his goals

• Had a love of learning

• Wanted to advise different rulers but nobody wanted to listen to him (thought he was too idealistic and unrealistic)

• Became a teacher instead; taught ~3000 students

• Died at 72 believing he was a failure

Confucianism

-all people are naturally good and only need to be taught to become moral

-should be a gentleman

-fulfill the right of Filial Piety

-follow Li and Ren

Ideal government: Confucianism

~don’t rule by force and harsh punishments but by moral example

~hierarchy and rules are important; everyone has a role that must be fulfilled

~rigid but believed each role is valuable

~education to all regardless of social class

~main 3 things: Food, Faith and Arm

Filial piety

respecting one’s parents and elders

Ren

show love and humanity; need to care for others (compassion)

Li

rituals, traditions and decorum (proper behavior)

Analects

book compiling Confucius’ teachings made by his followers after his death

What makes a good person; gentleman

a person who follows Confucius’s teachings; pillar of virtue and selflessness; gov official=the highest goal of a gentleman