Mandarin II Honors Final Exam Culture Study Guide

Exam Overview and Culture Section Logistics

• The Chinese culture section of the Mandarin II Honors final exam is mandatory and counts for $20\%$ to $25\%$ of the overall exam grade.
• The format of the section consists of multiple-choice questions based on the provided study guide.
• Students who were not in Mr. Wark’s Mandarin I class the previous year are exempt from specific questions regarding material taught exclusively in that year.

Linguistic Foundations of Mandarin Chinese

• There are numerous Chinese languages and even more numerous regional dialects.
• Mandarin Chinese origins: Mandarin originates from northeastern China and is currently the most widely spoken Chinese language.
• Official status: Mandarin serves as the official language of China.
• Tonal Structure: Mandarin is a tonal language consisting of four specific tones and one neutral tone (non-tone):
  • $1st$ tone
  • $2nd$ tone
  • $3rd$ tone
  • $4th$ tone
• Historical Evolution of Script: The written language has evolved for at least $3,000+$ years.
• Oracle Bones: The oldest known evidence of Chinese writing consists of symbols carved onto tortoise shells and cow bones. These were used for divination purposes during the Shang dynasty.
• Characters: Written Chinese does not utilize a phonetic alphabet. It is comprised of over $50,000$ different characters.
  • Each character represents a single syllable when pronounced.
  • Characters are composed of components, which are in turn composed of strokes.
• Stroke and Component Standards: There are strict rules for the direction of every stroke, the stroke-order of every component, and the component-order of every character.
• Pinyin: This Romanized alphabet was invented in the mid-$20th$ century to describe the correct pronunciation of Chinese words. The term "Pinyin" literally translates to "spelled sounds."
  • There is no letter "v" in the Pinyin alphabet.
  • The letter "ü" is included in the Pinyin alphabet.

Geographical Landscape and Bordering Nations

• Location: China is situated in East Asia, south of Russia and Mongolia, and north of India and Southeast Asia.
• Comparative Size: China is slightly larger than the continental United States.
• Coastal Regions: The eastern and southern coasts border the Pacific Ocean. Most of China's major cities are concentrated along this coastal region.
• Maritime Divisions: China divides its coastal waters into three distinct seas:
  • The Yellow Sea
  • The East (China) Sea
  • The South (China) Sea
• Major River Systems: Most major rivers flow from West to East across the country.
  • The Yellow River is the primary northern river.
  • The Yangzi River is the primary southern river.
• Regional Landmarks:
  • Gobi Desert: A large desert located in the northern region.
  • Tibet: Located in the southwestern-most region; it is highly mountainous and its border is defined by the Himalayan mountain range.
• Bordering Countries: China shares land borders with $14$ different countries (tied with Russia for the most globally):
  • North Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
• Nearby Island States: Three island states in the Pacific Ocean nearby are Japan, The Republic of China (Taiwan), and the Philippines.

Demographics and Ethnic Composition

• Total Population: Approximately $1.4$ billion people reside in China.
• Global Ranking: It is the second most populated country in the world, following India.
• Han Ethnicity: The majority ethnic group is the Han, named after the Han dynasty.
  • Han people make up over $90\%$ of China’s population.
  • They are the largest ethnic group globally, representing approximately $18\%$ of the world's population.
• Minority Groups: There are $55$ other native ethnic minority groups within China.

Traditional Calendar and Major Festivals

• Calendar Systems: While China uses the Gregorian Calendar for globalized functions, the Traditional Chinese calendar remains vital for cultural holidays.
• Lunar-Solar System: The traditional calendar is a lunar-solar system divided into $24$ solar terms that also account for the moon phase cycle.
• Spring Festival (Chunjie):
  • Also known as Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year.
  • It is the most celebrated holiday and begins on the new moon closest to the first solar term, "Li-Chun."
  • The celebration lasts for approximately two weeks, concluding on the full moon.
  • Themes: The color red, luck, casting away negativity, family feasting, gifting red envelopes to children, and warding off evil spirits.
• Chinese Zodiac: The calendar follows a $12$-year cycle symbolized by $12$ animals:
  • Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
  • Note: The current year is the year of the Horse; the subsequent year will be the year of the Dog (which Mr. Wark claims as his year).
• Tomb Sweeping Festival (Qing-Ming-Jie):
  • Occurs on the first day of the $5th$ solar term (Qing-Ming), usually in early April.
  • Families clean ancestors' gravesites and offer food, tea, flowers, incense, and "fake money" for use in the afterlife.
• Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu Jie):
  • Held on the $5th$ day of the $5th$ moon cycle (late May/early June).
  • Commemorates the poet Qu Yuan.
  • Features include dragon boat races and the consumption of Zongzi (triangle-shaped sticky-rice dumplings).
• Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival):
  • Celebrated on the $8th$ full moon of the Chinese calendar.
  • A harvest festival focused on family reunions, peace, and harmony.
  • Key elements: Chinese lanterns and Moon Cakes.

Chinese Culinary Diversity and Regional Staples

• Regional Diversity: Chinese cuisine is diverse and varies significantly by region; there is no single "Chinese Food."
• The Eight Great Cuisines ($中国八大菜系$ - zhong guo ba da cai xi):
  1. Lu cai
  2. Chuan cai
  3. Yue cai
  4. Su cai
  5. Min cai
  6. Zhe cai
  7. Xiang cai
  8. Hui cai
• Staple Foods: Rice ($米$) and Noodles ($面$) are the primary staples.
  • Northern China is famous for high production and consumption of noodles.
  • Southern China is famous for high production and consumption of rice.

The Four Great Classics of Literature

• The Four Great Classics ($四大名著$ - si da ming zhu) are foundational texts impacting East Asian culture, theater, and modern media.
• The books are:
  1. Romance of the Three Kingdoms
  2. Water Margin
  3. Journey to the West
  4. Dream of the Red Chamber
• Journey to the West is arguably the most famous, featuring the popular fictional character Sun Wu Kong, the Monkey King.

Musical Traditions and Instruments

• Mythology: The Yellow Emperor instructed Ling-Lun to create music to promote social harmony.
• Philosophical Views: Confucius was a musician who viewed music as essential for personal cultivation.
• Traditional Instruments:
  • Gu-Zheng: A $21$-string instrument comparable to a harp.
  • Er-Hu: A $2$-string instrument comparable to a violin.
  • Pi-Pa: A $4$-string instrument comparable to a guitar.
  • Di-Zi: A woodwind instrument comparable to a flute.

Traditional Metaphysics: Qi, Yin Yang, and Wu Xing

• Qi: An invisible energy and life force connecting all things in the universe. Smooth flow results in health and harmony, while blockages cause sickness or chaos.
• Yin Yang: The balance of opposing, complementary forces.
  • Yin: Dark, cold, resting, passive, receptive, and feminine.
  • Yang: Bright, active, creative, hot, and masculine.
  • They are interdependent and flow into each other; neither can exist without the other, and each contains elements of its opposite.
• Wu Xing (Five Stages of Change): Five dynamic stages that create and balance the universe.
  1. Wood ($木$): Represents growth, expansion, and flexibility. (Lesser Yang; gives rise to Fire).
  2. Fire ($火$): Represents peak energy, warmth, and passion. (Greater Yang; gives rise to Earth).
  3. Earth ($土$): Represents stability, grounding, and nourishment. (The balance point; gives rise to Metal).
  4. Metal ($金$): Represents contraction, focus, and strength. (Lesser Yin; gives rise to Water).
  5. Water ($水$): Represents stillness, potential, and rest. (Greater Yin; gives rise to Wood).

Ancient Origins and the Legend of Yu the Great

• Timeline: Chinese history stretches back roughly $5000$ years, originating in the Yellow River valley.
• Agriculture and Crisis: Fertile mineral-rich soil allowed for early agriculture, though the Yellow River was prone to devastating floods.
• Da Yu (Yu the Great): A legendary figure who spent decades constructing dams, dikes, and irrigation systems to control the floods.
• The First Dynasty: Following his success, Yu was made king. He established hereditary rule by naming his son as successor, creating the Xia Dynasty and a governing tradition that lasted until the $20th$ century.

Chronological History of Chinese Dynasties and Modern Eras

• Xia Dynasty ($夏$) ($2070 - 1600$ BCE): The legendary first dynasty established by Yu the Great.
• Shang Dynasty ($商$) ($1600 - 1046$ BCE): First dynasty proven by archaeology; introduced oracle bone writing and mastered bronze casting.
• Zhou Dynasty ($周$) ($1046 - 256$ BCE): Longest-lasting dynasty; introduced the "Mandate of Heaven"; fractured into the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.
• Qin Dynasty ($秦$) ($221 - 206$ BCE): Unified China into an Empire under Qin Shi Huang; standardized writing, currency, and weights; built the Terracotta Army and segments of the Great Wall.
• Han Dynasty ($汉$) ($202$ BCE - $220$ CE): First golden age; cemented Confucianism; opened the Silk Road; invented paper; gave its name to the Han ethnic group.
• Jin Dynasty ($晋$) ($266 - 420$ CE): Unstable period marked by civil wars (War of the Eight Princes) and nomadic invasions.
• Sui Dynasty ($隋$) ($581 - 618$ CE): Reunited China; built the Grand Canal; saw the rise of Buddhism. Often compared to the Qin for its brevity and role in setting up a golden age.
• Tang Dynasty ($唐$) ($618 - 907$ CE): Second golden age; peak for poetry and international trade; featured Empress Wu Zetian; Buddhism became the state religion.
• Song Dynasty ($宋$) ($960 - 1279$): Period of technological leaps (gunpowder, compass, paper money); fostered Neo-Confucianism; eventually conquered by Mongolians.
• Yuan Dynasty ($元$) ($1271 - 1368$): Established by Kublai Khan; first time China was ruled by foreigners (Mongols); moved capital to Beijing; hosted Marco Polo.
• Ming Dynasty ($明$) ($1368 - 1644$): Reclaimed Han rule; restored the Great Wall; eventually adopted isolationist policies.
• Qing Dynasty ($清$) ($1644 - 1912$ CE): Ruled by Manchu conquerors; expanded China to its largest historical borders; incorporated Taiwan; collapsed due to internal rebellion and Western imperialism; the final dynasty.
• The Republic of China ($1912 - 1949$): Attempted transformation into a modern republic; toppled on the mainland by revolution but continues to exist in Taiwan.
• The People’s Republic of China ($1949 - 2026$): Founded by the Chinese Communist Party following a civil war against the Nationalist party. This state governs China today.