Chapter 1- The Resurgence of Empire in East Asia- Vocab

Question 1

Buddhism

Answer 1

Religion, based on Four Noble Truths, associated with Siddhartha Gautama (563–483 B.C.E.), or the Buddha; its adherents desired to eliminate all distracting passion and reach nirvana.

Question 2

Chan Buddhism

Answer 2

Influential branch of Buddhism in China, with an emphasis on intuition and sudden flashes of insight instead of textual study.

Question 3

Confucianism

Answer 3

Philosophy, based on the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Kong Fuzi (551–479 b.c.e.), or Confucius, that emphasizes order, the role of the gentleman, obligation to society,
and reciprocity.

Question 4

Daoism

Answer 4

Chinese philosophy with origins in the Zhou dynasty; it is associated with legendary philosopher Laozi, and it called for a policy of noncompetition.

Question 5

Dunhuang

Answer 5

Oasis in modern western China that became a site of Buddhist missionary activity by the fourth century C.E.

Question 6

Equal-field system

Answer 6

Chinese system during the Tang dynasty in which the goal was to ensure an equitable distribution of land.

Question 7

Foot binding

Answer 7

A practice that involved the tight wrapping of young girls’ feet with strips of cloth that prevented natural growth of the bones and resulted in tiny, malformed curved feet.

Question 8

Grand Canal

Answer 8

An elaborate project undertaken by Sui Yangdi; a network of existing artificial waterways that facilitated trade between northern and southern China and integrated their economies.

Question 9

Gunpowder

Answer 9

Discovered by Daoist alchemists during the Tang dynasty experimenting with elixirs to prolong life. Military officials realized its potential and were using gunpowder in flamethrowers by the 10th century; primitive bombs by the 11th century.

Question 10

Hangzhou

Answer 10

Capital of the Southern Song dynasty in the late thirteenth century.

Question 11

Heian

Answer 11

Japanese period (794–1185), a brilliant cultural era notable for the world’s first novel, Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji.

Question 12

Li Bai

Answer 12

The most popular poet from the Tang era, living from 701-761. He wrote light, pleasing verses celebrating life, friendship, and wine in Chinese cities.

Question 13

Mahayana Buddhism

Answer 13

The “greater vehicle,” a more metaphysical and more popular northern branch of Buddhism.

Question 14

Nam Viet

Answer 14

Early Chinese name for the modern nation of Vietnam.

Question 15

Nara

Answer 15

A period from 710 to 794 CE in Japan during which the capital was moved to Nara (Kyoto) that resembled the Tang capital at Chang’an.

Question 16

Neo-Confucianism

Answer 16

Philosophy that attempted to merge certain basic elements of Confucian and Buddhist thought; most important of the early Neo-Confucianists was the Chinese thinker Zhu Xi (1130–1200).

Question 17

Nirvana

Answer 17

An Indian term meaning personal salvation that comes after an individual soul escapes from the cycle of incarnation.

Question 18

Porcelain

Answer 18

A very light, thin and adaptable type of pottery that, when fired with glazes, became a highly valuable export commodity during the Tang and Song dynasty.

Question 19

Qing Dynasty

Answer 19

Chinese dynasty (1644–1911) that reached its peak during the reigns of Kangxi and Qianlong.

Question 20

Samurai

Answer 20

A Japanese warrior.

Question 21

Shinto

Answer 21

Indigenous Japanese religion that emphasizes purity, clan loyalty, and the divinity of the emperor.

Question 22

Shogun

Answer 22

Japanese military leader who ruled in place of the emperor.

Question 23

Silla Dynasty

Answer 23

Important early Korean dynasty that flourished during the seventh and eighth centuries.

Question 24

Song Dynasty

Answer 24

Chinese dynasty (960–1279) that was marked by an increasingly urbanized and cosmopolitan society.

Question 25

Song Taizu

Answer 25

First emperor of the Chinese Song dynasty who reigned from 960 to 976 C.E.

Question 26

Sui Dynasty

Answer 26

Chinese dynasty (589–618) that constructed the Grand Canal, reunified China, and allowed for the splendor of the Tang dynasty that followed.

Question 27

Sui Yangdi

Answer 27

Second emperor of the Chinese Sui Dynasty, responsible for the construction of the Chinese Grand Canal system, who reigned from 604–618 C.E.

Question 28

The Tale of Genji

Answer 28

Japanese literary work written during the Heian Period (794–1185 C.E.) by the aristocratic woman Murasaki Shikibu.

Question 29

Tang Dynasty

Answer 29

Powerful and wealthy Chinese dynasty that ruled a vast East Asian empire from 618 to 907 C.E.

Question 30

Tang Taizong

Answer 30

Chinese emperor (r. 627–649) of the Tang dynasty (618 to 907).

Question 31

Uighurs

Answer 31

A nomadic turkic people invited by the Tang commanders to bring an army into China.

Question 32

Wuwei

Answer 32

Daoist concept of a disengagement from the affairs of the world.

Question 33

Wu Zhao

Answer 33

626–706 C.E. Concubine of Emperor Tang Taizong, who seized imperial power for herself in 690 after Taizong became debilitated.

Question 34

Xuanzang

Answer 34

A young Buddhist Monk from China who traveled to South Asia to learn about Buddhism in 629.

Question 35

Yang Jian

Answer 35

First emperor of the short-lived but effective Sui Dynasty which united China after centuries of division, reigned from 589 to 604 C.E.

Question 36

Zhu Xi

Answer 36

Neo-Confucian Chinese philosopher (1130–1200).