China midterm

Question 1

Why was opium banned?

Answer 1

addiction, worsened economy because people didn’t want to work

Question 2

What were Lord Macartney’s objectives?

Answer 2

negotiating trade agreements, establish a British embassy in Beijing, improving relations

Question 3

What was the outcome of Macartney’s meeting with the Qing state?

Answer 3

Qing court did not agree to Macartney’s requests, trade restriction remained in place, still ended in positive feelings between them

Question 4

How long did Emperor Kangxi reign for?

Answer 4

50 years

Question 5

What were Kangxi’s values as a leader?

Answer 5

confucian values, belief that the emperor is a moral guide for the empire, criticizes corruption among officials

Question 5

what were Kangxi’s challenges and concerns?

Answer 5

concerned about the loyalty of provincial leaders, there is potential for instability, he must pick a worthy successor

Question 6

What was the story of Fan Jin?

Answer 6

a poor scholar who wanted to pass the imperial exams

Question 7

What was the significance of the Fan Jin story?

Answer 7

highlights the cultural significance of social status

Question 8

What are the civil service exams?

Answer 8

main path to gain government office and social advancement

Question 9

what were strengths of the Qing period?

Answer 9

centralized bureaucracy, efficient tax systems, long-term stability + growth

Question 10

what were challenges of Qing power?

Answer 10

internal weaknesses, external pressures, population growth, corruption and bureaucratic weakness, regional tensions

Question 11

what were the opium wars?

Answer 11

China forced to open its markets to Western trade, forced to give away territory (hong kong - britain), unequal treaties

Question 12

what was the Taiping Rebellion?

Answer 12

civil war, led by Hong Xiuquan, religious + political movement, sought to overthrow Qing, wanted Christian regime

Question 13

What were some reforms by Empress Dowager Cixi?

Answer 13

establishment of a modern school system, military reforms, abolition of the civil service exam

Question 14

Who were two key figures in the anti-Qing movement?

Answer 14

Sun Yat-sen, Shifu

Question 15

What is Tianxia (and what is it in English?)

Answer 15

• All under heaven
• idea that views the world as a unified, moral order
• virtuous ruler, like the emperor, should lead with the Mandate of Heaven

Question 16

what is confucianism?

Answer 16

• moral values
• respect for family
• social harmony
• good governance

Question 17

What is xiao (filial piety)?

Answer 17

Confucian idea of showing respect, love, and care for one’s parents and elders

Question 18

what is Tianming and what is it in English?

Answer 18

• mandate of heaven
• Heaven chooses a good ruler to lead
• if the ruler is bad , Heaven takes away their right to rule and gives it to someone else

Question 19

What was the Warring States Period?

Answer 19

• time before Qing dynasty
• areas were fighting each other to control the land
• Qing won and started the dynasty

Question 20

what did the First Emperor of Qin do?

Answer 20

• 221 to 210
• created centralized government
• standardized weights and measures
• built parts of the great wall
• terracotta army

Question 21

what is concubinage?

Answer 21

• second wife
• less rights as the first one

Question 22

What was the Qing dynasty?

Answer 22

• last dynasty of china
• famous for expansion, connection with western countries
• 1644 - 1912

Question 23

What was the Gonghan (Cohon/canton) system?

Answer 23

• labor system during Qing Dynasty
• workers join together in groups based on their jobs
• helped them find work, set rules

Question 24

Who was the Qianlong Emperor?

Answer 24

• 6th emperor of Qin dynasty
• expanding China’s territory
• promoted arts and culture
• prosperous time

Question 25

Treaty of Nanjing

Answer 25

• peace agreement that ended the First Opium War between Britain and China
• forced China to pay reparations, open several ports to British trade
• forced to give Hong Kong to Britain + grant British citizens certain rights

Question 26

The Taiping heavenly kingdom

Answer 26

• movement in China during the Taiping Rebellion
• leader Hong Xiuquan, who believed he was Jesus’s brother
• wanted to create society w no social class
• led to civil wars

Question 27

Who was Hong Xiuquan?

Answer 27

• leader of the heavenly kingdom
• thought he was brother of jesus
• wanted a classless society

Question 28

Who was Zeng Guofan?

Answer 28

• military leader during Qing dynasty
• helped defeat Taiping rebellion

Question 29

Japan China war

Answer 29

• Sino-Japanese war
• fought over control of korea

Question 30

what was Kanxi’s Valedictory Edict?

Answer 30

• about Emperor Kangxi’s reflections on his reign
• confucian values
• emperor is moral guide for the empire
• concerned abt the loyalty of provincial leaders
• concerned for the future of the empire
• must choose worthy successor

Question 31

China and western tech reading

Answer 31

• talks about initial chinese reactions to western tech
• mixed attitudes
• some officials + scholars were curious and wanted to learn
• some saw them as a threat to traditional chinese methods

Question 32

A Proclamation against the bandits of Guangdong and Guangxi, reading

Answer 32

• addressing the chaos caused by bandits during Taiping Rebellion
• condemns the rebels for destroying communities
• calls for peace and unity