modern history

Question 1

Q: What is an eternal rule under heaven according to the text?

Answer 1

A: “Chaos after prolonged unity and unity after prolonged chaos.”

Question 2

Q: What is China described as in the text?

Answer 2

A: A land of natural beauty, steeped in history, and rich in culture.

Question 3

Q: What was the societal structure of ancient China?

Answer 3

A: Hierarchical, with the emperor at the top, an elite group of officials for administration, and common people, mostly peasants, at the bottom.

Question 4

Q: What dynasty was the last of China’s Imperial rulers?

Answer 4

A: The Qing dynasty.

Question 5

Q: What led to the decline of the Qing dynasty in the 19th century?
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Answer 5

A: Land shortages, social inequalities, economic hardship, peasant rebellions, defeats by foreign powers, and inadequate reforms

Question 6

Q: Who were key revolutionaries during the decline of the Qing dynasty?

Answer 6

A: Sun Yixian and his Revolutionary Alliance.

Question 7

Q: When was the Chinese Republic declared?

Answer 7

A: On 1 January 1912.

Question 8

Q: Who was the first president of the Chinese Republic?

Answer 8

A: General Yuan Shikai.

Question 9

Q: What event sparked the revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty?

Answer 9

A: A mutiny by disgruntled soldiers on 10 October 1911.

Question 10

Q: What book did Mao Zedong favor that is set in the years after the collapse of the Han dynasty?

Answer 10

A: Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong.

Question 11

Q: What were the constants throughout China’s history despite the change of dynasties?

Answer 11

A: Political traditions, written language, cultural institutions, and values.

Question 12

Q: How long does Chinese civilization trace back?

Answer 12

A: Over 5000 years, with 3500 years of written history.

Question 13

Q: What does the character ‘王’ represent in ancient Chinese inscriptions?

Answer 13

A: A king as an intermediary between Heaven, humankind, and Earth.

Question 14

Q: What is the origin of the word “China”?

Answer 14

A: It is of Western origin, first used by early Portuguese explorers.

Question 15

Front: What is the traditional Chinese name for China?

Answer 15

Back: Zhongguo, which translates as ‘Middle Kingdom’ or ‘Central Kingdom’.

Question 16

Front: What were the primary challenges caused by China’s geography?

Answer 16

Back: Limited farmland, extreme weather, diverse climate, and the vast territory of mountains and rivers which made governance difficult.

Question 17

Front: What are the ‘Four Great Inventions’ of ancient China?

Answer 17

Back: Gunpowder, paper, the printing press, and the magnetic compass.

Question 18

Front: Who was Confucius and what did his teachings emphasize?

Answer 18

Back: Confucius was a Chinese philosopher (551–479 BCE) who emphasized the importance of social relationships and their obligations to ensure social harmony and ethical behavior.

Question 19

Front: What are the ‘Five Virtues’ according to Confucius?

Answer 19

Back: Benevolence (kindness), wisdom, trustworthiness, righteousness, and proper conduct.

Question 20

Front: What is ‘filial piety’ in Confucianism?

Answer 20

Back: The Confucian virtue of respect for one’s parents, ancestors, and people of higher social standing.

Question 21

Front: How did Confucianism influence the social structure in China?

Answer 21

Back: It reinforced a rigid hierarchy, where lower social status people had to respect those with higher status, while those in power were expected to care for and guide those below them.

Question 22

Front: What role did the Yangzi, Pearl, and Yellow rivers play in ancient China?

Answer 22

Back: These rivers provided irrigation, supported early human settlements, and served as natural routes for travel and trade.

Question 23

Front: What was Napoleon Bonaparte’s quote about China?

Answer 23

Back: “There lies a sleeping giant. Let it sleep, for when it wakes it will shake the world.”

Question 24

Front: How is the Chinese writing system unique compared to its spoken languages?

Answer 24

Back: The Chinese writing system is based on symbols that communicate concepts and ideas, allowing people who speak different dialects to understand the same written script.

Question 25

Front: What is Daoism and who founded it?

Answer 25

Back: Daoism is a philosophy founded by Laozi, a contemporary of Confucius, that emphasizes harmony with nature and following the “Way of the Truth.” It is centered around the concept of the Dao (way, path, or road) and the balance of yin and yang.

Question 26

Front: What are the core principles of Daoism?

Answer 26

Back: Daoism promotes being in harmony with the Dao, or the natural order, and emphasizes “actionless acting,” which means engaging in life naturally, without force or disruption, like water flowing over rocks.

Question 27

Front: How did Daoism influence Chinese society?

Answer 27

Back: Daoism reinforced the acceptance of the existing social order in Chinese society, encouraging harmony and balance in all aspects of life.

Question 28

Front: How did Buddhism arrive in China, and when?

Answer 28

Back: Buddhism was introduced to China from India via the Silk Road in the first century CE, during the declining years of the Han dynasty.

Question 29

Front: What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

Answer 29

Back: The Four Noble Truths are:

Life entails suffering.
Suffering is caused by attachment, leading to anxiety and disappointment.
Suffering can be overcome by relinquishing attachment.
A virtuous, disciplined life and meditation can conquer attachment and reveal the path to enlightenment.

Question 30

Front: Why did Buddhism appeal to people in China?

Answer 30

Back: Buddhism offered hope of eventual salvation and emphasized kindness, charity, and the preservation of life, which resonated with people during times of social and political upheaval.

Question 31

Front: How did Buddhism influence Chinese culture?

Answer 31

Back: By the fourth century, Buddhism had become an integral part of Chinese culture, influencing art, architecture (e.g., pagodas), and spiritual life, coexisting with other religious and philosophical traditions.

Question 32

Front: What role did Chinese Buddhist monks play in spreading Buddhism?

Answer 32

Back: Chinese Buddhist monks made pilgrimages to India to visit sacred sites and bring back holy texts, helping to spread and deepen the influence of Buddhism in China.

Question 33

Front: What distinguished the land-owning gentry in China from the nobility of Europe?

Answer 33

Back: The Chinese land-owning gentry required both land ownership and knowledge of Confucian beliefs. They had to pass rigorous exams on Confucian ideas to have their status officially recognized.

Question 34

Front: What role did the scholar-gentry play in Chinese society?

Answer 34

Back: The scholar-gentry acted as informal local administrators, settled legal disputes, raised militias, and maintained infrastructure like bridges and canals. They supported the established authorities and were esteemed community leaders.

Question 35

Front: What privileges did the land-owning gentry enjoy in return for supporting the established order?

Answer 35

Back: The gentry paid reduced taxes and were subject to more lenient laws than peasants. They were expected to act as benevolent leaders, though many were corrupt and exploited ordinary people.

Question 36

Front: How did corruption manifest among the scholar-gentry and landlords?

Answer 36

Back: Scholar-gentry and landlords were notorious for demanding bribes, pressuring farmers to sell land to pay debts, and taxing peasants above official rates while pocketing the difference.

Question 37

Front: What was the examination system in Imperial China, and how did it affect the scholar-gentry?

Answer 37

Back: The examination system required candidates to pass exams on Confucian ideas to become officials. By the 1800s, wealthy individuals could purchase an examination rank, furthering corruption.