Life and Teachings of Buddha - WHI

Jia Yi was a Confucian poet and statesman of the Han dynasty who lived from approximately 200 to 168 BCE. Below are excerpts from his essay “The Faults of Qin.”

Chen She was a man who grew up in humble circumstances . . . and was a

mere hired field hand and roving conscript of mediocre talent. . . . Yet,

even stumbling as he did amidst the ranks of common soldiers and

shuffling through the fields, he called forth a tired motley crowd and led a

mob of several hundred to turn upon the Qin. . . . They had the whole world

come to them like gathering clouds. . . . These men of courage from the

East rose together, and in the end they defeated and extinguished the

House of Qin. . . .

Jia Yi was a Confucian poet and statesman of the Han dynasty who lived from approximately 200 to 168 BCE. Below are excerpts from his essay “The Faults of Qin.”

Chen She’s weapons made of farm implements and thorny tree branches

were no match in battle against spears and halberds, his roving conscripts

in no way compared to the armies of the nine states. . . . Qin, from a tiny

base, had become a great power, ruling the land and receiving homage

from all quarters for a hundred-odd years. Yet a single common person

could nevertheless challenge this empire and cause its ancestral temples

to topple and its ruler to die at the hand of others, a laughing-stock in the

eyes of all. Why? Because the ruler lacked humaneness and rightness;

because preserving power differs fundamentally from seizing power. . . .

Jia Yi was a Confucian poet and statesman of the Han dynasty who lived from approximately 200 to 168 BCE. Below are excerpts from his essay “The Faults of Qin.”

Had the Second Emperor been even a mediocre ruler who knew how to

employ local and capable persons . . . ; had he divided the land and

appointed deserving officials . . . ; had he emptied the prisons and reduced

harsh punishments . . . ; had he only reduced taxation and statutes to

alleviate oppression . . . ; had he indeed fulfilled the wishes of the

multitudes and bestowed high virtue on them, he would have certainly

brought peace and quiet to the world.

Multiple Select

According to this document, what

caused the fall of the Qin dynasty?

• Legalist Policies

• Spent too much money on public works project

• No strong successor to Qin Shi Huang

• Opposition from former states

Multiple Select

What evidence supports this claim?

• These men of courage from the

  East rose together, and in the end they defeated and extinguished the

  House of Qin.

• Because the ruler lacked humaneness and rightness;

  because preserving power differs fundamentally from seizing power.

• Had the Second Emperor been even a mediocre ruler who knew how to

  employ local and capable persons...

• Qin, from a tiny

  base, had become a great power, ruling the land and receiving homage

  from all quarters for a hundred-odd years

Poll

Are you convinced by this evidence?

• Yes

• No

Poll

Do you believe that this is a reliable source?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

What was the purpose of the Civil Service Exams in ancient China?

• To select officials based on family connections

• To ensure officials were well-educated

• To promote Confucian ideas

• To eliminate corruption in government

Multiple Choice

What were the teachings of Confucianism regarding the role of women in Han society?

• Men were superior to women

• Women were equal to men

• Women were superior to men

• Women could take civil service exams

Multiple Choice

What were the key characteristics of the Qin and Han dynasties during the period of 221 BCE to 220 CE?

• Strong centralized government

• Emphasis on Confucianism

• Expansion of trade routes

• Development of the Silk Road

Multiple Choice

What was Siddhartha Gautama's life before he became the Buddha?

• A wealthy merchant

• A powerful king

• A prince

• A hermit

Multiple Choice

What significant event did Siddhartha Gautama experience at the age of 29 that influenced his life choices?

• He saw death

• He became a king

• He traveled to India

• He met a wise sage

Multiple Choice

What is depicted in the relief titled 'The Great Departure and the Temptation of the Buddha'?

• The Buddha's enlightenment

• The Buddha's birth

• The Buddha's first sermon

• The Buddha's departure from home

Multiple Choice

What did Siddhartha achieve after 49 days of meditation under the fig tree?

• Understanding of suffering

• Wealth and prosperity

• Fame and recognition

• Power over others

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a major goal of meditation in Buddhism?

• To achieve wealth and prosperity

• To prepare for battle

• To attain enlightenment

• To become a skilled artisan

Multiple Choice

What is depicted in the relief sculpture of Buddha's First Sermon at Sarnath?

• A battle scene

• Buddha's teachings

• A royal procession

• A meditation session

Multiple Choice

What does the plaque depict from the life of the Buddha?

• Scenes of meditation

• Scenes of enlightenment

• Scenes of birth

• Scenes of teaching

Multiple Choice

What is depicted in the artwork titled 'Death of the Historical Buddha (Nehan)'?

• The birth of Buddha

• The death of Buddha

• Buddha's teachings

• Buddha's enlightenment

Multiple Select

What are the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?

• There is Suffering

• Cause of Suffering

• End of Suffering

• Path to Enlightenment

Multiple Choice

The Eightfold Path is meant to lead to:

• Wealth

• Nirvana

• Heaven

• Reincarnation

Multiple Choice

What are the key principles of the Noble Eightfold Path as taught by Siddhartha Gautama?

• Control your thoughts

• Practice meditation

• Know the truth

• Respect life

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT part of the Eightfold Path?

• Right Speech

• Right Livelihood

• Resist Evil

• Right Concentration

Multiple Select

What are the 4 of the 5 principles of peaceful coexistence?

• Refrain from taking life

• Refrain from taking that which is not given

• Refrain from gossip

• Refrain from telling lies

• Refrain from self-intoxication with drink and drugs

Multiple Select

What are the three poisons mentioned in the image?

• Moha

• Raga

• Dvesha

• Kharma

Open Ended

According to the Buddha, craving and attachment are major causes of suffering. What are some things you find yourself attached to, and how might letting go of these attachments improve your happiness?

Multiple Select

What are the key teachings of Siddhartha Gautama?

• The Four Noble Truths

• The Eightfold Path

• The Five Precepts

• The Ten Commandments