Topic 12: East Asia

Zhou rulers claimed that they had won the Mandate of Heaven because they

• brought the Warring States period to an end.
• were victorious over the Shang dynasty.
• were chosen as rulers by Shang priests.
• served the interests of powerful warlords.

By the end of the Shang dynasty, the Chinese had developed a form of writing in which each character represented a

• sound.
• letter.
• syllable.
• word.

What happened after northern Korea gained independence from China?

• Multiple kingdoms developed in Korea.
• Korea became a united nation-state.
• Korea went to war with Japan.
• Choson conquered Han China.

Who was the first emperor of united China?

• Shang Yang
• Chen Sheng
• Liu Bang
• Shi Huangdi

Which method did the Yamato most rely on to build their empire?

• establishing ties, such as through marriage
• forcing other clans off their land
• writing a new constitution for Japan
• conquering Japan’s nearest neighbors on the mainland

What philosopher who helped shape Chinese thought is known as the “First Teacher”?

• Laozi
• Shi Huangdi
• Confucius
• D Liu Bang

According to Laozi, what is the Dao?

• the home of the heavenly spirits
• respect for authority
• the natural way of the universe
• reverence for ancestors

Which spirits were most important to the ancient Chinese?

• spirits of one’s ancestors
• evil spirits who controlled the crops
• spirits found in the natural world
• spirits representing the Mandate of Heaven

What is the main topic discussed in the Analects of Confucius?

• proper behavior and ideals
• successful battle strategies
• living in harmony with nature
• the nature of the afterlife

According to Daoism, the symbols of yin and yang represent the ideal of

• authority.
• good government.
• balance.
• material success.