Category: Ancient China

Below, World History Edu present 15 frequently asked questions about ancient China and her contributions:

1. What are the major dynasties of Ancient China?

   Some major dynasties include the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing.

2. When was the Great Wall of China built?

   Construction began during the 7th century BC, but the most famous sections were built during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 AD).

3. What is the significance of the Silk Road?

   The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting China to the Mediterranean, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas between East and West.

4. Who was Confucius?

   Confucius (551–479 BC) was a philosopher and educator whose teachings on ethics, politics, and morality deeply influenced Chinese culture and thought.

5. What is the Terracotta Army?

   The Terracotta Army is a collection of life-sized clay soldiers and horses that were buried with the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, to accompany him in the afterlife.

6. What were the major inventions of Ancient China?

   Some significant inventions include gunpowder, papermaking, printing, the compass, and porcelain.

7. What is the Daoism/Taoism?

   Daoism/Taoism is a philosophical and religious tradition emphasizing living in harmony with the Dao, which is considered the fundamental principle that is the source of all existence.

8. Who was Laozi?

   Laozi is the semi-legendary figure attributed as the founder of Daoism and the author of the “Tao Te Ching,” a foundational text of Daoist thought.

9. What is the importance of the Yellow River?

   Often referred to as the “Cradle of Chinese Civilization,” the Yellow River Basin was the birthplace of ancient Chinese cultures and several early dynasties.

10. How was Ancient China governed?Ancient China was largely a feudal society, especially during the Zhou dynasty, but evolved into a more centralized bureaucratic system in later dynasties.

11. What is the Chinese imperial examination system?

• It was a civil service examination system in Imperial China to select candidates for the state bureaucracy. It’s based mainly on Confucian texts and played a significant role in shaping China’s intellectual, cultural, and political life.

12. What are Chinese dragons?

• In Chinese culture, dragons are benevolent, auspicious creatures associated with strength, fertility, and good luck. They differ from the often malevolent dragons depicted in Western folklore.

13. What are some traditional festivals in Ancient China?

• Traditional festivals include the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival), Mid-Autumn Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Qingming Festival.

14. How did Ancient Chinese view the afterlife?

• Beliefs varied, but many thought the afterlife was a continuation of the physical world. This is evident in practices like providing burial goods, including food and even terracotta soldiers, for the deceased.

15. What is the “I Ching” or “Book of Changes”?

• The “I Ching” is an ancient divination text and one of the oldest of the Chinese classics. It offers wisdom on philosophical and moral questions.