China Vocab

Period of Disunion

The time of disorder and chaos, from 220-589AD that followed the collapse of the Han Dynasty in which China was split into multiple kingdoms.

Buddhism

The religion that follows the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. They believed in reincarnation, following the four noble truths and the eightfold path.

Confucianism

A philosophy who focused on ethics and proper behavior for individuals and government.

Woodblock printing

A form of printing in which an entire page is carved into a block of wood which is the used as stamp to duplicate images

Movable type

All the letters that were rearranged and refused to print different texts and images

Porcelain

A white and blue ceramic that originated in China

Calligraphy

The art of beautiful handwriting

Grand Canal

A series of waterways in eastern China that connects the Yangtze and yellow rivers, uniting the north and south areas of China

Civil Service Examination

A test administered by the government to citizens who want to obtain a government job or position

Empress wu

The only woman to rule China during the Tang Dynasty. She ruled with an iron fist and brought stability and prosperity to China

Isolationsim

A policy avoiding contact with other countries

Forbidden city

The imperial palace for the Ming Dynasty, consisting of almost 1000 rooms. So named because common people were not allowed to enter.

Silk Road

I network of trade roots connecting China

Mongols

I need orange habitat of Mongolia

Genghis Khan

Universal ruler who organized the Mongols into apart for me and let them on bloody conquest through China

Zheng He

The greatest Chinese sailor who let the seventh grade voyages around Asia and to Africa during the Ming Dynasty

Marco Polo

Emergent explore, and writer from the Vinice speak to travel to Asia along the silk road between 1271 and 1295. I lived and worked in the Yaun dynasty under Kublai khan.

Kualai Khan

The grandson of genghis khan who ruled mongol empire. He defeated china and declared himself emperor, beginning the Yuan dynasty.