Name: Abigail Hora
Date: 1/25/11
Period: 5
Continent: Asia
China Unit Big Ideas and Essential Questions
Big Idea
Ch.7; Section 1
The Period of
Disunion was
followed by
reunification by
rulers of the Sui,
Tang, and Song
dynasties.
Essential Question
Answer each of the following questions after you
have read and taken notes on each section. You
must use complete sentences and thoroughly
explain your answers in three to five sentences.
Self-Reflection
1. What was the Period of Disunion? How did
Chinese culture change during the Period of
Disunion?
How did the Han Dynasty
collapse in the first place? And
did the kingdoms just come
together after the change in
Chinese culture; was there a
debate?
The Period of Disunion was the time after the Han
dynasty collapsed, and China split into several
rival kingdoms. Chinese culture changed during
the Period of Disunion because new types of art
and music were developed. Some Chinese people
learned about the nomads’ culture, while invaders
learned Chinese practices. This culture spread over
a wider geographic area, and more people
became Chinese. This was the result of a mixing in
Chinese culture.
2. When was China reunified? When was China
not unified?
Make a Connection
Ask a Question?
State the Significance
What happened to the Sui
Dynasty? How did it fall?
China was reunified after centuries of political
confusion and cultural change; it remained unified
for about 700 years. China was not unified when
the Tang Dynasty fell and chaos reigned again.
Separate kingdoms began competing for power
again, and China was known as Five Dynasties
and Ten Kingdoms. The chaos only lasted for 53
years, though.
3. What was Buddhism and how did it influence
(change) Chinese culture?
Buddhism is one of the world’s major religions,
and it was originated in India around 500 BC.
Mostly everyone turned to Buddhism because it
comforted them because it taught that people can
escape suffering and have peace. Buddhism still
influenced life in China even after the chaos was
gone. Buddhism influenced Chinese culture, like
Did anyone doubt the beliefs
of Buddhism? Did anyone
think that Buddhism was
wrong and it was false?
art, literature, and architecture. The period from
400 to about 485 was even called The Age of
Buddhism because it was so popular. The Age of
Buddhism came to an end when a Tang emperor
fought against it by burning Buddhist texts, taking
land from Buddhist temples, destroyed the
temples, and turned some into schools. But
Buddhism still continued to thrive in Chinese
society, and it still shaped Chinese art and
literature. Soon, Buddhism elements were
combined with other religions, like Daoism and
Confucianism.
Ch.7; Section 2
The Tang and
Song dynasties
were periods of
economic,
cultural, and
technological
accomplishments.
Explain what advances in agriculture and farming
led to increased trade and population growth
during the Song dynasty.
How did they build The Dragon
Backbone? Did they switch
places with the one person
who used The Dragon
Underground wells were made for irrigation, and
Backbone regularly like a
an irrigation machine called The Dragon Backbone cycle?
helped one person do the work of many people.
The Dragon Backbone was used to help create
unique irrigation systems for farming. A new type
of fast-ripening rice helped farms become more
productive. Farmers also learned how to grow
new crops, like cotton, which was used for clothes
and other goods. China’s population began to
grow because of the large amounts of food; at the
time, China was the largest country in the world.
And the trade in many of China’s cities made
China richer than ever.
Ch.7; Section 3
Confucian
thought
influenced the
Song
government.
What is Confucianism and what are the main
teachings of Confucian philosophy?
Confucianism is a belief based on the teachings of
Confucius. The main teachings of Confucian
philosophy are ethics and proper behavior. Ren,
concern for others, and li, appropriate behavior,
were the two things that people should conduct
according to their lives. Confucius thought that
everyone had a role in society.
How did Confucianism differ from NeoConfucianism?
Confucianism differed from Neo-Confucianism
because Neo-Confucianism also used spiritual
matters that involved Buddhist and Daoist
What did Confucius do before
he became famous for
creating Confucianism? What
was his job, and what was his
life like?
How come Neo-Confucianism
became more important than
the original Confucianism?
Why didn’t they use
Confucianism for government
teachings along with Neo-
Ch.7; Section 4
The Chinese were
ruled by
foreigners during
the Yuan dynasty,
but they threw
off Mongol rule
and prospered
during the Ming
dynasty.
concepts about the meaning of life. And unlike
Confucianism, Neo-Confucianism became part of
official government teachings AFTER the Song
Dynasty.
Confucianism?
How did the Mongols come to rule China during
the Yuan dynasty?
What was Genghis Khan’s life
like before he was leader of
the Mongols? What was his
childhood and grownup life
like?
The Mongols came to rule China during the Yuan
Dynasty because a vicious leader named Genghis
Khan built up a powerful army of Mongols. He
tore down every city and village he went through,
and he soon focused his sights on China. Genghis
Khan blazed through China, tearing everything
down in his path and making it his. By the time of
his death, Genghis Khan had northern China under
Mongol Control.
How did the Yuan dynasty come to an end?
The Yuan Dynasty came to an end because the
Mongols were weakened when their fleet of ships
was destroyed during a storm; they were going to
conquer Japan. The rest of China took the chance
to rebel against the Mongols, so a former monk
named Zhu Yuanzhang built up an army. He led
the army in to battle, and he came out victorious.
China was ruled by the Chinese once again.
In what ways did the Ming dynasty strengthen
China and bring a period of stability and
prosperity?
The Ming Dynasty strengthened China because
Zheng He brought a fleet of ships from China with
him to different places. He bragged about his
country, and the leaders of the places sent a
representative bearing gifts for China’s emperor.
More people began to support the emperor as he
became popular. And Zheng He’s fleet of ships
showed that China had a lot of money and power.
This brought a period of stability and prosperity
because Zheng He also brought wonderful gifts
from China to the many leaders.
Did Japan know that the
Mongols were coming to
invade their land? And how
did Zhu Yuanzhang become
the leader of the rebel army?
What kind of gifts did Zheng
He give the leaders of the
other places to make them so
willing to join the emperor?
Did the leaders ever become
allies with China, and then
become their enemies?