Final Exam
Multiple Choice (two points each):
___ 1) What best describes Kang Hsi's relationship with Mateo Ricci a) constructive, b) combative, c) dogmatic, d) romantic.
___ 2) Extraterritoriality was embarrassing to the Chinese because it a) forcibly lowered Chinese tariffs on Western goods, b) granted immunity from Chinese legal prosecution, c) created an unequal balance of trade, d) granted extra territory to European merchants in china.
___ 3) Hong Xiuquan's Taiping (Great Heavenly Peace) Rebellion can be compared to what type of movements in the U.S.: a) white supremacy, b) Christian fundamentalism, c) libertarianism, d) the reform party.
___ 4) The Manchus asserted their superiority over Han Chinese through a) the kowtow ritual, b) different hairstyles, c) curfews, d) less representation in parliament
___ 5) The electrician who posted the "fifth modernization" on a wall in Tienamen Square offended the policies of what leader: a) Deng Xiaoping, b) Mao Tsedong, c) Lin Zexu, d) Richard Nixon
___ 6) The Forbidden City was build during which period: a) Qing, b) Ming, c) Tang, d) twentieth century
___ 7) Wang Yangming built on Confucian traditions by extending faith in every person's capacity for spontaneous a) Yin and Yang interactions, b) voluntary service to the state, c) democratic participation, d) moral understanding.
___ 8) Dream of Red Mansions represented a) indigenous communism, b) elite lifestyles of the Qing, c) Western fascination with Chinese prostitution, d) lack of adequate housing in Shang Hai
___ 9) Which of the following is representative of the Chinese tradition of student protest and criticism of leadership: a) The Cultural Revolution, b) The Hundred Flowers Movement, c) The Great Leap Forward, d) The 5 antis campaign.
___ 10) From the Chinese perspective, the diplomacy between Richard Nixon and the Chinese government in 1972, served a) to increase trade with the U.S., b) to thwart the threat of invasion by the Soviet Union, c) to promote ping pong, d) to rub salt into the American loss of the Vietnam War.
Short Answer (10 points each)
1) Explain briefly the relationship between the Treaty of Versailles and the May 4th movement.
2) Explain the appeal and effect of the Cominterm in twentieth century China?
3) Explain the significance of the Tribute system both domestically and internationally during the Qing period.
1) How have Chinese traditions helped and hindered their ability to deal with the challenges of the Western dominated industrial age? (Include in your essay include consideration of traditional Chinese views of competition and social progress.)
What specifically were (are) the challenges of the Western dominated industrial age?
How did China's response to them change over the course of the challenges?
In your final analysis, you could also project how Chinese traditions will continue to help and/or hinder modern China in the future.
2) Twentieth century Chinese borders are roughly the same as the borders established during the Qing dynasty. Compare the methods of inclusion of multi-ethnic identities historically and then evaluate Mr. Lu's statement that most Chinese believe that Tibet is an integral part of China. How can "integral" be viewed as consistent with the traditional Chinese ideal of All Under Heaven and the current policies?
Recall the essay question from the previous test. In it we considered the interaction between various herder societies in the north who integrated to varying degrees with the Chinese, using Chinese characters to write their own languages, translating texts, integrating in some cases, segregating in other cases, etc.
During the Ching period of Manchu rule, distinct relationships between various peoples in the All Under Heaven construct can be interpreted in our readings. Ebrey spends some time explaining the Ching relationship with Tibet and other groups.
The policy of Socialist China breaks from Ching policy in some fundamental ways, but is arguably consistent.
Mr. Lu says that there is a feeling of pan-nationalism in the All Under Heaven concept in Socialist China. And the government encourages people to settle the sparsely populated frontiers and intermarry with other ethnic groups.
Is there a universal definition of national sovereignty that we can apply to claims of by every ethnic group regardless of their historical affiliations with other groups? Does the situation in China help us to answer this question?
3) Ebrey contends that the 19th century was a struggle between indigenous and external; whereas the 20th century was a China interacting creatively with the world. Explain using concrete examples and argue and evaluate to what degree the 20th century creativity is indigenous.
There are numerous correlations in the text made between Mao's techniques and historical precedents.
What about China's history of student protests as a legitimate means of political expression?
Mr. Lu says that Mao was a scholar of ancient Chinese history. Remember he worked as a librarian at Beijing university? Mr. Lu says that two of Mao's favorite works were Sun Tsu's Art of War and Emperor Taizong's "On Effective Government" (our reading #25). Recall the advice of setting various groups against each other to control them! Wasn't Mao able to bring to that a new level in his "struggle sessions"? How about his effective use of moral appeal through slogans and songs? Mr. Lu says that one song still vivid in his memory: "Father and mother are kind, but the Party is even kinder!" Mr. Lu comments that there are numerous attempts to link Socialism and with Confucian metaphors. He also says that Mao is very much like a traditional emperor.
How do Mao's severe controls compare to other severe measures instituted in the early part of dynastic cycles?
Judging from past cycles, what would you forcast for China after the period of Mao? Are current policies and events consistent with your theory?
4) What are some of the limitations and strengths of our attempt to understand Chinese history in continuum?
History in continuum means that we attempt to view Chinese history as an unbroken whole.
Read Ebrey's Epilogue and add your own thoughts to the issue
Is it worth the effort we made to try to understand China from such a broad perspective?
Can any lessons from our analysis of Chinese history in continuum be applied to considering other national or cultural histories?
What was most significant for you personally and why?