Chinese Dynasties trivia
Related Trivia
Dynasties, emperors, and ancient Chinese history.
Chinese Dynasties Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Ming admiral Zheng He's treasure fleets sailed as far as which continent?
Zheng He's fleets reached East Africa, and a giraffe brought back from that trade was paraded at court as a qilin, a mythical beast of good fortune.
Which Chinese dynasty built most of the brick Great Wall still standing today?
The postcard sections near Beijing, like Badaling, are Ming brickwork; the earlier Qin wall was mostly packed earth and has largely crumbled away.
Which oxide gives Ming blue-and-white porcelain its famous blue decoration?
Cobalt oxide produces a permanent bright blue even through the 1,200–1,350 °C heat needed to fire porcelain.
Which texts did scholars study to pass Ming China's civil service exams?
Ming exams centered on the Four Books and Five Classics; the eight-legged essay became the accepted form only in the 1480s.
What makes Empress Wu Zetian unique among China's rulers?
Wu Zetian ruled in her own right starting around 690, and even invented a new character, Zhao, for her name.
Which printing method did Tang Dynasty China pioneer?
Carved wooden blocks let Tang printers copy whole pages; movable type came later, in the Song Dynasty.
Which Tang poet earned the title "Poet Sage" for his concern for the nation and its people?
Du Fu's patriotic concern earned him "Poet Sage"; his record of war and suffering also brought the title "Poet Historian."
Which Tang monk's India journey inspired the novel Journey to the West?
Xuanzang trekked to India in the 630s for Buddhist scriptures; centuries later, his trip became *Journey to the West*.
Which Chinese ruler's title literally means "First Emperor"?
Qin Shihuangdi means "First Emperor"; his centralized bureaucracy became a model for later Chinese governments.
Which dynasty built most of the Great Wall of China visible today?
The famous brick wall near Beijing is Ming work; the earlier Qin wall was mostly packed earth, so little of it survives today.