Dynasties, emperors, and ancient Chinese history.
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 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 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 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.
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 printing method did Tang Dynasty China pioneer?
Carved wooden blocks let Tang printers copy whole pages; movable type came later, in the Song Dynasty.
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 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 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.
What do ancient records say forms rivers inside Qin Shi Huang's tomb?
Sima Qian described liquid mercury waterways, and modern surveys found elevated mercury above the mausoleum mound.