A monthly quiz of general history, traditions, geography questions for October
1. The British embassies to China led by Lord Maccartney and Lord Amherst both foundered on which problem?
Performing the kowtow
Exchanging gifts
Language translation
Up until the 1793/4 embassy of Lord MacCartney foreign visitors were content to perform the formal kowtow before the Emperor.
William Alexander's drawing of the reception of the Macartney embassy to China. Young Thomas Staunton ➚ (kneeling not kowtowing) receives a gift from the Emperor. Image by William Alexander available under a Creative Commons License ➚
2. 'Sinkiang' is an old spelling of which Chinese place?
Shaoxing
Suzhou
Xinjiang
In the old Wade-Giles system of spelling of Chinese names 'k' was often used in place of 'j'. The pinyin use of 'x' does not give much of a clue that it is a hard 's' sound 'hs'.
3. The ancient examinations required learning the Confucian classics by heart, which consist of how many characters?
200,000
400,000
50,000
Passing the grueling Imperial Examinations was a lifelong study. At examination candidates were expected to be able to provide exact recall of passages of text. For comparison the whole Christian Bible is about 800,000 words
4. In a traditional betrothal what event could result in breaking off the engagement?
Seeing each other
Becoming blind
Having an affair
In the old traditional system it would be the parents of the couple who would arrange the marriage often when the couple were very young. Often the bride and groom would not see each other before the wedding day and if they happened to do so earlier this could give grounds for breaking off the marriage.
Mao Zedong made rocket research an early development goal. So, when the space race between the USSR and USA was at its height, China launched its first large satellite into orbit on April 24th 1970.
The launch of Long March 3B Rocket, Xichang Satellite Center, China. 1997 or 1998. Image by AAxanderr ➚ available under a Creative Commons License ➚
6. The downfall of the Sui dynasty is mainly attributed to the failed military campaign to conquer which country?
The Great Wall winding its way like a huge dragon across the mountains near Beijing
7. Blue and white porcelain is mostly associated with which dynasty?
Tang
Han
Ming
Although the blue and white porcelain is mostly associated with the Ming dynasty some was made earlier once the cobalt blue from Persia (Iran) became available. Blue and white continued into the Qing but a wider range of colors were normally used.
Plate: round, flat with decor in blue in sk. Willow pattern. On the bottom of the inside a river landscape with buildings. Around this a lace-like border with outward-facing heads. Around a lambrequin burlap with flowers and spiral and honey cell patterns. Willow-pattern, Qing dynasty, about 1770. Image by Hallwylska museum ➚ available under a Creative Commons License ➚
8. Maotoi is a famous Chinese liquor, where in China is it made?
Shanghai
Guizhou
Xi'an
Maotai Liquor is distilled from a wheat and sorghum base; it is famous throughout China and beyond. It is distilled at Maotai, a town in northern Guizhou.
This is a pair of Chinese lady’s shoes for bound feet. They are very small as the ideal length for a bound foot was seven and a half centimeters. Shoes for bound feet were called foot-binding shoes and lotus slippers in many non-Chinese communities. They are referred to by a variety of names in China and Chinese literature. These include gongxie (arched shoes), xiuxie (embroidered slippers), jin lian (gilded lilies) and san cun jin lian (three inch golden lily/lotus).
Object description: These are lotus shoes with a triangular sole. They are made of bright red and blue cotton and cream silk. Elaborate designs of dragons and flowers are embroidered on the silk. The blue panel at the top has white and green satin stitching along its length. The heel is covered in green fabric. History:
Foot binding was a custom practiced in China and occurred during the Song Dynasty ( 960-1279 AD), over a thousand years ago. Small feet were greatly admired in China. To ensure that a young girl’s feet did not grow, her feet were usually bound after she was four years old. It was done with a stout bandage, the bandage being tightened daily after removal. The bound foot never ceased to cause pain while the woman walked. In 1911 this practice was banned by the Chinese government.
Photo by Queensland Museum ➚, available under a Creative Commons license ➚.
9. Where in China did Britain invade in 1903?
Tibet
Tianjin
Guangzhou
To consolidate the grip on India and counter Russian threats, the British made sure that neighboring countries like Tibet and Nepal posed no threat. Captain Younghusband was sent to impose control and the Union Jack was flown in Tibet until 1949.
Temple of Heaven, Beijing. September 2019. Image by Paul Kerswill
10. Between the whole period 1990 to 2007 what was China's average annual economic growth rate?
10%
6%
20%
The economic growth rate of China has been spectacular since 1990.
11. Wuhan was formed out of Wuchang, Hankou and which other city in 1926?
Anqing
Huangshi
Hanyang
Wuhan stands at the confluence of the Yangzi and Han rivers. Wuchang was on the south bank of the Yangzi, Hankou and Hanyang on the north bank. The three nearby cities were merged in 1926.
Town of Wuhan on the Bank of the Yangzi River, with View of the Huanghe Tower, Buildings, and Boats. Hubei Province, China, 1874. Image by Boiarskii, Adolf-Nikolay Erazmovich available under a Creative Commons License ➚
12. Yang Guifei was a concubine who became infatuated by which Emperor?
Yongle
Xuanzong
Qianlong
The great Tang Emperor Xuanzong after achieving much in his early years was besotted with Yang Guifei (aka 杨玉环) while in his sixties. She was born in Sichuan and became a Daoist priestess just at the time that Imperial court turned from Buddhism to Daoism.
Color woodcut by Yashima Gakutei (Japan, c.1786-1868). Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Image by Gallery ➚ available under a Creative Commons License ➚
13. Which province is the hottest in July?
Jiangsu
Fujian
Yunnan
Although Hainan is further south than Fujian and is hottest in June the prevailing weather brings lots of cloud to Hainan in July.
14. Which city was known as Britain's front door into China?
Tianjin
Hong Kong
Shanghai
Britain was the main player in the early development of Shanghai as a trading center.
15. What proportion of those who set out on the Long March reached the destination?
38%
12%
22%
Many people died on the Long March 1934-35 but many also joined for only part of the journey. 53% of the marchers were under 23 years old - so mainly very young.
A Communist cadre leader addressing survivors of the Long March. Image available under a Creative Commons License ➚
A monthly quiz of general history, traditions, geography questions for October
