Buddhism and Confucianism

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AP World History: Modern › Buddhism and Confucianism

Questions 1 - 5
1

The four noble truths are components of which of the following religions?

Buddhism

Confucianism

Islam

Daoism

Hinduism

Explanation

The four noble truths were taught by Buddha and are an important part of Buddhism. None of the religions listed in the other answer choices includes the four noble truths.

2

Confucianism was a powerful ideology for Chinese Emperors to promote because it encouraged

adherence to authority.

social equality.

religious piety.

the apocalypse.

democratic representation.

Explanation

Confucianism, originated by the Chinese philosopher Kung Fu Tzu in the sixth century BCE, is largely an ethical teaching that preaches devotion to family, order, and authority. While immensely popular on its own, it became the state philosophy and quasi-religion under the Han Dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Confucianism's devotion to order and authority became important teaching tools for the Emperor.

3

Filial piety is an important tenet of which of the following religions?

Confucianism

Buddhism

Sikhism

Judaism

Jainism

Explanation

Filial piety is the complete obedience to one's parents, ancestors, and elders in society. It was a central tenet of the Chinese religion/philosophy of Confucianism.

4

Siddhartha Gautama __________.

is credited with founding modern Buddhism

established the first extensive trading system between the Middle East and India

fought against the Emperor Asoka

was defeated by Alexander the Great in the Indo-Gangetic Plain

settled the island of Sri Lanka

Explanation

Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha Gautama, or just the Buddha, was a spiritual and somewhat legendary figure on whose teachings the religion of Buddhism was founded. Siddhartha preached a Middle Way between sensory indulgence and the harsh asceticism common in the religions of the time; in doing so, he founded modern Buddhism.

5

Confucianism developed __________.

as a response to the political turmoil under the Zhou dynasty

after the prophet Confucius began receiving messages from God

out of the belief that good (light) and evil (dark) were fighting throughout history

as a way to limit bureaucracy within China

None of the answers are correct.

Explanation

Although Confucian values were part of a Chinese bureaucrat's training, it wasn't developed to limit bureaucracy. It was, however, a response to the political turmoil of the Zhou dynasty that Confucius lived through.

Confucius was a philosopher, not a prophet, and the battle between good and evil has more in common with Manichaeism than with Confucianism.

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