Confucianism
  • 1. Confucianism is a philosophical and ethical system based on the teachings of Confucius, a Chinese sage and philosopher who lived over 2,500 years ago. Central to Confucianism are principles such as filial piety, loyalty, righteousness, and the importance of ritual. These teachings emphasize the cultivation of virtues and moral character in order to create a harmonious and just society. Confucianism has had a profound influence on Chinese culture and society, shaping values, relationships, and governance for centuries.

    Who is the founder of Confucianism?
A) Confucius
B) Buddha
C) Laozi
D) Mencius
  • 2. Which text contains the teachings of Confucius?
A) Analects
B) The Art of War
C) Bhagavad Gita
D) Tao Te Ching
  • 3. What is the Confucian concept of 'ren' often translated as?
A) Enlightenment
B) Harmony
C) Benevolence
D) Suffering
  • 4. Which dynasty embraced Confucianism as its state ideology in China?
A) Ming Dynasty
B) Han Dynasty
C) Tang Dynasty
D) Qin Dynasty
  • 5. Which social institution is emphasized in Confucianism for maintaining harmony?
A) Government
B) Education
C) Family
D) Religion
  • 6. Who was another significant Confucian philosopher besides Confucius?
A) Sunzi
B) Huineng
C) Bodhidharma
D) Mencius
  • 7. What is the Confucian ideal of a 'junzi' often translated as?
A) Artist
B) Warrior
C) Gentleman
D) Monk
  • 8. What does the Confucian concept of 'Xiao' refer to?
A) Compassion
B) Selflessness
C) Spiritual enlightenment
D) Filial piety
  • 9. What is another name for Confucianism?
A) Ruism
B) Shinto
C) Daoism
D) Buddhism
  • 10. During which era was Confucianism founded?
A) Warring States period
B) Han dynasty
C) Hundred Schools of Thought era (c. 500 BCE)
D) Qin dynasty
  • 11. Which virtue in Confucianism means 'benevolence'?
A) Yi (義)
B) Ren (仁)
C) Li (禮)
D) Zhi (智)
  • 12. What philosophical system emerged during the Tang dynasty in response to Buddhism and Taoism?
A) Neo-Confucianism
B) Daoism
C) Legalism
D) Mohism
  • 13. In which year was the imperial examination system abolished, marking a decline in state-endorsed Confucianism?
A) 1949
B) 1950
C) 1911
D) 1905
  • 14. Which Chinese reformer's principles were embraced as an alternative to Confucianism in the early 20th century?
A) Deng Xiaoping
B) Mao Zedong
C) Chiang Kai-shek
D) Sun Yat-sen
  • 15. What is credited with the rise of the East Asian economy in the late twentieth century?
A) Confucian work ethic
B) Socialism
C) Capitalism
D) Communism
  • 16. Which country established a national Confucian Church in 2015?
A) China
B) South Korea
C) Vietnam
D) Japan
  • 17. How does American philosopher Herbert Fingarette describe Confucianism?
A) As a religion focused on an omnipotent deity
B) As a form of mysticism
C) As a purely political ideology
D) As a philosophical system which regards 'the secular as sacred'
  • 18. Which virtue in Confucianism is associated with 'propriety'?
A) Zhi (智)
B) Ren (仁)
C) Yi (義)
D) Li (禮)
  • 19. What does the Confucian concept of 'tian' refer to?
A) A transcendent moral order
B) The physical sky
C) An omnipotent deity
D) Human destiny
  • 20. What is a core focus of Confucianism?
A) Individual freedom
B) Virtue, social harmony, and familial responsibility
C) Economic prosperity
D) Military strength
  • 21. What is the closest catch-all term for Confucianism in Chinese?
A) Traditionalist
B) Rú
C) Ruism
D) Kǒngjiào
  • 22. Which of these terms is used to denote 'the ru school of thought'?
A) Kǒngjiào
B) Rújiā
C) Rúxué
D) 孔家店
  • 23. What does the term 'Rú' literally mean in modern Chinese?
A) 'Scholar', 'learned', or 'refined man'
B) 'Shamanic methods of holding rites'
C) 'Confucius's religious doctrine'
D) 'Water'
  • 24. Which term refers to Confucius's family's business and is considered pejorative?
A) Kǒngjiào
B) Rújiā
C) Ruism
D) 孔家店
  • 25. What does the term 'Rúxué' translate to?
A) 'Confucius's teachings'
B) 'Ru studies'
C) 'Traditionalist philosophy'
D) 'Water symbol'
  • 26. Which scholar suggests using 'Traditionalist' as a translation for Confucianism?
A) Yuri Pines
B) Zhou Youguang
C) Robert Eno
D) David Schaberg
  • 27. Which term is used by some modern scholars instead of 'Confucianism'?
A) Traditionalist
B) 'Ruism'
C) Rúxué
D) Kǒngjiào
  • 28. What does 'Kǒngjiào' mean?
A) 'The ru school of thought'
B) 'Confucius's religious doctrine'
C) 'Traditionalist philosophy'
D) 'Ru studies'
  • 29. Who edited the received versions of the Five Classics around 500 years after Confucius?
A) Tu Weiming
B) Imperial Librarian Liu Xin
C) Confucius
D) Yao Xinzhong
  • 30. What are the four functional occupations described in the Book of Rites?
A) Farmer, scholar, artisan, merchant
B) King, minister, general, commoner
C) Teacher, student, parent, elder
D) Poet, musician, painter, calligrapher
  • 31. Which scholar studied Confucianism as a diffused civil religion in contemporary China?
A) Confucius
B) Kang Youwei
C) Joël Thoraval
D) Stephan Feuchtwang
  • 32. How does Confucius view the importance of rituals and sacrifices?
A) They are only symbolic with no real impact.
B) They have ethical importance, generating good life by overcoming the self.
C) They are unnecessary for spiritual growth.
D) They should be performed without personal involvement.
  • 33. Which virtue is shared between the Five Constants and the classical four virtues?
A) Li (propriety, rites)
B) Ren (benevolence, humaneness)
C) Yi (righteousness, justice)
D) Zhi (wisdom, knowledge)
  • 34. According to Xunzi, what did the ancient sage-kings do with names?
A) Standardized names across different cultures
B) Chose names that directly corresponded with actualities
C) Invented new languages
D) Created abstract concepts for philosophical debate
  • 35. Which Confucian virtue is about 'wisdom, knowledge'?
A) Yi (righteousness, justice)
B) Ren (benevolence, humaneness)
C) Xin (sincerity, faithfulness)
D) Zhi (智; zhì)
  • 36. What does Bell advocate for local officials?
A) Local officials are democratically elected.
B) Local officials are selected via examination.
C) Local officials are descendants of Confucius.
D) Local officials are selected by peers.
  • 37. What was the 'Mandate of Heaven' according to Zhou theology?
A) A military strategy for conquest
B) A divine favor bestowed on virtuous rulers.
C) An economic policy
D) A form of ancestor worship
  • 38. What practical form do duties in Confucian relationships often take?
A) Spontaneous actions
B) Prescribed rituals
C) Written laws
D) Personal choices
  • 39. Which philosopher's philosophy was opposed to Confucianism from the start?
A) Laozi
B) Confucius
C) Han Fei
D) Sun Lutang
  • 40. Which philosopher was attracted to Confucianism due to its perceived similarity to his own philosophy?
A) Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
B) Voltaire
C) Prospero Intorcetta
D) Matteo Ricci
  • 41. Which term describes the extension of reciprocity or responsibility beyond filial piety in Confucianism?
A) Zhi
B) Yi
C) Renqing
D) Li
  • 42. What is the role of juniors in Confucian relationships?
A) Owe their seniors reverence
B) Ignore seniors
C) Compete with seniors
D) Lead seniors
  • 43. What principle does Tongdong Bai use to justify political inequality?
A) The principle of liberal democracy.
B) A proto-Rawlsian 'political difference principle'.
C) The principle of one person, one vote.
D) The principle of economic meritocracy.
  • 44. Which virtue emphasizes a sense of right and wrong in Confucianism?
A) Chǐ (耻)
B) Gōng (恭)
C) Lián (廉)
D) Yǒng (勇)
  • 45. What traditionalist Confucian concept supports the idea of superiors deciding promotions?
A) Epistemic paternalism
B) Meritocratic equality
C) Democratic selection
D) Social mobility
  • 46. How is Ren expressed according to Confucian philosophy?
A) Through interpersonal relationships
B) Through meditation
C) Through material wealth
D) Through isolation
  • 47. During which period did Confucius live?
A) 221–206 BC
B) 551–479 BC
C) 960–1279 AD
D) 1046–256 BC
  • 48. What do xiaoren seek according to Confucian philosophy?
A) only immediate gains
B) ethical and moral development
C) long-term benefits for others
D) inner peace through virtue
  • 49. What does a superior man require in his words, according to Confucius?
A) Humor and wit
B) Complexity and depth
C) Nothing incorrect
D) Poetic beauty
  • 50. What is the main advantage of democracy that Bell and Wang aim to conserve in their system?
A) Ensuring all officials are elected democratically.
B) Creating a tricameral government structure.
C) Involving the people in public affairs at the local level.
D) Grounding authority in something sacred and traditional.
  • 51. Which futurologist is credited with attributing Vietnam's rapid redevelopment to its post-war efforts?
A) Cristobal Kay
B) Herman Kahn
C) Adam Smith
D) John Maynard Keynes
  • 52. How does Stephan Feuchtwang describe rites?
A) "A method for personal enlightenment"
B) "An obstacle to progress"
C) "What makes the invisible visible"
D) "A way to accumulate wealth"
  • 53. During which period did philosophers build upon the legacy of Confucius?
A) Warring States period
B) Han dynasty
C) Tang dynasty
D) Song dynasty
  • 54. Which Pope ordered a ban on Chinese rituals during the Rites Controversy?
A) Pope Benedict XIV
B) Pope John Paul II
C) Pope Gregory XVII
D) Pope Leo XIII
  • 55. Who criticized Confucianism for shaping Chinese people into a feudalistic society in the New Culture Movement?
A) Mozi
B) Lu Xun
C) Sun Lutang
D) Han Fei
  • 56. Who proposes a model where aspiring meritocrats take hyper-selective exams and prove themselves at local government levels?
A) Wang
B) Tongdong Bai
C) Bell
D) Jiang Qing
  • 57. What term do Bell and Wang use to describe their approach to political hierarchies?
A) Virtue politics.
B) Political equality.
C) Meritocratic liberalism.
D) Progressive conservatism.
  • 58. What term describes morally inferior people in Confucianism?
A) xiaoren
B) ren
C) sage
D) junzi
  • 59. Who began the synthesis of Warring States Confucianism with other ideas during the Han dynasty?
A) Confucius
B) Zhuangzi
C) Laozi
D) Dong Zhongshu
  • 60. What does 'Xin' represent in the Five Constants?
A) Propriety, rites
B) Sincerity, faithfulness
C) Righteousness, justice
D) Benevolence, humaneness
  • 61. Which city is home to the Yangming Confucian Abode?
A) Qufu City
B) Guiyang, Guizhou
C) Shanghai
D) Beijing
  • 62. What did Huang Zongxi criticize about the imperial system?
A) The lack of moral rectitude among rulers
B) The emphasis on filial piety
C) The absence of loyalty from ministers
D) Its autocratic nature
  • 63. In Confucianism, what does 'filial piety' refer to?
A) Chǐ (耻)
B) Jié (节; 節)
C) Xiào (孝)
D) Zhōng (忠)
  • 64. What is the foundation of a ruler's authority and the submission of its people in Confucianism?
A) Military strength and conquests
B) A spiritual-ethical foundation rather than coercive power
C) Fear of punishment
D) Economic incentives and rewards
  • 65. Which philosophy heavily influenced many educated martial artists from the 19th century onwards?
A) Legalism
B) Confucianism
C) Daoism
D) Mohism
  • 66. What did Confucius say when Yan Hui asked about the criteria of Ren?
A) "If contrary to ritual, do not look; if contrary to ritual, do not listen; if contrary to ritual, do not speak; if contrary to ritual, do not act."
B) "Ren is achieved through meditation and solitude."
C) "Ren is only for the wise and learned."
D) "Ren can be practiced without Li."
  • 67. Who published a manifesto in 2003 suggesting that Confucian education should be integrated into official education?
A) Jiang Qing
B) Zhou Beichen
C) Confucius
D) Kang Xiaoguang
  • 68. Who was among the earliest to report on the thoughts of Confucius in Europe?
A) Prospero Intorcetta
B) Voltaire
C) Matteo Ricci
D) Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz
  • 69. Who was a Muslim warlord influenced by Confucianism in modern Chinese history?
A) Sun Yat-sen
B) Chiang Kai-shek
C) Ma Fuxiang
D) Mao Zedong
  • 70. Which Confucian virtue is not part of the Five Constants?
A) Li
B) Bravery
C) Ren
D) Yi
  • 71. Which rebellion described Confucian sages as devils?
A) The Boxer Rebellion
B) The Taiping Rebellion
C) The Cultural Revolution
D) The Xinhai Revolution
  • 72. Which city's Confucian Academy expanded its activities to mainland China?
A) Hong Kong
B) Beijing
C) Qufu City
D) Shanghai
  • 73. Who is depicted as having a conversation with Confucius in the Xiaojing?
A) Laozi.
B) Mencius.
C) Yan Hui.
D) Zeng Shen.
  • 74. Who is the first spiritual leader of the Holy Confucian Church?
A) Jiang Qing
B) Kang Xiaoguang
C) Confucius
D) Zhou Beichen
  • 75. Which movement criticized Confucianism for fostering a 'slave mentality'?
A) The Boxer Rebellion
B) The Cultural Revolution
C) The New Culture Movement
D) The Taiping Rebellion
  • 76. What symbol was associated with the supreme godhead and unlimited power in ancient Chinese belief?
A) The crane
B) The phoenix
C) The dragon
D) The tiger
  • 77. In which year did guoxue start being implemented in public schools on all levels?
A) 2005
B) 2015
C) 1999
D) 2003
  • 78. What does Tongdong Bai argue Confucian political thought departs from?
A) Freedom of speech
B) The 'one person, one vote' model
C) Individual rights
D) Economic liberalism
  • 79. Who wrote 'Lessons for Women' during the Han dynasty?
A) Cheng Yi
B) Zhu Xi
C) Sima Guang
D) Ban Zhao
  • 80. What is 'Loyalty' referred to in Confucianism?
A) Zhì
B) Zhōng
C) Jié
D) Xiào
  • 81. What is the Confucian ideal of good government led by?
A) A military leader
B) A superior man (junzi)
C) The most intelligent person in the kingdom
D) An elected official
  • 82. What should a proper Confucian ruler do to govern better?
A) Ignore the opinions of his ministers
B) Dismiss any form of criticism
C) Accept his ministers' advice
D) Rule with absolute authority
  • 83. Which South Korean writer wrote 'Confucius Must Die For the Nation to Live'?
A) Han Fei
B) Kim Kyong-il
C) Lu Xun
D) Sun Lutang
  • 84. Which theory does Ban Zhao use to explain the complementarity of male and female roles?
A) Four Virtues
B) The Three Obediences
C) Yin-yang theory
D) Luxuriant Dew
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