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