Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
huangdi: “August Sovereign,” the title by which Chinese emperors were
known since Qin Shihuang's reign.
Jinshi: The highest degree in the imperial civil service examinations,
somewhat equivalent to a doctoral degree.
junzi: In Confucianism, an “evolved man” or “consummate man” who
embodied the Confucian virtues; sometimes translated “gentleman.”
Juren: Second highest degree in the imperial civil service examinations;
roughly equivalent to a master's degree.
kaozheng: Careful philological textual scholarship developed and practiced
during Qing times.
Khaghan: Mongolian title meaning Supreme Khan.
Khan: Mongolian leadership title; sometimes used interchangeably with
Khaghan.
KMT: Abbreviation for Kuomintang (now usually spelled Guomindang), the
Nationalist Party of China; politically conservative and anti-Communist.
kowtow: A gesture of extreme ritual obeisance and submission that
involved groveling on the knees and elbows and knocking the forehead
audibly on the floor.
Kuomintang (Now usually spelled Guomindang): the Nationalist Party of
China; politically conservative and anti-Communist.
Legalism: A school of thought in ancient China that valued law and state
power above all else.
li (in Confucianism): Ritual or ceremony as narrowly defined, and
conventions of propriety as broadly conceived.
li (in Neo-Confucianism): “Principles,” the nonmaterial realities of the
universe.
Mahayana Buddhism: A variety of Buddhism, somewhat reminiscent of a
savior religion; emphasizes calling upon boddhisatvas in faith.
nirvana: In Buddhism, the state of desireless, and therefore painless, bliss;
liberation from desire and the suffering it causes, including reincarnation.
PLA: People's Liberation Army of Communist China.
PRC: People's Republic of China, the official national title of mainland
China since 1949.
qi: In neo-Confucianism, the material reality of the universe.
ren: The highest virtue or quality aspired after in Confucianism; sometimes
translated “humanity” or “human-heartedness” or “benevolence.”
shanyu: Leader of the Xiongnu, or Huns, an ancient pastoral nomadic
people who menaced Han China.
Shengyuan: The lowest degree in the imperial civil service examinations;
roughly equivalent to a bachelor's degree.
