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China: From Past to Present Part One: Geography, Traditional Religions, and Beliefs Teacher's Guide China: From Past to Present Part One: Geography, Traditional Religions, and Beliefs Produced by Ancient Lights Educational Media Distributed by... 800.323.9084 | FAX 847.328.6706 | www.unitedlearning.com This video is the exclusive property of the copyright holder. Copying, transmitting, or reproducing in any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from the copyright holder is prohibited (Title 17, U.S. Code Sections 501 and 506). © 2004 Ancient Lights Educational Media Table of Contents Introduction to the Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Introduction to the Program . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Links to Curriculum Standards . . . . . . . . . .2 Instructional Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Pre-Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Student Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Student Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Introducing the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 View the Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Discussion Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Description of Blackline Masters . . . . . . . .6 Extended Learning Activities . . . . . . . . . . .7 Answer Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Script of Narration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 This video is closed captioned. 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China: From Past to Present Part One: Geography, Traditional Religions, and Beliefs Viewing Time: 15 minutes plus a one-minute, five-question Video Quiz Grades 5-9 INTRODUCTION TO THE SERIES China: From Past to Present was filmed in locations across China and Nepal, as well as in the United States. It offers a fascinating look at the long history, varied geography, and amazing civilization of the world's largest nation. The series is made up of two fifteen-minute and one twenty-minute programs. Part One takes a look at China's geography, traditional religions, and beliefs. Part Two examines life in the ancient capital cities of Xian and Beijing. Part Three presents some of the most important changes in government in China from the time of the first emperor up to modern times. Important topics such as the Silk Road and the Great Wall of China are presented in this program. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM This fifteen-minute program presents the following topics: • Geography, neighboring countries, language, population • Confucianism • Taoism • Buddhism • Traditional Beliefs: yin and yang, feng shui, tai chi, the Eight Trigrams, the I Ching 1 LINKS TO CURRICULUM STANDARDS McREL Standards World History Standards Era 3 - Classical Traditions, Major Religions, and Giant Empires, 1000 B.C. - 300 A.D. Standard 9: Understand how major religions and largescale empires arose in China and India from 500 B.C. to 300 A.D. Grades 5-6 5. Understands the fundamental elements of Chinese society under the early imperial dynasties (e.g., the life of Confucius and the fundamentals of Confucianism and Taoism, what life was like for ordinary people in ancient China as illustrated in Chinese folktales). 7. Understands the origins of Buddhism and fundamental Buddhist beliefs. Grades 7-8 3. Understands fundamental social, political, and cultural characteristics of Chinese society under early imperial dynasties. Era 4 - Expanding Zones of Exchange and Encounter, 300-1000 A.D. Standard 25: Understands major global trends from 1000 to 1500 A.D. Historical Understanding Standards Standard 2: Understands the historical perspective. Grades 7-8 1. Understands that specific individuals and the values those individuals held had an impact on history. 2. Analyzes the influence specific ideas and beliefs had on a period of history. 2 Grades 9-12 1. Analyzes the values held by specific people who influenced history and the role their values played in influencing history. Geography Standards The World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment. Grades 6-8 1. Knows the location of physical and human features on maps and globes (e.g., cultures; land forms; climate, regions). Grades 9-12 1. Knows the approximate locations of major political and economic cultures. Places and Regions Standard 4: Understands the physical and human characteristics of place. Grade 6-8 1. Knows the human characteristics of places (e.g., cultural characteristics such as religion, language, politics, technology, family structure, gender, population characteristics, land uses, levels of development). Human Systems Standard 10: Understands the nature and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics. Grade 6-8 2. Knows ways in which communities reflect the cultural background of their inhabitants (e.g., distinctive building styles). Grade 9-12 1. Knows how cultures influence the characteristics of regions. 3 2. Understands how human characteristics make specific regions of the world distinctive (e.g., the impact of Buddhism in shaping social attitudes in Southeast Asia). INSTRUCTIONAL NOTES Before presenting this lesson to your students, we suggest that you preview the program, review the guide and the accompanying Blackline Master activities in order to familiarize yourself with their content. As you review the materials presented in this guide, you may find it necessary to make some changes, additions, or deletions to meet the specific needs of your class. We encourage you to do so; for only by tailoring this program to your class will they obtain the maximum instructional benefits afforded by the materials. PRE-TEST Pre-Test is an assessment tool intended to gauge student comprehension of the objectives prior to viewing the program. Explain that they are not expected to get all the answers correct. You can remind your students that these are key concepts that they should focus on while watching the program. STUDENT PREPARATION Set up a Learning Center with pictures, maps, diagrams, and charts, etc., relevant to the topics presented in this program (i.e., Chinese geography, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, tai chi, feng shui, yin and yang, the I Ching). Visit http://geography.about.com/library/blank/blxasia.htm for free printable outline maps of China and Asia. 4 Pass out copies of Blackline Master #5, Timeline and TImeline Activity, that includes historical events within this region and copies of Blackline Masters #6 and #6a, Vocabulary List, that includes definitions for geographical terms and historical names and places referred to in this program. STUDENT OBJECTIVES After viewing the program and completing the follow-up activities, students should be able to: • Outline China on a map of Asia and identify the 14 nations that border it. • Explain the importance of China as the world's oldest living civilization and the most populated country on Earth. • Identify on a map the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, Gobi Desert, Tibetan Plateau, Himalayan Mountains, China Sea and Yellow Sea, Pacific Ocean, and Taiwan. • Identify on a map of China the area that is most suitable for farming and where the majority of the Chinese population exists. • Name the three traditional religions of China (Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism) and briefly describe the history and the fundamental beliefs of each religion. • Describe several of ancient Chinese beliefs and traditions such as yin and yang, feng shui, the I Ching, and tai chi. INTRODUCING THE PROGRAM Duplicate and administer Blackline Master #1, Pre-Test. Remind your students that they are not expected to know 5 all the answers. Suggest that they use these questions as a guide for taking notes on the key concepts while viewing the program. VIEW THE PROGRAM Running Time: 15 minutes plus a one-minute, five-question Video Quiz. Hand out Blackline Master #3, Video Quiz, and Blackline Master #7a, Map of Asia, that may be used for notetaking while viewing the program. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS After viewing the program, you may find it helpful to discuss these topics as a class. (You may also choose to use these topics to begin a discussion prior to viewing the program.) • Overview of the ancient civilization of China. • Compare and contrast Chinese civilization to western civilizations. • Population issues in China and elsewhere in the world. • China's current contribution to the global economy. • Communism and capitalism in China. • Compare and contrast the traditional religions and beliefs of China to those of the Judeo-Christian tradition. DESCRIPTION OF BLACKLINE MASTERS Blackline Master #1, Pre-Test, is an assessment tool intended to gauge student comprehension of the objectives prior to viewing the program. Blackline Master #2, Post-Test, is an assessment tool to be administered after viewing the program and completing additional activities. The results of this assessment 6 can be compared to the results of the Pre-Test to determine the change in student comprehension before and after participation in this lesson. Blackline Master #3, Video Quiz, is intended to reinforce the key concepts of the program following the presentation of the program. Student awareness that a Video Quiz will be given also helps promote attention to the video presentation. Blackline Master #4, Crossword Puzzle, is a puzzle game based on information presented in the Vocabulary List. Blackline Master #5, Timeline and Timeline Activity, presents important dates in Chinese history and includes a" fill-in-the-blank" exercise. Blackline Masters #6 and #6a, Vocabulary List and Activity, includes important names, people, places, and terms relating to events that occurred during this era in history with a "fill-in-the-blank" exercise. Blackline Masters #7 and #7a, Map Exercise of China, includes a map of Asia and a list of items for the student to locate and label. This activity could be expanded into a research project that promotes using a variety of outside educational resources. EXTENDED LEARNING ACTIVITIES Research papers, oral reports, news reports, or PowerPoint® presentations could be done on the following subjects: • How communism affected the practice of religion in China. 7 • Current conflicts between Nationalist China and the People's Republic of China. • Hong Kong: past, present, and future. • The invasion and conquest of Tibet. • A comparison of traditional Chinese medicine to "western medicine." • Population problems and controls in China. • Industrialization in China • How and why ancient Chinese traditions have influenced life in America, such as feng shui as a guide in planning environments; tai chi as a popular form of exercise; and using the I Ching, or Book of Changes, for spiritual advice and guidance. (For "firsthand" experience of ancient Chinese thought, students could do some coin tosses that correspond to hexagrams, then the I Ching could be consulted for its explanations). ANSWER KEY Blackline Master #1, Pre-Test 1. False. India is second in population after China. 2. True 3. False. Buddhism began in India. 4. True 5. False. China is the world's largest communist country. Blackline Master #2, Post-Test A. True or False 1. True 2. False. Most of China's citizens live in the eastern third of the country. 3. False. Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism 4. True 5. True 6. False. It is bordered by 14 nations. 7. True 8 8. False. The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is a book many Chinese use for spiritual guidance. 9. True 10. False. China's population is around 1 billion, 300 million. B. Fill in the blanks 1. Mandarin, dialect 2. Yangtze and Yellow (Yalu) 3. Himalayan C. Essay Confucianism is based on the teachings of a philosopher named Confucius, who formulated his ideas around 500 B.C. Confucius developed detailed rules for personal behavior that promoted mutual respect, generosity, honor, strong family bonds, a deep sense of personal duty to society, and even the worship of one's ancestors. Confucius believed that a superior ruler, father, husband, or older brother was naturally worthy of respect and obedience, just as long as he set a good example of proper moral behavior. Confucius predicted that trouble would result whenever a bad example was set. In many ways, Confucianism turned out to be much more of a system of rules for proper behavior and for good government than an actual religion. Nevertheless, the vision and ideals of Confucianism ended up uniting China and it provided the Chinese people with a strong foundation for a stable, long lasting society. Taoism played a major role in shaping Chinese thought and culture. It is a religion that offered a more relaxed and natural way of finding happiness, compared to the numerous rules of Confucianism. Taoism dates back to 300 B.C., but certain parts of the religion are much older. Taoism is largely based on the Book of Tao, or Tao-Te9 Ching, a mystical text that may have been written by a religious visionary named Lao-tzu. Taoists believe that everything in the universe arises from the Tao: a silent, pure, all-powerful force that existed before there was a heaven or an earth. The early Taoists thought that the best way to find true peace and happiness was to gain firsthand experience of the Tao by living in harmony with nature, leading simple lives, and by not acting in anger. When it began, simplicity was an important aspect of Taoism, but as time went by, Taoist temples filled up with ornate shrines, brilliantly colored statues, and bowls brimming over with offerings. This happened in part because, over the centuries, Taoists "adopted" many ancient Chinese folk gods and began to worship them. Today Taoist priests conduct public rituals during which they offer up prayers to the ancient gods and to other divinities that represent different qualities of the Tao. Taoists also believe that it is possible for humans to attain immortality, that is to live forever, and that is why they worship a special group of gods whom they believe once lived on Earth as human beings. Buddhism is the most recent religion to play an important role in shaping Chinese culture, and Buddhist temples and religious images abound in China. Buddhism began in India and is a religion based on the teachings of a man known as the "Buddha," or "Enlightened One." The Buddha taught the value of compassion or “loving kindness," as a way to overcome the striving and desire that cause human suffering. Around the year 650 A.D., a religious pilgrim returned to China from India and brought the Buddhist scriptures with him. This towering temple, or pagoda, was built to house those precious books. In China, pagodas can take many different forms. Most pagodas were built in the centers of Buddhist monasteries. Monasteries are sacred places filled with temples and 10 other buildings that are home to monks and nuns who devote their lives to religious practice. Lamas, the Buddhist monks who live in the mountainous Tibetan region of China, as well as in Mongolia, Bhutan, and Nepal, often construct distinctive pagodas, like this one, called stupas. Stupas are filled with sacred offerings, holy relics, and shrines. They are often adorned with strings of rippling prayer flags that are believed to transmit prayers on the winds. And at the foot of some stupas, "prayer wheels" can be turned to send out prayers, as well. The lamas of the Tibetan region of China follow a style of Buddhism known as Vajrayana Buddhism. The supreme spiritual leader of the Vajrayana Buddhists is known as the Dalai Lama. Blackline Master #3, Video Quiz 1. True 2. True 3. True 4. False. Buddhism began in India. 5. False. Feng shui is an ancient Chinese art based on the concepts of yin and yang. Blackline Master #4, Crossword Puzzle 1 3 2 C G O B I A N 4 E 5 U 6 H I A S I S M A I A W G U L 7 R U S S I T C O M M U N X 9 O F H T I A M S 8 A L A M A S N Y 10 P A G O D A S N 11 Blackline Master #5, Timeline Activity 1. 214 B.C. 2. 1275 A.D. 3. 105 A.D. 4. 1368 A.D. 5. 551 B.C. Blackline Master #6a, Vocabulary Activity 1. rural 2. tradition 3. moral 4. dialect 5. ancestors Blackline Master #7, Map Exercise of China 12 13 RESOURCES Web sites for teachers: About Geography http://geography.about.com/ What You Need to Know About: Geography. Home page has links to maps, as well as to sites dealing with physical, political, cultural, historical, and economical topics pertaining to world geography. About Geography http://geography.about.com/library/blank/blxusa.htm Free printable outline maps of China and Asia. Chinese Philosophy Yin and Yang http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CHPHIL/YINYANG.HTM A very helpful and concise explanation of yin and yang. Includes links to information on other Chinese beliefs. Chinese Philosophy Confucius http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CHPHIL/CONF.HTM A very helpful and concise explanation of the ideas of Confucius. Includes a link to a glossary of terms related to Confucianism. Chinese Philosophy Taoism http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/CHPHIL/TAOISM.HTM A very helpful and concise explanation of Taoism. Includes a link to a glossary of terms related to Taoism. Where Does the Chinese Symbol Yin and Tang Come from? http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/yinyang.htm A great description with illustrations of how the ancient Chinese used the night sky and the changing universe to determine the meaning of these symbols. 14 The Road to Ancient China, Buddhism http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Chinalife.html#BUDDHA Includes a useful description for use in the classroom of Buddhism, Buddha, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and other significant symbols and rules that are part of the Buddhist philosophy. The Road to Ancient China http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listchinamr3.ht ml An Internet resource specifically designed for classroom use that includes links to many sites on ancient Chinese, arts and crafts, literature, religions and traditions. Books for the classroom: Dorling Kindersley Children's Atlas. Dorling Kindersley Publishing, London: DK Publishing, Revised edition September, 2003, ISBN 0789458454. A beautiful children's atlas that is organized by continent, then broken down by country. It is packed with maps, photographs, illustrations, and diagrams that examine the physical and human geography of the world. There are many fun-filled facts that pertain to each country and a useful glossary. The Ancient Chinese. Silver Burdett Company, Morristown, N.J. Silver Burdett, 1981, ISBN 0382064461. Learn about the ancient Chinese by perusing this resource packed with descriptions and illustrations of life in China from over 3,500 years ago to present day. Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Books Ancient China. Cotterell, Arthur, Dorling Kindersley Publishing: New York, NY, 2000, ISBN 0789458667. A very informative guide to the history of the Chinese 15 empire and the customs and traditions of its people. Loaded with photographs and descriptions. Ancient China. Simpson, Judith, Time-Life Books, Weldon Owen Pty Limited, Australia: 1996, ISBN 0809492482. Useful reference includes colorful illustrations and descriptions depicting life in ancient China: food, clothing, myths and symbols, art, ways of thinking, new ideas, and a timeline of the Dynasties of Ancient China. SCRIPT OF NARRATION China: From Past to Present Part One: Geography, Traditional Religions, and Beliefs Introduction China is an amazing country where rich traditions and unique customs and beliefs thrive. China is the birthplace of the world's oldest living civilization; a civilization that dates back some 3,700 years. Throughout its history, China has undergone periods of growth and periods of loss, periods of strength, and periods of weakness. But it has always survived. For most of that time, China has been the most populated country on Earth. And today its booming economy has made it a leader among the industrialized nations of the world. The Geography of China China, which today is called the People's Republic of China, is a huge country with a communist government that covers about one-fifth of the continent of Asia. Today, at the start of a new millennium, China is home to one billion, 300 million people, roughly one-fifth of the world's population. China is bordered by 14 different nations; to its north is Mongolia; and then moving westward are the Muslim countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, 16 Afghanistan, and Pakistan. From there, China borders India and after that, the small Hindu and Buddhist kingdom of Nepal; then tiny Bhutan. After that, China's border meets India again, until it reaches Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. China's coastline runs along the China Sea and the Yellow Sea, which are parts of the Pacific Ocean. Off the coast, the nation of Taiwan, or Nationalist China, was governed from the mainland capital of Beijing before the communists took over in 1949; and it is still claimed by the People's Republic today. In the northeast are the last of China's neighbors. One is the small communist nation of North Korea and the other is the enormous nation of Russia. China has several important rivers that are used for transportation. The two main rivers are the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. Huge parts of China are very dry and quite thinly populated, such as the region near the vast Gobi Desert along the Mongolian border; and the high, very cold, Tibetan Plateau that runs along the towering peaks of the Himalayan Mountains that are the highest mountains on Earth. Most of China's citizens live in the eastern third of the country where the best land for farming is found. Almost all of the most well-to-do Chinese live in huge cities such as Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. But the majority of Chinese are less prosperous farmers, like those seen here, that live in rural areas. Nearly everyone in China writes and reads the official language called Mandarin. But the Chinese speak many different dialects. That is why people from different regions of the country often have difficulty understanding one another. 17 The Traditional Religions of China The unique civilization of China has been strongly influenced by three traditional religions—those of Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism—that are sometimes referred to as "The Three Ways." The roots of these religions date back thousands of years and each one has played its own special role in shaping personal behavior, family life, government, art, and even scientific thought in China. Until the onset of communism in the 20th century, people were rarely persecuted for their religions. Overall, China has had such a history of religious tolerance that traditional religious beliefs have blended together to such a degree that elements from one religion are quite likely to be found in another. Confucianism Confucianism, the first of the traditional Chinese religions, is based on the teachings of a philosopher named Confucius, who formulated his ideas around 500 B.C. Confucius developed detailed rules for personal behavior that promoted mutual respect, generosity, honor, strong family bonds, a deep sense of personal duty to society, and even the worship of one's ancestors. Confucius believed that a superior ruler, father, husband, or older brother was naturally worthy of respect and obedience, just as long as he set a good example of proper moral behavior. Confucius predicted that trouble would result whenever a bad example was set. In many ways, Confucianism turned out to be much more of a system of rules for proper behavior and for good government than an actual religion. Nevertheless, the vision and ideals of Confucianism ended up uniting China and it provided the Chinese people with a strong foundation for a stable, long lasting society. 18 Taoism Taoism is the second religion that played a major role in shaping Chinese thought and culture. It is a religion that offered a more relaxed and natural way of finding happiness, compared to the numerous rules of Confucianism. Taoism dates back to 300 B.C., but certain parts of the religion are much older. Taoism is largely based on the Book of Tao, or Tao-Te-Ching, a mystical text that may have been written by a religious visionary named Lao-tzu. Taoists believe that everything in the universe arises from the Tao: a silent, pure, all-powerful force that existed before there was a heaven or an earth. The early Taoists thought that the best way to find true peace and happiness was to gain firsthand experience of the Tao by living in harmony with nature, leading simple lives, and by not acting in anger. When it began, simplicity was an important aspect of Taoism, but as time went by, Taoist temples filled up with ornate shrines, brilliantly colored statues, and bowls brimming over with offerings. This happened in part because, over the centuries, Taoists "adopted" many ancient Chinese folk gods and began to worship them. Today, Taoist priests conduct public rituals during which they offer up prayers to the ancient gods and to other divinities that represent different qualities of the Tao. Taoists also believe that it is possible for humans to attain immortality, that is to live forever; and that is why they worship a special group of gods whom they believe once lived on Earth as human beings Buddhism Buddhism is the third and most recent religion to play an important role in shaping Chinese culture, and Buddhist temples and religious images abound in China. Buddhism began in India and is a religion based on the teachings of a man known as the "Buddha,” or "Enlighten19 ed One." The Buddha taught the value of compassion or "loving kindness," as a way to overcome the striving and desire that cause human suffering. Around the year 650 A.D., a religious pilgrim returned to China from India and brought the Buddhist scriptures with him. This towering temple, or pagoda, was built to house those precious books. In China, pagodas can take many different forms. Most pagodas were built in the centers of Buddhist monasteries. Monasteries are sacred places, filled with temples and other buildings, that are home to monks and nuns who devote their lives to religious practice. Lamas, the Buddhist monks who live in the mountainous Tibetan region of China, as well as in Mongolia, Bhutan, and Nepal, often construct distinctive pagodas, like this one, called stupas. Stupas are filled with sacred offerings, holy relics, and shrines. They are often adorned with strings of rippling prayer flags that are believed to transmit prayers on the winds. And at the foot of some stupas, "prayer wheels" can be turned to send out prayers as well. The lamas of the Tibetan region of China follow a style of Buddhism known as Vajrayana Buddhism. The supreme spiritual leader of the Vajrayana Buddhists is known as the Dalai Lama. Although this "Tibetan style" of Buddhism was at first violently suppressed by the Communists in an attempt to overthrow the religious government of Tibet, lamas are still deeply revered in that region, both for their religious activities and for their fascinating sacred dances and music, as well. In China, one the most popular figures from the Buddhist tradition is Mi-lo-fo, the so-called "Laughing Buddha," whose image is encountered everywhere. Mi-lo-fo is very much beloved because he embodies several important Chinese ideals. For example, his fat belly symbolizes wealth. His smile and relaxed manner show that his life is harmonious. And the tiny figures that are crawling all over 20 him depict his deep love for children, which is one of the most basic Chinese ideals. Ancient Chinese Beliefs In addition to religion, several ancient beliefs have been extremely important in shaping Chinese culture, as well. In fact, each of China's traditional religions has themselves been deeply influenced by these ancient beliefs. Undoubtedly, one of the most basic and widespread of them is the concept of yin and yang. In the symbol of the Taoist religion, seen here, the mystical Tao is represented as consisting of two balanced, but opposing, energies. One is called yang and the other is called yin. Yin is the energy associated with femininity, the Earth, the night, the moon, and softness; while in contrast, yang is the energy associated with masculinity, heaven, the daytime, the sun, and strength. It is believed that having either too much or too little yin or yang in any part of one's life will lead to problems such as illness. Each morning in the parks and public places of China, older people are always seen practicing tai chi, an ancient art that seeks to balance yin and yang energies while building strength and agility. And the approach of balancing energy is employed in traditional Chinese medicine, as well. The ancient Chinese art of feng shui is also founded on the concepts of yin and yang. In China, feng shui experts have long been consulted for help in selecting a harmonious location for a new house or temple. Feng shui principles are used for planning the layouts of rooms and for deciding on how furniture can be placed to obtain the best energy flow. For it is believed that when the feng shui of a house is "correct," meaning that the forces of yin and yang are properly balanced, the people who live in it will be happy, healthy, and prosperous. 21 Another fascinating aspect of ancient Chinese thinking is found in the groupings of lines arranged along the outside of the yin-yang symbol. They are called the Eight Trigrams and represent different qualities of the yin and yang energies. A broken line in a trigram stands for yin and one that is unbroken represents yang. The three unbroken lines of this trigram represent a completely yang quality and so the trigram symbolizes strength, creativity, heaven, and father. In ancient times, long before the great religions were founded, people began to pair the trigrams with one another to create six-line hexagrams. People drew straws or tossed coins to represent the yin and yang lines of the hexagrams. Thus, the hexagrams could be determined purely by chance. And somehow over time, the hexagrams came to be seen as possessing a deep spiritual meaning and power of their own. Thousands of years ago, a mystical book called the I Ching, or Book of Changes, was compiled. It sought to explain the hidden meaning of every line in each one of the 64 possible hexagrams. And today that ancient and mysterious book is still consulted by millions of Chinese people searching for spiritual advice and guidance. Video Quiz 1. True or False? The People's Republic of China is a communist country. 2. True or False? Mandarin is the official language of China, but many dialects are spoken. 3. True or False? Confucius developed a system of rules for proper behavior. 4. True or False? Buddhism began in China. 5. True or False? Feng shui was the first emperor of China. 22 China: From Past to Present, Part One: Geography, Traditional Religions, and Beliefs Cat. No. 9819 ISBN No. 1-59380-426-1 800-323-9084 FAX 847-328-6706 www.unitedlearning.com