QUESTION:

China proudly boasts the world's longest written history - some 5,000 years of recorded Chinese culture, history and society. Chinese history is divided into various dynasties each with its own special history and cultural achievements. Which of the following dynasties is the earliest of the recognized dynasties:

A. Tang dynasty

B. Qing dynasty

C. Ming dynasty

D. Qin dynasty

ANSWER:

A. The Tang dynasty spanned the period AD 618 to AD 907 but was not the earliest. Famous for its poetry and literature as well as its outstanding silk and glazed pottery which were highly sought after in the Middle East and Europe.

B. Qing is probably the best known of the dynasties outside of China due to movies such "The Last Emperor" and the current demand for arts and crafts from this period. Novels from this period include the famous "The Scholars" by Wu Jingzi. The Qing dynasty was from 1644 to 1911 AD and was the last of the dynastic periods - not the earliest.

C. Ming (Ad 1368 to 1644) is also widely known throughout the world especially for the exceptionally beautiful vases, sculptures, paintings and calligraphy scrolls . Indeed Ming vases regularly fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at auctions. Importantly many Ming vases are now being returned to China to ensure that Chinese history can be seen by all Chinese people.

D. Qin is the earliest of the Chinese dynasties starting in 221 BC and lasting until 206 BC. Although brief, it is famous for the terra cotta warriors of Xi'an which were discovered by Chinese farmers in the early 1970's. The first emperor of the Qin dynasty, Qin Shihuangdi united China into an empire and established standardized weights, measures, coins and written script throughout the country.