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Ancient China Vocabulary

Starting a unit or lesson with the key vocabulary that students will see in their readings or presentations aids in overall comprehension and retention. Vocabulary is the foundation of language. Becoming acquainted with new terms, concepts and other unfamiliar ancient China vocabulary is crucial for students to have a thorough understanding of the unit. By studying, illustrating and using ancient Chinese words and their definitions students' will increase their understanding of Chinese culture, history, achievements, and geography. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that defines and illustrates vocabulary words related to the study of ancient China.

Students will preview the ancient China definitions and use whole class or small group discussion to demonstrate their understanding of each with this vocabulary builder activity on early China. Then, students will create a spider map of 3-5 terms (or more!) at the teacher's discretion. Each cell will contain a term related to ancient China, its definition, and an illustration that depicts the meaning. When students define and illustrate each term, they will master the application of it and retain it as part of their lexicon.

As an extension to this activity, teachers can have students create their own ancient China word search, crossword puzzle, or even ancient China interactive games! Additionally, check out our other ancient China lesson plans and ancient China activities, including an ancient China geography lesson. Teachers can create an ancient China vocabulary worksheets by copying one of our several worksheet templates.

The ancient China vocabulary words below are a sampling of important terms that students can use in their visual vocabulary spider maps. Students can define logograph and other vocabulary crucial to their understanding of ancient Chinese culture and achievements by creating a spider map that contains the term, its definition and an illustration. These can be printed out or displayed digitally and used as a helpful reference throughout the unit!

Ancient Chinese Words and their Definitions

1. ancestor worship: honoring ancestors through rituals, such as offering food and wine to the dead


2. anesthetic: something that takes away the feeling of pain


3. bamboo: tall hollow stemmed grass that the Chinese used to make paper, buildings, furniture and musical instruments


4. Buddhism: One of the three major religions in China, Buddhism originated in India, founded by Siddartha Gautama (Buddha) in northeastern India in the 5th century BC.


5. calligraphy: the art of fine handwriting


6. civil servant: a person who works for a government


7. cocoon protective covering made by silkworms before they transform into moths the fibers of which are used to make silk


8. compass: an instrument for determining direction


9. Confucianism: based on the teachings of Kongfuxi (Confucius) a philosophy whose goal was to create a more just and peaceful society. Confucianism deeply influenced Chinese government and culture.


10. dynasty: When the rule of a country is passed down to family members over a long period of time


11. economy: system of managing the wealth of a country or region


12. feudalism: a system of government based on landowners and tenants


13. filial piety: a cornerstone of the ancient Chinese philosophies and religions of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism, filial piety means the virtue of respect for one's parents, elders, and ancestors.


14. Forbidden City: giant palace built in the center of Beijing city by the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty


15. The Great Wall: 5,500 mile long wall built along the northern border of China to keep out invaders like the Mongols to the north


16. Gunpowder: an invention by the ancient Chinese that was used in fireworks and weapons.


17. immortal: able to live forever


18. Legalism: founded by Hanfeizi (Han-fei-tzu), legalism was a philosophy that taught that people are naturally selfish and therefore need strict laws, rewards for good behavior and punishments for bad behavior to create a peaceful society


19. lodestone: a type of iron ore that tends to align itself in a north-south direction because of Earth's magnetism


20. logograph: a written character that represents a word


21. maize: a type of corn


22. Mandate of Heaven: a power or law believed to be granted by a god


23. millet: a type of grain


24. mutton: meat from sheep


25. seismograph: an instrument for detecting earthquakes


26. Silk Road: a trade route that ran from China to Europe and named after the Chinese export of silk.


27. silt: fine particles of rock


28. standardize: make the same


29. Taoism or Daoism: philosophy founded by Laozi (Lao-tzu). The word Tao meaning "the Way", Taoism taught that people gained happiness and peace by living in harmony with nature


30. The Three Perfections: the three most important art forms of ancient China: painting, poetry and calligraphy


31. tributary: a stream that feeds into a larger river


32. yang: one half of the Taoist concept of opposing forces of nature; the opposite of yin


33. yin: one half of the Taoist concept of opposing forces of nature; the opposite of yang

Ancient China Vocabulary Activity

The vocabulary builder activity for early China below can be copied into your account and used with your students today! Remember every aspect of this activity can be customized to meet the needs of your students.

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