EVALUATE AND COMMUNICATE 10. Identify which of Kublai Khan’s achievements in rebuilding China would have had the most impact on the people. Explain why you think this. 11. Identify which aspects of SOURCE5 are beyond belief. 12. Based upon what you know of Kublai Khan, discuss whether he would have been happy with the publication of The Travels of Marco Polo . Explain your answer. Answers and sample responses for this topic are available online.
LESSON 10.8 What was the Yuan court like?
LEARNING INTENTION By the end of this lesson you should be able to describe what life was like within the court of Kublai Khan.
Tune in Regardless of their own beliefs, Kublai and his descendants made very public shows of honouring and preserving Chinese culture, such as the Guozijian, shown in SOURCE1 . The Guozijian was built shortly after Kublai’s death as a space to give offerings to Confucius and keep his ideas alive. What do you believe the Mongol rulers were trying to show the citizens of China?
SOURCE1 The Guozijian located in Beijing, China
10.8.1 Honouring China’s heritage During the Yuan dynasty, Kublai Khan’s court was a place for political, artistic, philosophical and religious discussions. To keep the empire stable, the khan balanced Chinese and Mongolian cultures. The role of women Royal women influenced the empire. Kublai Khan’s wife, Chabi Khatun, promoted Tibetan Buddhism, leading many Mongols to convert. His mother, Sorghaghtani Beki, encouraged him to learn about Chinese beliefs to better rule the people. Kublai invited scholars and religious leaders to his court to discuss important topics, helping Chinese culture thrive during his rule. 10.8.2 The Path to enlightenment By the time of the Song dynasty, three main beliefs were common in China: • Confucianism — developed by Confucius, this philosophy valued honesty, morality, loyalty, self- sacrifice, love and good manners. It also taught people about their roles in society.
Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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