Dozens of languages emerged throughout Chinese history. Evaluate the use of language on objects from across Chinese history and examine the role writing can play across time and context.

Use the "Students in China" link in the Additional Materials section below to search for more information about the context in which this handkerchief was created. 

To prevent the use of books or other aids, scholars taking the civil service exam were frisked from head to toe, twice. Yet some test takers found ways to smuggle in help. This piece of silk above is a cheat sheet that could have been sewn into the lining of a robe or disguised as a handkerchief. The miniature text covering both sides includes more than 20 sample essays and prompts for typical exam questions.

handkercheif.jpg

Field Museum

Cheat's Handkerchief

Use the "Ritual, Power and Unification" link in Additional Resources below to learn about these Oracle bones and their use. 

Most of the earliest writing in China hasn't survived. There is no way to tell exactly when or how writing emerged in China, but we do have evidence of a fully functioning writing system by the second half of the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600-1046 BC). These fragments of shell and bone only show a few characters, once part of longer inscriptions. These pieces were used in rituals to try to foretell the future, so they are known as "oracle bones."

Oracle_Bones.jpg

Oracle Bones

Use the "Students in China" Link below to read more about this basket and what it might have been used for. 

This basket could be used to carry supplies to a civil service exam. It's marked with the character fu  for "good fortune", perhaps a blessing from someone with high hopes for a test-taker's success. 

basket.jpg

Basket

Use the "Warring States" link below to discover more information about the historical context in which these interesting coins were created. 

These coins were all made in China during the Warring States period (475-221 BC), before the country had unified under one ruler. At that time the states were fighting for land, influence, resources, and power, so territories changed hands many times. Some of these states shared common histories, while others had different cultural traditions, many even had their own coinage.

coins.jpg

Coins

Use the "Many Faiths of China" link in the Additional Materials section below to explore more information about the significance of this prayer book. 

Search through the China Exhibition using the link below to see if you can find out more about the significance about this Gazeteer. 

This gazetteer, titled Comprehensive Gazetteer of the Ming Dynasty, surveys all the regions of China controlled by the Ming government, and includes maps and descriptions of local resources. Work on this gazetteer began in AD 1418 and was published in the reign of Emperor Zhengtong (ruled AD 1436-1449 and 1457-1464). This is only one volume of many. The Field Museum's version is one of very few remaining copies of this gazetteer and may not be complete.

Standards for Changing Language in China

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework