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Why did ancient Chinese emperors call themselves “zhen” or “guaren”?
Research shows that the word “zhen” used to be a first-person pronoun(代词). Before the Qin Dynasty, it meant “I” or “me” and everyone from farmers to state rulers could use it. The word can be found in books like Li Sao (The Lament) and Shi Jing (The Book of Songs).
However, when the state of Qin defeated all the other six states and unified(统一) China, Qinshihuang, the first emperor in Chinese history, changed how this word could be used. He made it a rule that “zhen” could only be used by the emperor himself. Since then, the word has been reserved(保留) only for rulers.
Chinese emperors also called themselves “guaren”. In ancient China, emperors took themselves as the “Sons of Heaven”, and believed they had a “Mandate of Heaven(天命)” to rule. However, if the “Son of Heaven” was found to have poor morals(德行), they would lose the mandate. So, the rulers used the term “guaren” or “guade zhiren(寡德之人)”, meaning “a person who doesn’t have morality”. In this way, they could show their modesty(谦虚). In Chinese culture, people should not talk proudly about their own abilities and beliefs. Modesty is seen as a virtue(美德). Ancient rulers hoped to win people’s hearts by calling themselves “guaren”.
However, historical records show that “guaren” lost its popularity after the Tang Dynasty. The emperors of the following dynasties used “zhen” more often.
Choose the answer:
()71. Since when could “zhen” only be used by the emperor?
A. Before the birth of Qinshihuang.
B. When the first emperor in China appeared.
C. After Li Sao and Shi Jing came out.
D. From the start of Chinese history.
()72. Why did Chinese emperors call themselves “guaren”?
A. To show how special they were.
B. To win people’s hearts.
C. To show they were born with a mandate.
D. To show they were lonely.
()73. From the text, we can infer(推断) that .
A. both “zhen” and “guaren” are second-person pronouns
B. Li Sao and Shi Jing came out after Qinshihuang unified China
C. “guaren” took the place of “zhen” after the Tang Dynasty
D. emperors in ancient China cared a lot about how they called themselves
()74. Where is the passage most probably taken from?
A. A weather report.
B. A history book.
C. A sports magazine.
D. A science magazine.
Why did ancient Chinese emperors call themselves “zhen” or “guaren”?
Research shows that the word “zhen” used to be a first-person pronoun(代词). Before the Qin Dynasty, it meant “I” or “me” and everyone from farmers to state rulers could use it. The word can be found in books like Li Sao (The Lament) and Shi Jing (The Book of Songs).
However, when the state of Qin defeated all the other six states and unified(统一) China, Qinshihuang, the first emperor in Chinese history, changed how this word could be used. He made it a rule that “zhen” could only be used by the emperor himself. Since then, the word has been reserved(保留) only for rulers.
Chinese emperors also called themselves “guaren”. In ancient China, emperors took themselves as the “Sons of Heaven”, and believed they had a “Mandate of Heaven(天命)” to rule. However, if the “Son of Heaven” was found to have poor morals(德行), they would lose the mandate. So, the rulers used the term “guaren” or “guade zhiren(寡德之人)”, meaning “a person who doesn’t have morality”. In this way, they could show their modesty(谦虚). In Chinese culture, people should not talk proudly about their own abilities and beliefs. Modesty is seen as a virtue(美德). Ancient rulers hoped to win people’s hearts by calling themselves “guaren”.
However, historical records show that “guaren” lost its popularity after the Tang Dynasty. The emperors of the following dynasties used “zhen” more often.
Choose the answer:
()71. Since when could “zhen” only be used by the emperor?
A. Before the birth of Qinshihuang.
B. When the first emperor in China appeared.
C. After Li Sao and Shi Jing came out.
D. From the start of Chinese history.
()72. Why did Chinese emperors call themselves “guaren”?
A. To show how special they were.
B. To win people’s hearts.
C. To show they were born with a mandate.
D. To show they were lonely.
()73. From the text, we can infer(推断) that .
A. both “zhen” and “guaren” are second-person pronouns
B. Li Sao and Shi Jing came out after Qinshihuang unified China
C. “guaren” took the place of “zhen” after the Tang Dynasty
D. emperors in ancient China cared a lot about how they called themselves
()74. Where is the passage most probably taken from?
A. A weather report.
B. A history book.
C. A sports magazine.
D. A science magazine.
答案
(
A. Before the birth of Qinshihuang.
B. When the first emperor in China appeared.
C. After Li Sao and Shi Jing came out.
D. From the start of Chinese history.
(
A. To show how special they were.
B. To win people’s hearts.
C. To show they were born with a mandate.
D. To show they were lonely.
(
A. both “zhen” and “guaren” are second-person pronouns
B. Li Sao and Shi Jing came out after Qinshihuang unified China
C. “guaren” took the place of “zhen” after the Tang Dynasty
D. emperors in ancient China cared a lot about how they called themselves
(
A. A weather report.
B. A history book.
C. A sports magazine.
D. A science magazine.
answer:71-74 BBDB
B
)71. Since when could “zhen” only be used by the emperor?A. Before the birth of Qinshihuang.
B. When the first emperor in China appeared.
C. After Li Sao and Shi Jing came out.
D. From the start of Chinese history.
(
B
)72. Why did Chinese emperors call themselves “guaren”?A. To show how special they were.
B. To win people’s hearts.
C. To show they were born with a mandate.
D. To show they were lonely.
(
D
)73. From the text, we can infer(推断) that .A. both “zhen” and “guaren” are second-person pronouns
B. Li Sao and Shi Jing came out after Qinshihuang unified China
C. “guaren” took the place of “zhen” after the Tang Dynasty
D. emperors in ancient China cared a lot about how they called themselves
(
B
)74. Where is the passage most probably taken from?A. A weather report.
B. A history book.
C. A sports magazine.
D. A science magazine.
answer:71-74 BBDB
