GUIDE
QUESTIONS FOR FILM
CHINA BRIDGE
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Marco Polo (1254? -1324?): Venetian trader and
adventurer, who traveled between Europe and Asia from 1271 to1295. Accounts of his travels have recently met
with scholarly skepticism. Kaifeng: capital of the Northern
Song Dynasty (960-1127) and site of the “Rainbow Bridge.” Zhang
Zeduan (fl. 12th cen.): court painter of the Qingming shanghe tu scroll. |
Fengshui: a system of spirit influences associated with
natural features of a given landscape. Luopan: a Chinese compass used for divination purposes. Anping Bridge: located
near Anhai in Fujian Province. This
beam bridge is the longest bridge in China and it was built between 1138 and 1151.[1] Anji Bridge: a
Song period arch bridge found near Zhaoxian in Hebei Province. The bridge was
built between 595 and 605. |
#1. What were some of the great Chinese inventions widely employed the Song Dynasty?
#2.
What contributions did Buddhists in the Song Period make in the area of bridge
building? Why?
#3. How were bridges such as the Rainbow Bridge
traditionally constructed in China?
What other types of bridges existed?
#4. What problems did the modern bridge-builders
face in their efforts to re-create the Rainbow Bridge in Jinze?
[1] Structurae structural engineering web site: http://www.structurae.de/en/structures/data/str04897.php
[1] Structurae structural engineering web site: http://www.structurae.de/en/structures/data/str04897.php