Questions Refer to the Passage Below

question 40

Multiple Choice

Questions refer to the passage below.
An Imperial Edict Restraining Officials from Evil by the Hongwu Emperor (Zhu Yuanzhang)
Those of you in charge of money and grain have stolen them for yourselves; those of you in charge of criminal laws and punishments have neglected the regulations. In this way grievances are not redressed and false charges are ignored. . . . Occasionally these unjust matters come to my attention. After I discover the truth, I capture and imprison the corrupt, villainous, and oppressive officials involved. I punish them with the death penalty or forced labor or have them flogged with bamboo sticks in order to make manifest the consequences of good and evil actions.
Alas, how easily money and profit can bewitch a person! With the exception of the righteous person, the true gentleman, and the sage, no one is able to avoid the temptation of money. . . .
. . . during the final years of the Yuan dynasty, there were many ambitious men competing for power who did not treasure their sons and daughters but prized jade and silk, coveted fine horses and beautiful clothes, relished drunken singing and unrestrained pleasure, and enjoyed separating people from their parents, wives, and children. I also lived in that chaotic period. How did I avoid such snares? I was able to do so because I valued my reputation and wanted to preserve my life. Therefore I did not dare to do these evil things. . . .
In order to protect my reputation and to preserve my life, I have done away with music, beautiful girls, and valuable objects. Those who love such things are usually "a success in the morning, a failure in the evening." Being aware of the fallacy of such behavior, I will not indulge such foolish fancies. It is not really that hard to do away with these tempting things.
Hongwu Emperor, Founder Ming Dynasty (1368-1398)
-The second paragraph could be used to support the claim that:

• A) Buddhism must be rejected as a corrupting influence.
• B) trade along the Silk Road should be banned.
• C) Chinese society regarded merchants as less honorable than peasants.
• D) Zheng He's voyages to the Indian Ocean were worthless and should be discontinued.

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Definitions:

Smith's Use

Likely refers to a specific framework, method, or application attributed to a person with the surname Smith, without further context this cannot be accurately defined.

Orientalism

A critical concept that discusses Western depictions and stereotyping of Eastern cultures and peoples as exotic, backward, or uncivilized.

Literary Representations

The depiction of subjects, themes, and ideologies through texts and literary works, often reflecting or challenging societal norms.

Orient

Traditionally referring to countries of the Eastern world, it is now often used in a broader context to indicate direction or alignment.