Food and Cuisine
This fermented condiment made from soybeans is essential in Japanese cooking, often used in soup.
What is miso?
This religion, founded in India, teaches the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
What is Buddhism?
This long wall was built over centuries to protect China's northern border.
What is the Great Wall of China?
Also known as the Lunar New Year, this is the most important holiday in China.
What is Chinese New Year (or Spring Festival)?
This is the most widely spoken language, as a first, or natively-spoken language, in the world.
What is Mandarin Chinese?
This Indian flatbread is typically cooked in a tandoor oven and brushed with ghee.
What is naan?
This Chinese philosophy, founded by Confucius, emphasizes respect for elders and social harmony.
What is Confucianism?
This white marble mausoleum in Agra, India, is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
What is the Taj Mahal?
This "Festival of Lights" is a major holiday in India.
What is Diwali?
This Japanese poetic form has three lines and a 5-7-5 syllable structure.
What is a haiku?
This Vietnamese soup features broth, rice noodles, herbs, and meat, and is considered the national dish.
What is pho?
This Japanese word for "the way of the gods" refers to the indigenous spirituality of Japan.
What is Shinto?
This ancient city in Jordan is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system.
What is Petra?
This Japanese festival in summer honors the spirits of ancestors.
What is Obon?
This system of writing, used in China and parts of Japan, uses characters to represent words or ideas.
What are logograms (or Chinese characters/Kanji)?
This Korean meal features a bowl of rice topped with vegetables, meat, an egg, and chili paste.
What is bibimbap?
This Indian religion, one of the world's oldest, is based on sacred texts called the Vedas.
What is Hinduism?
This massive temple complex in Cambodia was first a Hindu, then a Buddhist, temple.
What is Angkor Wat?
This Hindu festival of colors celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.
What is Holi?
This Persian poet wrote the "Masnavi," a six-volume poem often called the "Quran in Persian."
Who was Rumi?
This Korean side dish of fermented vegetables, most commonly napa cabbage, is known for its spicy and tangy flavor.
What is kimchi?
This Chinese philosophy, associated with Lao Tzu, emphasizes living in harmony with the "Way" or "Tao."
What is Taoism (or Daoism)?
This ancient stepped temple tower in Mesopotamia was built by the Sumerians.
What is a Ziggurat?
This Japanese ceremony involves the ritual preparation and serving of powdered green tea.
What is a Japanese tea ceremony (sado)?
This classical language of India is the primary liturgical language of Hinduism and the root of many modern North Indian languages.
What is Sanskrit?