Social Classes
General Knowledge
Events
Time Periods
Culture & Religion
100
Identify FOUR social classes within Japan
Emperor / Shogun / Daimyo / Peasants / Artisans & Craftsman / Merchants / Hinin & Eta & Ronin
100
What is the term for a region made up of many islands? Merit Stamp: How many main islands does Japan have?
Archipelago Merit: 4
100
Who was the first shogun within the Tokugawa Shogunate?
Tokugawa Ieyasu
100
What is the first time period we studied within Japan Under the Shoguns? Merit stamp: Why was the time period called named that way?
Nara Imperial court establishes capital at Nara.
100
Name the main Japanese religion.
Shinto
200
Name the three social groups in the warrior class.
Shogun, Daimyo, Samurai
200
What is seppuku?
Ritual suicide that a samurai would have to commit if he broke the bushido code.
200
Who attempted to invade Japan twice?
Mongols
200
Name the first Shogunate within Shogunate Japan Merit: What was the name of the specific shogun?
Kamakura shogunate Merit: Minamoto no Yorimoto
200
Explain what Kami are.
Kami are spirits of nature.
300
What is the meaning of the word 'eta', and what jobs did eta do? Merit: How were eta different to hinin?
Great filth. Leatherwork / Burials / Butchers Merit: Hinin were 'non-persons' who had less useful roles such as acting or scavenging
300
Why did the Tokugawa Shoguns try to isolate Japan?
To prevent external influences from destabilising the government.
300
Explain the forestry issues that the Tokugawa Shoguns faced.
Excessive lumber use from: - Building houses/castles - Poor soil quality from deforestation - Use of wood as a fuel for fires - Increased population
300
Explain the term sakoku.
Closed Borders / The policy of isolation from western cultural influence.
300
What is the religious significance of torii and where might they be found?
Torii symbolise a gateway between the spirit world and the physical world, and were often found in areas of great natural beauty.
400
Explain why the perceptions of Japanese peasants did not match the reality of their lives.
Peasants were considered important because they produced food that was essential for Japanese society. However their lives were difficult, filled with manual labour, and they lived in a state of near-poverty.
400
Why were Dutch traders permitted to trade with Japan during the sakoku period but not Portugese traders?
Portugese traders tried to spread religion while trading, whereas the Dutch traders just focused on trade.
400
What important event happened on 8 July 1853
Commodore Matthew Perry entered Edo Bay with four US Naval ships
400
Explain TWO reasons why the Tokugawa Shogunate fell.
- Opium Wars - Treaty of Kanagawa (Signed treaty with Matthew Perry) - Failure of Shogun to defend Japan from US (Matthew Perry) - Failure of Japan to modernise - Increasing strength of provincial Daimyo who opposed the Shogun and sakoku
400
Briefly explain Buddhism and identify the country that it comes from.
Buddhism is essentially the pursuit of nirvana, a perfect state of being where there is no need to be reborn again. Zen Buddhism was the main form practiced in Japan, and focused on meditation and self-discipline. It came from China.
500
How did the Tokugawa Shoguns try to restrict the growth and power of the daimyo?
Daimyo: - Could not marry without the shogun's approval - Could not build new castles or repair existing ones without approval - Limits on samurai numbers - Many bridges were destroyed, travel was restricted - Had to reside in Edo every second year at their own expense
500
In 1636 Tokugawa Iemitsu issued the closure edict, restricting Japanese contact with the outside world. Describe TWO parts of the closure edict.
No Japanese ships could go to foreign countries No Japanese living overseas could return Any Christians found would be investigated Informers who 'dobbed in' Christians would be rewarded Foreign ships were guarded in specific areas Ships were searched for Christian priests Trade restricted to certain cities Only scientific/technical books/texts were allowed into Japan
500
What were the demands that Commodore Perry made upon the Tokugawa Shogun?
- Japan should allow free trade with the US - Shipwrecked sailors should be looked after - American steamships could refuel and restock in Japan
500
During the Meiji Restoration, in what ways did Japan modernise?
- Took technological advancements from the west - New communications systems (telegraph and postal services) - New railways - Increased coal production - Military and Naval increases (based on Prussian and British models)
500
Explain the influence of Confucianism on Japanese society.
Strict behavioural expectations in a class-based system, rigid honour code. Can be expanded upon.
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