Chinese Government
This was the name for the Chinese government's philosophy of social structure. It meant that children must obey their elders, wives must obey their husbands, and all must obey the emperor.
Confucianism
This was a religion that gained popularity due to its emphasis on leading a balanced life in harmony with nature.`
Daoism
This is the name for a spirit that ancient Japanese believed inhabited the world and could be found in natural objects, like mountains.
Kami
This was the name for a landlord in Japanese society. They were usually given land as a result of helping the ruling clan to gain power.
Daimyo
The Japanese believed that they had been saved from invasion by the Mongols (who had conquered much of the rest of Asia) due to this:
Kamikaze, the "divine wind" that blew a storm against the Mongol fleet, sinking numerous ships and saving Japan.
Although this religion was popular with some Chinese rulers (and many Chinese people), some rulers opposed it due to it not originating in China. It also did not pay as much attention to social structure as other Chinese beliefs.
Buddhism
Zheng He was sent across the Indian Ocean in order to do this:
Collect tribute from nations that had traded with China before, and establish new trade contacts with traders in the Islamic world (West Asia and Africa).
These Japanese rulers believed and promoted the idea that a sun goddess was their earliest ancestor, helping to justify their rule.
The Yamato clan
This was the name for the military commander of Japan, who controlled all the landlords by demanding taxes from them.
The Shogun
The Tale of Genji
The Yuan Dynasty in China was ruled by these foreigners. They put Chinese people at the bottom of the new social structure.
The Mongols/Kublai Khan
This philosophy combined ancient Chinese beliefs about social structure with new beliefs about the universe, nature, and a person's role in life.
Neo-Confucianism
Japanese culture borrowed these elements from China, thanks to the work of Prince Shotoku to unify the country.
Written language; Confucianism; Buddhism; cuisine.
These were soldiers, guards, and tax collectors for the landlords and Shogun of Japan.
The Samurai.
This type of dramatic performance involved the wearing of masks, and was intended for the upper-classes of Japanese society.
Noh theater.
This was required in order to become a scholar-official in the Chinese government.
The Chinese civil service exam.
These were the "Three Perfections" of Tang and Ming China.
Poetry, painting, and calligraphy.
Japanese neighbors included these countries:
China, Korea (and in present days, Russia).
Unlike European feudalism, in Japan it was common for peasants to:
Own their own land (they still had to pay taxes, of course).
This type of Japanese religion emphasized the clearing of one's mind of all distracting thoughts. Elaborate rock gardens, poetry, riddles called "koans", and other meditation techniques were used to accomplish this.
Zen Buddhism.
This is the word for the government officials in China who worked for the Emperor. In a way, they ruled the country on behalf of the Emperor, who could not do all the jobs they did.
The bureaucracy
Chinese literacy was renowned, due in part to this innovative, fast, and inexpensive way of making books.
Wood-block printing.
Some Japanese families, like the Fujiwara, gained power not through warfare but by:
Marrying their daughters to emperors, with family members standing in as "regents" when the emperor was too young.
Although this person was supposedly at the top of the Japanese feudal system, in reality it was Japan's military leaders who ruled the country.
The Emperor.
This was the type of Japanese drama made for the "masses" of common people.
Kabuki theater