Vocab I
Japan's traditional religion, celebrating the life and beauty of nature, was called:
Shinto
Which country influenced Japan's imperial government?
China
Which group of people was most responsible for the achievements of the Golden Age?
Aristocrats
Who did the samurai “serve”? (Give their specific titles.)
Their daimyo & the shogun.
What was the purpose of samurai meditation? Give two examples.
- connect to spirituality (Zen Buddhism)
- clear minds to be focused and calm
- emphasize effort and discipline
- zen gardens to symbolize nature
Japan is made up of a group of islands, making it an _____________________.
archipelago
From which empire did the Japanese borrow the idea of Buddhist shrines, AND what do the Japanese call them?
India (stupas) -> called them pagodas
A person’s social status was determined by _______________________ during the Golden Age.
Their birth family's rank
What was the samurai Code of Bushido and what did it emphasize?
"The Way of the Warrior"
Personal honor and respect, no fear of death, and loyalty to daimyo/shogun.
What is the name of the very first shogun?
Minamoto Yoritomo
What is the best title for the list: kenmari, rango, bugaku?
a) heian arts
b) heian entertainment
c) heian seasons on the calendar
d) heian athletic training
b) heian entertainment
kemari - kicking leather ball
bugaku - dancers wear masks and act out stories
rango - young women balance stones on fingers
What city was the capital Nara modeled after? What did they borrow?
Chang'an, China - city had grid-like layout, with lots of temples and monasteries near government buildings
Which group of people wrote most of the Golden Age literature?
Aristocratic women
Give an example of a military (bu) pursuit and an artistic cultural (bun) pursuit that the samurai were interested in.
Military: archery, swordsmanship, martial arts
Artistic Cultural: haiku writing, calligraphy, zen garden meditating, tea ceremonies
The art of beautiful handwriting is called? Spell it correctly:
Calligraphy
What is Yamato-e art? How did art change in the Heian period?
Japanese style paintings with thin lines and bright colors, usually depicting landscapes or daily activities.
Moved away from being religious art only.
Inspired by Chinese poetry, Japan adapted their own version called Tanka which later evolved to be known as haikus. How many lines and syllables per line should a haiku have?
3 lines, 5-7-5 syllables
What was the primary or major cause of the end of the Heian period?
The tensions between the rich and poor which lead to revolts and roving bandits. Civil war after.
What is seppuku and when might it occur?
Ritual suicide - stomach slash.
Might occur when there is dishonor in the family. Or when their daimyo dies. Any act of disloyalty.
How did the Fujiwara Family (Fujiwara Michinaga) gain power in the Golden Age?
- married his daughters into the royal family
- advised the emperor
Why is the Tale of Genji important?
It is considered to be the world's first novel.
Who was Prince Shotoku and why was he an important figure during the era of cultural influences?
He was a ruling regent who was interested in other cultures and brought over a lot of ideas to Japan.
Describe 3 characteristics of what you would look like if you were a Heian aristocrat.
long hair, powdered face, blackened teeth, beards, lots of perfume, layered silk clothing, drawn eyebrows, etc.
Describe the change in women's status throughout the samurai era.
At first (12th century), they had considerable status and could fight in battles. Later on (17th century), they were expected to obey husbands and sons.
For how many years did the Genpei Civil War last, between the two periods? (Timeline Challenge)
5 years