February 2022

Question 1

What does Nippon mean?

Answer 1

“Land of the Rising Sun”

Question 2

What 3 geographic elements most influence Japanese society?

Answer 2

islands, mountains, and wet climate

Question 3

What are 3 effects of Japan being an archipelago?

Answer 3

fish diet, settled late with an imported culture, and safe from invasion

Question 4

What are 2 effects of Japan being part of the “Pacific Ring Of Fire?”

Answer 4

earthquakes and volcanoes

Question 5

What are 2 effects of Japan’s wet climate?

Answer 5

culturally valued nature and beauty and great for growing rice

Question 6

What was Japan’s traditional religion and what was it based?

Answer 6

Shinto based on nature, kami (spirits), and ancestor worship

Question 7

From whom was the emperor descended and how did his power change over time?

Answer 7

from the sun goddess; he remained a religious leader with no real political power

Question 8

Who was Prince Shotoku?

Answer 8

6th century regent to Empress Suiko who was ga-ga over all things Chinese

Question 9

By the 9th century what was Japan’s feeling about China?

Answer 9

that the Chinese had nothing good to offer so they cut off contact

Question 10

Who were the Fujiwara?

Answer 10

Clan that controlled the emperor by marrying into the royal family

Question 11

What was Heian-Kyo?

Answer 11

The capital city, later called Kyoto

Question 12

What is the Heian-Kyo era known for?

Answer 12

Japan’s golden age - culture centered on manners, rank, and beauty

Question 13

What cultural elements were developed during the Heian-Kyo period?

Answer 13

Yamato-e - painting style
Tanka - poetry style of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables
Women Authors - Murasaki Shikibu / Sei Shonagon

Question 14

What led to the end of the Heian era?

Answer 14

The Taira and Minamoto clans overthrew the Fujiwara, but Heian culture still continued

Question 15

What elements make up written Japanese?

Answer 15

Kanji - “Chinese writing” full words characters

Kana - syllable sounds

Question 16

How did Buddhism come to Japan?

Answer 16

The King of Korea sent monks and a Buddha statue to the emperor

Question 17

What was Amida Buddhism based on?

Answer 17

Faith - prayer to a deity-like bodhisattva to get you into the Western Paradise

Question 18

Why was Zen Buddhism popular with samurai?

Answer 18

Based on meditation and focused on inner strength while helping them overcome their fear in battle

Question 19

What is the samurai code of conduct called?

Answer 19

Bushido - the “Way of the Warrior”

Question 20

Who ruled Japan between the 12th and 16th centuries?

Answer 20

Daimyo (land owning lords) occasionally under the control of the shogun (military leader)

Question 21

What events challenged Japan’s feeling of security?

Answer 21

The two invasion attempts by Kublai Khan

Question 22

How were they able to defeat the Mongols?

Answer 22

Kamikaze (divine winds) helped destroy the ships and samurai were able to fend of soldiers that came ashore.

Question 23

What was the outcome of the wars against China?

Answer 23

Though the Japanese gained a sense of unity and national superiority, debt bankrupted the government and the shogunate collapsed

Question 24

When did Japan become reunited again?

Answer 24

In 1603 under Tokugawa Ieyasu

Question 25

What gave Tokugawa Ieyasu the advantage over his rivals?

Answer 25

Guns, though they did consider that cheating

Question 26

What did the Tokugawa Shogunate do to keep Japanese unity?

Answer 26

Banned foreigners and guns, redefined the samurai culture, and executed anyone who followed foreign ways (like Christianity)

Question 27

When did the Tokugawa Shogunate end?

Answer 27

In 1868 under the pressure of foreign trade and technological inferiority

Question 28

What was a woman’s place during the feudal period and later?

Answer 28

Though they could be samurai, they were considered inferior to men

Question 29

What act was expected of samurai to maintain his honor?

Answer 29

To commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for his lord

Question 30

What simple form of poetry was important to samurai?

Answer 30

A haiku, composed to be spoken just before their death

Question 31

What is the different of Noh and Kaubki Theatre?

Answer 31

Noh - mythical themes, wore masks

Kabuki - everyday themes, wore heavy makeup

Question 32

What did high eyebrows and darkened teeth signify?

Answer 32

Innocence and purity to Heian nobles