Test Answers on Medieval Japan – Flashcards
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clan
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group of families related by blood or marriage
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constitution
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written plan of government
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animism
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belief that all natural things are alive and have their own spirits
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shrine
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holy place
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Jimmu
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Yamato leader who took the title "emperor of heaven"
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Shotuku
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Yamato prince who took charge of Japan on behalf of his aunt, Suiko.
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Regions: List, from north to south, the four major islands that make up Japan
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1) Hokkaido 2) Honshu 3) Shikoku 4) Kyushu
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Location: What body of water separates Japan from mainland Asia?
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Sea of Japan
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How did Japan's geography shape its society?
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1) Japan is separated from mainland Asia by the Sea of Japan. This caused the Japan to be intensely independent with its own religion, art, literature and government 2) Japan has only about 20% of fertile farmland. Many armies fought over the course of history for this farmland. 3) People lived along the coast and turned to the sea for a living. Seafood is big in the Japanese diet. 4) People traveled by sea along the coast for trade.
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Why do historians know about the rise of the Yamato?
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Yamato claimed they descended from the sun goddess and had the right to rule Japan. From Jimmu to Akihito...line of rulers not broken.
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What Chinese ideas influenced Prince Shotuku?
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1) Strong government - Bureaucracy with emperor having power to appoint all officials 2) Buddhist teachings 3) Ideas of Confucius 3) Art, medicine, philosophy
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How did the Japanese honor the kami?
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By worshiping at shrines or holy places
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What skills did the Yayoi practice that they may have learned from the Chinese and Koreans?
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1) Made pottery on a potter's wheel 2) Grew rice in paddies
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How did Shotuku strengthen Japan's government?
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1) created constitution 2) created a bureaucracy with emperor having power to appoint all officials
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Minamoto Yoritomo
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Was the commander of the Minamoto armies Emperor gave him title of Shogun - commander of all of the emperor's military forces
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Ashikaga Takauji
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Was a samurai general who made himself shogun after rebelling with the emperor
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samurai
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class of warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble in return for land
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shogun
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military ruler of feudal Japan
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daimayo
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powerful military lord in feudal Japan ruled their lands as independent kingdoms with local armies made up of samurai warriors
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vassal
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In feudalism, a noble who held land from and served a higher-ranking lord, and in return was given protection
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feudalism
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political system based on bonds of loyalty between lords and vassals
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Basic beliefs of the Shinto religion
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1. Believed all natural things are alive. Idea is called animism. 2. When ppl needed help, they asked nature spirits called "kami" to help them. 3. To honor "kami", they worshipped at shrines 4. They believed "kami" will only help if a person is pure. That's why they cleanse spiritual stains by bathing and other rituals before praying.
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Show the relationship between daimyo and samurai
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Daimyo > gave land to > Samurai > oath of loyalty to > Daimyo
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How did Buddhist ideas affect Japan's government?
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1) Govt officials and nobles were the first to accept the religion 2) Nobles who were not Buddhists opposed it. 3) Those who backed and opposed Buddhism fought for control of the government
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What was the samurai code of conduct called?
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Bushido
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Who was the shogun, and why was he important?
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Shogun was the commander of all of the emperor's military forces. He was important because a) he ran the military government b) kept the peace c) collected taxes
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What lessons was the mother of a samurai responsible for teaching her young son?
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1) Taught them Bushido 2) Taught to place bravery, honor and loyalty above all 3) Recite from memory brave feats of ancestors
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Why were shoguns unable to regain control of Japan after the Onin War?
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The daimyos resisted control and wanted to rule all of Japan, so the shoguns could not reunite Japan
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What was a shogun ? Who was the first shogun, and how did he gain his position of power?
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Shogun was commander of emperor's military forces Minamoto Yoritomo was the first shogun After winning Gempei war, emperor feared Minamoto family would try to replace Yamato family as rulers of Japan and gave Yoritomo title of Shogun
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What prevented the Mongol conquest of Japan?
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Pacific storms called typhoons smashed Mongol ships preventing the conquest of Japan
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Details about a samurai - their weapons, dress and beliefs.
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1. Weapons: Naginata (long blade against cavalry), Katana (long sword), Wakizashi (short sword) 2. Dress: Helmet, Armor made of scales of metal or leather brightly painted and laced together with silk or leather 3. Beliefs: samurai be devoted to his master, courageous, loyal, honorable
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Describe the events that led to the growth of Buddhism in Japan.
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Buddhism spread from Korea Government officials and nobles adopted it Soon spread among common people
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Why did the power of the Japanese emperors decline during the A.D. 800s?
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Weak emperors came to the throne Regents often ruled Nobles gained control of much of the land
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How was Japan's culture and society affected by war and conflict?
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1) Gempei war - caused two governments - emperor's and shogunate to be created 2) Onin war - reunification attempt failed 3) More taxes for peasants to pay
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Murasaki Shikibu
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Wrote the Tale of Genji...adventures of a Japanese prince
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sect
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a smaller group with distinct beliefs within a larger religious group
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martial arts
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sports, such as judo and karate, that involve combat and self-defense
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meditation
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practice of quiet reflection to clear the mind and find inner peace
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calligraphy
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beautiful handwriting; the art of producing beautiful handwriting
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tanka
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Japan's oldest form of poetry;an unrhymed poem of five lines
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guild
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medieval business group formed by craftspeople and merchants
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Role of women in the families of medieval Japan
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1. Expected to obey father, husband and son 2. During Prince Shotoku - many women ruled, could own property 3. During warrior society, upper class women lost freedoms 4. Farm families - women has greater say but toiled long hours in the fields. Also, cooked, spun/wove cloth and took care of kids 5. In towns, women helped family businesses and ran their homes
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How are martial arts and meditation connected to Zen Buddhism's principle of self-control?
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Control body through martial arts and Control mind through meditation
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Which groups in Japan benefited from the country's wealth?
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emperor, nobles, leading military officials
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How did the Shinto and Buddhist religions meet different needs in Japan?
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Shinto for daily life Buddhism to prepare for life to come
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What were Noh plays, and how were they performed?
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Plays used to teach Buddhist ideas Performed on a simple, bare stage Actors wore elaborate masks and robes Danced, gestured and chanted poetry to the music of flutes and drums
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Characteristics of Pure Land Buddhism and Zen Buddhism
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Pure Land Buddhism: 1. Happy Life after death 2. Having faith in Lord Amida will get you to paradise Zen Buddhism: 1. martial arts to control body 2. meditation to control mind
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How did religion influence Japan's culture? Which religion had the most influence? Why?
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Buddhism had the most influence Nobles and Government officials adopted it It led to the building of temples, produce paintings, and write poems and plays
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Why do think women lost some of their freedoms when Japan became a warrior society?
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Because warriors were primarily men
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What do Japanese novels, plays, and poems tell us about medieval Japan's society? What forms of writing reflect our society today?
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1) Poems: Their poems was unrhyming and 5 lines long called tanka Capture nature's beauty and sorrows of life 2) Novels: described fighting between clans 3) Plays: called Noh. Plays used to teach Buddhist ideas Performed on a simple, bare stage Actors wore elaborate masks and robes Danced, gestured and chanted poetry to the music of flutes and drums
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How did Shotoku use Chinese government and culture as a model?
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1) Sent officials to China to study Buddhist teachings, art, medicine and philosophy 2) Ordered construction of Buddhist temples and monasteries 3) Created bureaucracy and power to appoint government officials
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Describe the roles of shoguns.
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1) command emperor's military forces 2) appoint high ranking samurai to serve as advisers and run the provinces
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What happened when the shogun's power weakened?
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1) Revolts broke out 2) Country divided into small territories ruled by powerful military lords called daimyo
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How did the shogun period affect different groups of Japanese people?
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Emperors - became weaker Regents (Fujiwara) - became wealthy & powerful Nobles - gained more land Peasants - paid more taxes
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Why were the early Japanese people so independent?
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Japan is separated from mainland Asia by the Sea of Japan. This caused the Japan to be intensely independent with its own religion, art, literature and government
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What were the major differences between the reign of the shogun and the role of daimyo?
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Daimyo ruled lands like independent kingdoms Shogun ruled whole of Japan
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Which of the four major Japanese islands has been home to the country's major cities?
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1) Hokkaido 2) Honshu 3) Shikoku 4) Kyushu
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How did Japan's geography and location help it become a center of production and trade?
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Kyoto became center of trade and production Artisans and merchants settled there and formed guilds to protect and increase profits
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kofun
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Mounds where Yayoi buried their chiefs. Made of dirt, and buried were personal belongings such pottery, tools, weapons, and armor.
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kami
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nature spirits Japanese believe kami will help only if a person is pure.
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Shinto
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Religion called Shinto or "way of the spirits"
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Regent
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A regent is person who rules for an emperor who is too young or too sick to rule
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Bushido
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"way of the warrior" - a strict code of conduct for the Samurai The code demanded samurai be devoted to his master, courageous, loyal, honorable
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What was the Gempei war?
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War between two of the most powerful clans - Taira and Minamoto families
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What was the military government of the Shogun called?
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Shogunate
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kamikaze
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"divine wind" - in honor of spirits they believe saved their islands from Mongol troops
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Tale of Heike
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Fight between Taira and Minamoto clans
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novel
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long fictional story
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Tomoe
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name of a female samurai
