Ancient Japan/Korea

Question 1

Archipelago

Answer 1

Many scattered islands surrounded by an expanse of water.

Question 2

Shintoism
What does “shintoism” mean?
How did rulers practice it?
How did it influence daily life?

Answer 2

A religion concerned with daily life. It linked the Japanese to nature and their homeland. It means “the way of the spirit”. Rulers had to attend rituals as they believed it would ensure the well being of Japan. It contributed to the Japanese people’s love of nature. It taught people to live in simplicity, cleanliness, and good manner.

Question 3

Kami

Answer 3

The nature spirits.

Question 4

Zen Buddhism. What did it teach people? How did people practice it?

Answer 4

Buddhism was formed into small sects. One of those sects was Zen Buddhism. It taught that people could find inner peace through self control and simple ways of life. Followers disciplined their bodies through martial arts. They also practiced meditation. Meditation is where the person tries to clear their head of worldly thoughts and desires.

Question 5

Code of Bushido. What was it? What did it say? What does it translate to?

Answer 5

A strict code samurais lived by. It translated to “the way of the warrior” It demanded that samurais be loyal to their master. They must be brave, loyal, and honorable and must not be concerned with riches. Merchants were believed to lack honor. Men and women could be samurais.

Question 6

Samurai

Answer 6

A warrior who served a Japanese lord and lived by a strict code of loyalty.

Question 7

Feudalism

Answer 7

A system of service between the lord and the vassal who have sworn loyalty to the lord; political order; under feudalism, nobles governed and protected the people in return for service.

Question 8

Haiku

Answer 8

A poem that consisted of 3 lines and 17 syllables. They expressed mood or feeling.

Question 9

Vassal

Answer 9

A person under the protection of a lord who he has vowed loyalty; a low-ranking noble under the protection of a feudal lord. Many samurais become vassals of daimyos.

Question 10

Prince Shotoku
What did his constitution say?
What was its purpose?
What impacts did it have on his people?

Answer 10

Ruled Japan on behalf of his aunt. He wanted to give Japan a strong and well organized government. He created a constitution that stated that the emperor was an all powerful ruler and the Japanese must obey him. Specific rules based on Confucianism stated how the Japanese people should perform their duties. Prince Shotoku admired the Chinese civilization and had officials and students study Buddhism, Chinese art, philosophy, and medicine.

Question 11

What were the different social classes?

Answer 11

There were emperors, then shoguns, then daimyos, then samurais, then peasants/merchants/artisans.

Question 12

What is population density?
How did high vs low density affect Japan?
How did it affect Japanese culture and everyday life?

Answer 12

Population density is the measurement of people per square kilometer/mile (IDK which).

ANSWER IS INCOMPLETE
Streets are packed and masks are worn whenever someone is sick. Apartment style buildings vs. big houses because of the number of people.

Question 13

What role did Kami play on Shintoism?
How were they connected?

Answer 13

Shintoism was about nature and connecting people to nature. Kami was the nature spirits. Kami contributed to peoples love for nature.

Question 14

How did the Code of Bushido impact everyday life?

Answer 14

It set guidelines for how samurais had to live their lives.

Question 15

What did it mean when people said that emperors were more of figureheads?

Answer 15

Emperors were at the top, but Shoguns and Daimyos had the real power.

Question 16

Who/which family was the first to rule Japan?

Answer 16

The Yayio were the first people to come to Japan. They organized themselves into clans, each lead by a warrior chief.

Question 17

What types of beliefs did the shoguns believe in?

Answer 17

They adapted Buddhism to fit older, Shinto customs.

Question 18

What role did Emperors play?

Answer 18

Emperors had little political power despite having the highest social rank. They studied Buddhism, appointed landowners, journaled, and wrote poetry.

Question 19

What role did Shoguns play?

Answer 19

Shoguns set up and ran their own government. They were the leaders of japan and commanded military forces.They appointed land to Daimyos and were military dictators.

Question 20

What role did Daimyos play?

Answer 20

Daimyos were powerful lords who pledged to obey the emperor and shoguns. They governed the land they were rewarded and exchanged pieces of their land for service. To protect their land they hired samurais.

Question 21

What role did Samurais play?

Answer 21

Samurais were skilled warriors. Both men and women could be samurais. Samurais had to obey the Code of Bushido, which was a set of rules about loyalty, no emotion, and discipline. In order to keep their honor they had to obey these rules.

Question 22

What role did peasants/merchants/artisans play?

Answer 22

This social class was responsible for all of the hard labor and worked on the land of Daimyos. Artisans made armor, weapons, and tools while merchants traded pottery, textiles, paper, silk, dyes, pepper, books, and porcelain. This social class had to pay heavy taxes.

Question 23

How was Korea influenced by China and Japan?

Answer 23

Korea adopted China’s writing system, Buddhism, Confucianism, and modeled their government on China’s government.
They developed trade with Japan, which introduced elements of the Japanese culture.

Question 24

How did Korea impact other places in the world?

Answer 24

They created cave paintings and an astronomical observatory that still stand today. They also had many other achievements (discussed in a later question/flashcard)

Question 25

How was Japan influenced by other places in the world?

Answer 25

China influenced Japan’s government, philosophy, art, literature, science, and religion.
Shoguns also brought Korean pottery to Japan.

Question 26

What influence did Japan have on other place in the world?

Answer 26

Japan developed trade with Korea, which introduced elements of the Japanese culture to Korea.

Question 27

What were some Japanese achievements?
What were their roles?
Hint: There are 9

ONLY LOOK AT THIS NEXT PART WHEN ALL 9 ARE NAMED

What were their purposes?
Hint:
1. Korean Iron Printing Press
2. Turtle Ship
3. Hwacha and Singijeon
4. Korean Sundial
5. Cheugugi
6. Homi
7. Myeonje Baegab
8. Janggu (or seyogo)
9. Hangul

Answer 27

1. Korean Iron Printing Press (Overwhelming contribution to science and technology. Allowed multiple copies to be printed)
2. Turtle Ship
   (Battle ship with many advantages. Oars increased speed, cannon portal holes, more fighters, etc.)
3. Hwacha and Singijeon (Translates to fire chariot. Used during battle by Korean army)
4. Korean Sundial
   (Astronomical instrument. Clearly showed time of day and able to tell 24 hour periods, not just 12)
5. Cheugugi
   Rain gauge. Helped monitor precipitation)
6. Homi (used on the farm to help dig, cut, trench, and weed)
7. Myeonje Baegab (Bullet proof vest used during battle)
8. Janggu (or seyogo) (most widely used drum for traditional music)
9. Hangul (official writing system in Korea)

Question 28

What were the four main islands?

Answer 28

Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu

Question 29

What were some geographical challenges of Japan?
How were they overcome?

Answer 29

1. Tsunamis (Raised buildings)
2. Earthquakes (Special buildings)
3. Mountainous land means little land can be farmed (Cutting slits into mountains)

Question 30

Why was Japan isolated from China and Korea?

Answer 30

It was an island. The sea’s surrounding it kept it isolated from the rest of Asia.