Basics about Japan

Question 1

japans name in Japanese is

Answer 1

ri ben (land of the rising sun) already there is an apparent sense of pride

Question 2

where does japan have a lot of its influence from

Answer 2

china

Question 3

size of japan

Answer 3

= to size of US length of east coast

Question 4

population

Answer 4

it is very dense population
-small homes are a big thing
-activities are expensive like golf since there is less space for it

Question 5

japans land terrain

Answer 5

very mountainous

Question 6

japans maritime orientation

Answer 6

close to ocean, no place is more than 80km from ocean

Question 7

japans climate

Answer 7

year round farming
-warm weather and lots of rain

Question 8

japans natural resources

Answer 8

japan does not have a lot of antural resources, so they have to import more. Japans lifeline is trade.

Question 9

what was one reason japan desired to imperalize

Answer 9

so they can get more resources “because we have few resources we are entitled to expand”

Question 10

shinto

Answer 10

Indigenous Japanese religion comes from Japan.

-focuses on clean vs unclean

Question 11

what does shinto mean

Answer 11

way of the gods

Question 12

qualities of shinto

Answer 12

-nature worshipping
-ritual cleanliness
-lack moral connotation
-relationship to Japanese nationalism

Question 13

two main aspects of shintoism

Answer 13

nature-worshipping and ritual cleanliness

Question 14

importance of ritual cleanliness

Answer 14

humans are dirty so clean yourself for nature as to not defile it

Question 15

why is there lack of moral connotation in Shinto

Answer 15

clean vs unclean instead of good vs bads

Question 16

nationalism

Answer 16

you think your country is best so you do what it takes to show this and spread it

Question 17

another reason japanese wanted to colonize

Answer 17

japanese are clean compared to other nations. if you are clean you are pure (part of ritual cleanliness)

Question 18

which clan emerged as powerful in 500 CE

Answer 18

Yamoto clan

Question 19

what do many japanese people refer to themselves as

Answer 19

yamoto clan/yamato race

Question 20

from which clan came the first japanese emperor

Answer 20

yamato clan

Question 21

what happened when yamato clan beat other clans in Japan

Answer 21

they claimed power over all Japan. They won because of their miliatry might but they say they ar descendents of sun goddessess. They had spiritual and military might.

Question 22

what did the Japanese believe until 1954

Answer 22

that there emperror was a God (fight for God) which is why they committed a lot of war crimes

Question 23

buddhism in Japan

Answer 23

introduced in 500 Ce

became influential in supporting Japanese bureaucracy for consistency and helped rulers govern by preaching the right conduct

Question 24

what purpose did introduction of buddhism and confucianism serve

Answer 24

served purpose to Japanese emperor

Question 25

who were the elites in japan for a long time

Answer 25

samurai

Question 26

what was the origin of the samurai class

Answer 26

-big families in kyoto and absentee landlordism
-need for country (rural) warriors
-factional wars between the big families

Question 27

purpose of having palace and capital in kyoto

Answer 27

magnet for rich families

Question 28

what did having rich families in kyoto cause

Answer 28

a sent landlordism. they needed good warriors to protect them to ensure good crop and collect taxes, etc
-the warriors needed to be strong and have good sword skills and ride horses

Question 29

characteristics of samurai

Answer 29

loyal, brave, strong and good with horses/swords

Question 30

what is kamakura shogunate

Answer 30

kamakura is the name of the place
-government of shogun
-shogun are top generals that oversee men and fighting. Samurai are foot warriors

Question 31

status of amurais

Answer 31

class gives them “status”> gives them political power. samurai were only ones who can hold/use swords. called by last names, could send kids to school. they were privleged

Question 32

who made the real calls about japan: shogun or emperor

Answer 32

they had two capitals and shogun made real calls

Question 33

bakufu and nature of the shogunate government

Answer 33

bakufu was used interchangeably with shogunate
-tent government: means it was mobile and impermanent

Question 34

bushido

Answer 34

way of samurai/code of conduct. need to be capable of killing rivals but they also would not hesitate killing themselves in honor of those around them. wanted to convey to others they were not scared to die

Question 35

sappuku

Answer 35

means ritual suicide

Question 36

what are contradictory elements of the samurai

Answer 36

militant brutality vs delicacy and refinment

Question 37

what were samurai connected to

Answer 37

nature, delicacy, refinmnet, and education.

Question 38

what were samurai well versed in

Answer 38

confucian teaching

Question 39

who introduced western weapons to japan

Answer 39

samurai from dutch. guns did not play a huge role until 19th century

Question 40

what did samurai study and help bridge with this knowledge

Answer 40

studied western medicine and industrialization and helped with bridging east and west, unlike china who was more resistant to change

Question 41

summarize samurais

Answer 41

they were warriors but were prideful of craft and values. reason they lasted so long was mostly because of Confucian values and education. samurai also meditate. Nature is permanent and humans are not so acceptable you will die one day to reach nirvana (Buddhism)