Japan vocabulary

Question 1

Shinto

Answer 1

First religion of Japan with the belief that all of nature has a kami or spirit.

Question 2

Clans

Answer 2

Extended families that live together.

Question 3

Regents

Answer 3

A person who rules a country for someone who is unable to rule alone.

Question 4

Court

Answer 4

A group of nobles who live near and advise a ruler.

Question 5

Zen Buddhism

Answer 5

A type of Buddhism that promotes self-discipline (self-guidance) and meditation or quiet thinking.

Question 6

Daimyo

Answer 6

Large landowner who hired samurai to protect their land.

Question 7

Samurai

Answer 7

Trained professional warriors who practiced Zen Buddhism.

Question 8

Figurehead

Answer 8

A leader who appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else.

Question 9

Shogun

Answer 9

A general who ruled Japan surpassing the power of the emperor.

Question 10

Bushido

Answer 10

The “way of the warrior” or warrior code of behavior.

Question 11

Kamikaze

Answer 11

The shinto spirit that the Japanese believed destroyed invading Mongol fleets.

Question 12

Feudalism

Answer 12

A system of protection in which land and people are protected by skilled warriors in exchange for a small portion of land.

Question 13

Archipielago

Answer 13

A group of islands.

Question 14

Isolation

Answer 14

To be apart from others. Japan was isolated from other countries due to its geography.

Question 15

Prince Shotoku

Answer 15

Prince who introduced many Chinese ideas such as language, religion, and ways to govern Japan.

Question 16

Heian period

Answer 16

The Era that is considered the golden age of prosperity in Japan.