japannnnn Flashcards
What are the five common categories of Noh Drama?
Gods, warriors, beautiful women, ghosts, mad people, devils
What are the 7 levels of the Feudal Social Structure in order?
Emperor, shogun, daimyo, samurai, peasants, artisans, merchants
What are the 7 virtues of Bushido?
Compassion, politeness/respect, heroic courage, honor, honesty/sincerity, duty/loyalty, integrity
Proximity
Closeness in space
Archipelago
A chain of islands
Mount Fuji
Japan’s highest point and important symbol to the Japanese people.
The ring of fire
The region of volcanoes and earthquakes in the Pacific Ocean upon which Japan lies
Mainland
The major land area of a continent
Shinto
The native religion of Japan whose name means “way of the gods”.
Buddhism
Religion that spread from Korea to Japan around 552 CE that appealed to many Japanese people
Kami
Gods or spirits in the native Japanese religion. They were found in natural objects such as mountains or trees
The Yamato
The first Imperial family. They settled in the plains of central Honshu and claimed to be descendants of the “Sun” line.
Prince Shotoku
Young ruler who led in place of his aunt and united Japan beginning in 593 CE.
Regent
Someone who governs the country in the name of a ruler who is too young or otherwise unable to rule.
Constitution of Seventeen Articles
Japan’s first plan of government, introduced by Prince Shotoku with principles based on Confucian and Buddhist thought.
Taika Reform
New laws put in place in 646 CE that made everyone a subject of the emperor and converted clan heads into paid official jobs.
The Taiho Code
Law code put in place in 702 that officially made the leader of the Yamato clan an emperor, defined crimes, and established a system of punishments that were applied equally to everyone
Nara
The first capital of Japan was modeled after the Chinese capital at Changan. It became a center of culture and learning and had a large Buddhist influence.
Kyoto
The second capital of Japan. Emperor Kammu moved the capital to this city after the Buddhist monasteries became too powerful in the original capital.
Fujiwara
Family that took power from the Yamato clan beginning around 850 CE. They took power by having their daughters or sisters marry into the royal family and then having family members rule as regents after a son was born.
Minamoto Yorimoto
Leader of a powerful clan who became the most powerful man in Japan in 1185 CE after defeating the Taira clan in warfare.
Shogun
Title given to the supreme military commander. Served as the true leader of Japan during the time of clan warfare.
Daimyo
Local land-owning lords who had the responsibility of protecting the people who lived on their land.
Feudalism
The social system in which lords grant people land or rewards in exchange for military service.
Samurai
Highly trained warriors who served under local land-lords. Their name means “those who serve”.
Bushido
The strict code of conduct that guided the behavior of the samurai. Translates to “way of the warrior”.
Mongols
Group of invaders who took over China in the 1200’s CE. They threatened war with Japan if they did not offer tribute.
Kublai Khan
Leader of the Mongols who launched two failed invasions against Japan.
Armada
A large fleet of ships.
Typhoon
A violent tropical storm
Oda Nobunaga
The first of three strong leaders who brought the end of constant warfare. He greatly reduced the power of warlords.
Toyotomi Hideyoshi
The second of three strong leaders who brought the end of constant warfare. He unified Japan in 1590 but peace only came out of personal loyalty to him.
Tokugawa Ieyasu
The third of three strong leaders who brought the end of constant warfare. He moved the capital to Edo (now Tokyo) and ordered the daimyo to destroy their castles.
