Ancient Japan Unit

archipelago

Japan is a string of islands known as an -----------------.

4,000

Japan has over -------- small islands.

Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku

The four major islands are ----------, --------, ----------, and ----------.

gods

In Japanese mythology, the islands were created by the ------.

30,000

Japan was settled around --------- BCE by Paleolithic people who crossed from Siberia and Korea on dry land.

Jomon

The first Japanese society, called -------, arose around 12,000 years ago.

Yayoi, rice

Not until 300 BCE did ------ settlers become sedentary and learn to grow ----.

clans

Early Japanese society was organized into -----.
a group of close-knit, interrelated families/

influenced

As its neighbor China evolved, Japan was heavly ------------ by it.
*Buddism, Daoism, architecture, writing, furniture, and clothing.

dynasty

The Yamato was a powerful clan that became the first --------- in Japanese history.

Amaterasu

The Japanese established the emperor as all-powerful and connected the goddess

dominated

The major creation goddess in the Shinto religon that has ------------ Japan

Nara

Placed the Japanese capital at -----.

Shotoku

In late- Yamato period, Prince --------- made its first centralized government and constitution.

Confucious

He based the government on ---------- models

temples

Buddhist ---------- multiplied

Kyoto

Capital shifted from Nara to --------- during the Heian Period (794-1185 CE)

Fujiwara

Led by the ---------- family

aesthetics

The Fujiwara family were more concerned with ------------- than actual governing.

military

Warriors class rose and established --------- rule.

This led to the birth of feudal Japan

collapse

Feudal Japan began around 1100 CE, after ------------ of Heian period (794-1185 CE)

protection, land

Power now held by landowning class who hired private armies for ----------- in exchange for ---- to live and farm on.

feudalism

This way of life, called -----------, would dominate Japan for 800 years.

Emperor

------------ was at the top of feudalism, however had no real power.

puppet ruler

Called a -------- ------ since he was actually controlled by the more-powerful shogun

gods

Only here due to religous connection to -----.

Shogun, land

--------- was a military ruler; elite member of ruling family who owned and controlled ----

Kamakura

The first Shogun was the ----------- family in 1192 CE

Daimyos

----------- were hired by the Shogun and were given large areas to control.

nobles

The ------- of feudal Japan

Vassals

They were ----------, or a holder of land in exchange for loyalty

Samurai

Daimyos distributed land to ----------- to lead warrior armies.

Bushido Code

Samurai followed the ----------- ---- that stressed personal honor and loyalty to the daimyo

Ronin

A samurai without a master would be called a -----.

roam

Ronins would ------ around looking for work.

Seppuku

Personal honor was so great with samurai, that if they did something to lose it, the only way to regain honor was through ----------.

(ritualistic suicide)

taxes

Peasants, Merchants, and Artsians lived on the land, provided ------ to fund the empire, and served in the armies (led by Samurai) in the event of war.

ninja

The ----- developed out of the farmer class who learned stealth tactics to protect their land and property.

farm tools

The ninjas would use ordinary ----- ------- for protection since they went unnoticed.

Indigenous

Shintoism was ------------ faith of Japanese people.

holy book

No ----- -----, no defined set of prayers, or great concern with afterlife.

Kami

Based on a deep respect for nature and sacred spirits called -----

All things have -----: waterfalls, people, trees, wind.

ancestors

Represents fallen ---------- and the power of nature.

natural disasters

--------- ------------- caused because of bad kami infiltrating good kami

ceremonies

Rituals and ------------ performed to keep away bad kami

wash

Followers ---- hands and feet before entering Shinto shrine.

salt

Sumo wrestlers use ----- to purify ring before a match.

Zen

Although born in India and very popular in China, --- Buddism only type take hold in Japan

meditaton

Seeks enlightenment through ----------- but promotes strict discipline of mind and body to reach wisdom.

nature

Zen Buddhism is a compliment to the Shinto ideals of respect for forces of --------.

texts

Focuses on action and thought, not religous ------.

haiku

A ------- is a Japanese poem that evokes images over time

seventeen

A haiku only has ------------- syllables in three lines. 5-7-5

woodblock

-------------- prints became popular in 1600s

Noh

----- is a performing art where actors wear masks, props

ocean

Relied on surrounding ------- and seas for food.

sushi

------- began around the 8th century

rice

Wet environment allowed ---- to thrive

staples

Rice, fish, and vegetables ------- in Japanese diet

gentle art

Ju-jitsu means " ------- ------" and only subdues enemies through self-defense holds, throws, and pins.

armor

Developed as a way to defeat samurai since nothing could pierce --------

unbalance

Judo, similar to ju-jitsu, taught to ---------- the opponent

empty hands

Karate means "------ -------" and is much more offensive than other two

Legends

--------- tells us how sumo wrestling practiced by gods

good harvest

Believe matches originated as a Shinto ritual to pray for ------- ----------.

water, purify, Shinto, clap

Wrestlers sip sacred -------, throw salt to ------- ring, referees dress to depict -------- priest , wrestlers "-----" hands to draw attention to the gods.