Japanese History and Culture

This set of flashcards covers key concepts and details from Japanese history and culture, focusing on geography, religion, political reforms, and social structure.

How did Japan's geography affect its development as a society and culture?

Japan's isolation promoted a unique cultural identity and influenced economic and social developments.

What were the Taika Reforms?

A series of significant political, social, and economic changes implemented in Japan in 645 CE to centralize power and establish a government modeled after the Chinese system.

What is Shinto?

The first religion of Japan that believes all of nature has kami or spirit.

What is Zen Buddhism?

A type of Buddhism that promotes self-discipline.

What does Bushido mean?

The 'way of the Warrior' in Japan.

What is an archipelago?

A group of islands.

What is the Heian Period?

An era considered the golden age of prosperity in Japan.

Who were the Shoguns?

Generals who ruled Japan.

What are Samurai?

Trained professional warriors in the Japanese Feudal System.

What does Daimyo mean?

Large landowners in the Japanese Feudal System.

What is the role of a Regent?

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

What is Kamikaze?

A 'spirit wind' believed by the Japanese to protect them from Mongol invasion.

Describe the development of feudalism in Japan.

Feudalism in Japan developed from a combination of internal conflicts and weakening central authority during the Heian period (794-1185).

Compare feudalism in Japan and Europe. What are the similarities and differences?

Both were decentralized systems characterized by land ownership and hierarchical relationships but differed in social hierarchies, codes of conduct, and economic systems.

What is the relationship between samurai and Zen Buddhism?

Zen Buddhism's focus on discipline and acceptance of death resonated deeply with the samurai's way of life and code of conduct, known as Bushido.

What reforms did Shotoku implement in Japan?

Shotoku created ranks for officials to help maintain central power and wrote the Seventeen Article Constitution based on Confucian ideals.

What were the Taika Reforms and their impact?

The Taika Reforms redistributed lands from clans to all free men, establishing a Chinese-like imperial government and centralizing authority.

How did geography influence Japanese diet and society?

Japan's coastal access and the sea's offerings greatly influenced their diet, leading to a focus on fishing and agriculture in small villages.

What does the term 'kami' refer to in Shinto?

Kami refers to the spirits of all things in nature.