Japan Chapter 19

Shinto

Traditional religion in Japan. Everything in nature has kami (nature spirits).

Prince Shotoku

Most influential in bringing Chinese ideas to Japan.

regent

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

Murasaki Shikibu

Great Japanese writer known for the first novel called The Tale of Genji

Noh drama

Simple wooden stage, grew out of Shinto rituals, actors wore masks, and moved to music.

Zen Buddhism

Goal is to reach inner peace. Popular with the warrior class because it promotes simplicity, understatement, and grace.

Daimyo

noble, landowners of Japan

Samurai

warrior class ("to serve")

Shogun

a general who ruled Japan in the emperor's name

figurehead

a person who appears to rule even though real power rests with someone else (the emperor)

bushido

A strict code of rules the samurai followed. Means "the way of the warrior". Promoted loyalty, bravery, and honor.

Kublai Kahn

Mongol leader whose men tried to attack Japan.

Tokugawa Ieyasu

His rise to power led to the Tokugawa shogunate- rule by shoguns of the Tokugawa family.

12%

Percentage of Japan that is farmable

Haiku

A Japanese form of poetry, consisting of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables

Mountains

This landform that is home to important Shinto gods

Archipelago

A group of islands

Korea

Country closest to Japan

Kami

a divine being in the Shinto religion.

Torii

A gatelike structure that marks a Shinto sacred place.

rice, work metal, and weave

What the Yayoi brought to Japan

clan

group of families with a common ancestor

hereditary monarchy

one rule passes from one member of a royal family to another

Buddhism

the religion that influenced Prince Shotoku the most

Constitution

A written plan of government introduced first in Japan by Prince Shotoku

Embassies

groups of official representatives from a country to visit another

Caliigraphy

art of beautiful handwriting

Matsuo Basho

greatest of all the Japanese haiku poets

Sei Shonagon

Author of The Pillow Book

Kabuki Drama

Performed on large stages, luxurious costumes, elaborate make-up

Suiboku

A form of Chinese ink painting that uses black and white ink.

Paradise Garden

Recreates the Buddhist ideas

Stroll Garden

Carefully designed garden with a long walking path

tea garden

Short path leading to a special house

Viewing Garden

dry landscapes that view the world in miniature

Meditation

Main purpose for viewing gardens. A calm state of mind.

Feudalism

A system of government based on landowners and vassals. Vassals usually serve their lord in exchange for land.

Warring States

1467-1568 period of war between daimyos

United States

Country who pressured Japan to reopen for foreign trade

Kamikaze

The 'divine wind,' which the Japanese credited with blowing Mongol invaders away from their shores in 1281.

Hokkaido

Japan's northernmost island.

Honshu

Japan's largest island

Shikoku

Smallest and least populated island.

Kyushu

the southernmost of the four main islands of Japan