Japan Vocabulary Study Guide

archipelago

Chain of islands.  Japan is one!  Gave Japan its main food source - fish!

Mount Fuji

Highest peak in Japan's volcanic mts.

Ring of Fire

Region of volcanoes and earthquakes (Tectonic Plates) that circle the Pacific Ocean.

Typhoon

Violent tropical storm.  Helped Japan defeat the Mongols.

Kamikaze

"Wind of the Gods" Name Japan gave the typhoon that hit during the Mongols' attack.

Jomon

First group of Japanese.  Made clay pottery, fished, hunted.

Yayoi

The 2nd (?) group of Japanese.  Wove cloth, worked bronze & iron, introduced farming rice.

Yamato

Defeated all the other clans to control Japan, introduced lots of tech.  Still in power!

Ainu

Indigenous people.  All living and nonliving things are sacred.

Fujiwara

Ruled the gov.  through marriage alliances.

Mongols

Took over China and tried to conquer Japan.  Ruled by the Khan's, terrifying warrior who fought on horseback and used bombs.

Clan

Group of people who have a common ancestor.

Kami

Holy being who represents a spirit of nature, sacred place, ancestor, or clan in Japanese culture.

Regent

Someone who governs a country in the name of the ruler who is unable to rule, often due to age.

Mission

represent their country, the first had a scholar, artisan, etc.

Consensus

Agreement among members of a group.

Sects

Subgroup of a religion.

Feudalism

Strict social system in which landowners granted land or other rewards in exchange for military service or other services.

Feudalism Chart

Feudalism

• emperor
• shogun
• daimyo
• samurai
• peasants, merchants, farmers, craft workers

Mantra

sacred word, chant or sound repeated to enhance one's spiritual growth

Shrines

A Japanese holy place for worship.

Animism

Idea that all natural things are alive & have their own spirits.

Martial Arts

Method used by Zen followers to learn body control.

Meditation

Method used by Zen followers for relaxation and inner peace.

Guilds

Formed by artisans to protect & increase profits.

Shogun

The commander of all the emperor's military forces.

Daimyo

Ruled lands with samurai, but loyal to emperor and shogun.

Samurai

A Japanese warrior who is highly trained; serves the daimyo.

Bushido

Code of the samurai

Era of the Warring States

Violent Period; daimyo constantly battled for land & power.

Gempei War

5 year revolt against the Taira, led by Minamoto.

Prince Shotoku

Regent for his aunt.  Created a constitution for Japan.

Murasaki Shikibu

Wrote The Tale of Genji, the world's first (?) novel.

Minamoto Yoritomo

Led the Gempei Wars.  Barbarian-Crushing Generalissimo.

Kublai Khan

Ruler of the Mongols.

Ashikaga

Made himself shogun.

Buddhism

Introduced harmony; Shotoku hoped it would unify Japan.

Confucianism

Many opposed this as it might offend the Shinto gods.

Constitution of 17 Articles

Set of guiding principles for people, rulers, & government.

Taika Reform

All land belongs to the emperor and everyone is his subject.

Shinto

Traditional religion in Japan, concerned more with daily life rather than the after life.

Heian

Japan's golden age when culture grew.

Shingon

"True word" Buddhism that focuses on secret rituals which appealed to the nobles.

Pure Land Buddhism

A merciful being achieved enlightenment, but chose to stay on Earth to help others.

Zen Buddhism

Central practice is meditation to reach enlightenment .

Tea Ceremony

Shows harmony, cleanliness, tranquility, and respect

Haiku

Japanese poetry 17-syllables, 5-7-5 format.

Kabuki

Form of drama aimed at farmers, merchants, and other common folk.

Mahayana School

Buddhist school of thought. All living beings have the potential to be enlightened.

Noh

Serious and Intense form of drama that appeals to the nobles and samurai.

Status of Women

Headed clans & ruled in early Japan. Confucianism & Buddhism changed this.

Calligraphy

The art of writing beautifully

Tanka

Japan's oldest form of poetry, unrhymed poem of five lines.