Test your basic knowledge |

Japanese Culture

Subject : culture

Instructions:

Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. kotodama is reflected by wishing for...
safe journey - return - long imperial reign
Izanami and Izanagi give birth to the Japanese islands and then Amaterasu is born from Izanagi's ablutions
sense of the mysterious and sublime
large tombs - horses - contact with Korea - government and religion joined

2. Shoen
Sun Goddess (Amaterasu) in the inner shrine and Foodstuffs God (Toyouke) in the outer shrine
tax free estates that grew in number during the Heian period
agriculture and wet-rice cultivation - bronze and iron tools - weaving - pottery
Japanese style painting with outlines and color pigments

3. nori
Mizoguchi Kenji
1. Life is full of sorrow 2. the cause of this sorrow is desire 3. the only way to break this cycle is to free oneself from desire 4. the way to accomplish this is through the eightfold pasth
Served as regent - advocate of Buddhism/founded Horyuji Temple - constitution of 17 articles - Hagiography
divine decrees- laws

4. mono no aware
symbol used to write a morpheme
melancholy at the transience of things
Kojiki and Nihon Shoki
Death - childbirth - blood

5. yumiya no narai
amusing
Gold pavilion in Kyoto constructed by Yoshimitsu
Manyoshu
the way of the bow and arrow

6. Creation myth

7. 2 Archaeological periods
government and worshipping
King of Paekche
Theater performed by male actors including simple musical accompaniment in the form of drums - flutes - and chanting
Jomon - Yayoi

8. Who were the early adopters of Buddhism?
inflections and function words
Soga Family
modeled after Tang China that sought to limit the increasing power of influential families
Sun Goddess (Amaterasu) in the inner shrine and Foodstuffs God (Toyouke) in the outer shrine

9. Ise Shrine is dedicated to
essence of the spirit of the poems is that of makoto sincerity
Sun Goddess (Amaterasu) in the inner shrine and Foodstuffs God (Toyouke) in the outer shrine
court poet and most beloved poet of the anthology
sympathy for the lieutenant

10. hagiography
Zen ink brush painting introduced to Japan through Southern Song
the study of saints/holy peoples/figures
Izanami and Izanagi give birth to the Japanese islands and then Amaterasu is born from Izanagi's ablutions
animism

11. Shobogenzo
1. Life is full of sorrow 2. the cause of this sorrow is desire 3. the only way to break this cycle is to free oneself from desire 4. the way to accomplish this is through the eightfold pasth
attendant stand-ins within Keyhole tombs
Mizoguchi Kenji
Philosophical discourses designed to train the mind escape conventional modes of thought

12. Ugetsu setting
divine decrees- laws
followed Chinese model asserting the ruler as supreme authority of the land - did not adopt the concept of mandate of heaven - stipulated Confucian ideals
Warring States period
Animals that were associated with possessing humans/being demons

13. two new major sects of Buddhism during the Kamakura period
Pure Land and Zen
the way of the bow and arrow
attendant stand-ins within Keyhole tombs
poet of Korean ancestry and wrote social criticism of China

14. Heian period associated with a fear of
pollution
attendant stand-ins within Keyhole tombs
using Chinese characters to represent Japanese sounds/words
Jomon - Yayoi

15. Why is the Ise Shrine rebuilt every 20 years?
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
1338-1573 following the collapse of the Kamakura Shogunate
decay of materials - affirmation of life and death cycles - expression of authority of the state
valiant warrior and romantic hero

16. yamato-e
Japanese style painting with outlines and color pigments
Pure Land and Zen
pollution
Literate Elites- rulers - powerful clans; intermediate- specialist producers; peasants

17. okashi
Death - childbirth - blood
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
followed Chinese model asserting the ruler as supreme authority of the land - did not adopt the concept of mandate of heaven - stipulated Confucian ideals
amusing

18. Shinto myth texts
Zen ink brush painting introduced to Japan through Southern Song
Izanami and Izanagi give birth to the Japanese islands and then Amaterasu is born from Izanagi's ablutions
Kojiki and Nihon Shoki
safe journey - return - long imperial reign

19. Heian Period Aesthetics writing/art styles
refined elegance
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Okashi - Miyabi - mono no aware - e-maki - Yamato-e
1338-1573 following the collapse of the Kamakura Shogunate

20. Onin War
Civil war during the Ashikaga period caused by unrest due to loss of control of shoen estates with local constables seizing control
Death - childbirth - blood
divine decrees- laws
Izanami and Izanagi give birth to the Japanese islands and then Amaterasu is born from Izanagi's ablutions

21. Ahikaga period
Okuninushi- son of Susano-o the Sun Goddess' brother
1338-1573 following the collapse of the Kamakura Shogunate
tax free estates that grew in number during the Heian period
poet of Korean ancestry and wrote social criticism of China

22. Kamakura Period
two attempts by Kublai Khan and the Mongols to invade Japan
court poet and most beloved poet of the anthology
Civil war during the Ashikaga period caused by unrest due to loss of control of shoen estates with local constables seizing control
agriculture and wet-rice cultivation - bronze and iron tools - weaving - pottery

23. Pure Land Buddhism

24. Who introduced Buddhism
Animals that were associated with possessing humans/being demons
Non persons
decay of materials - affirmation of life and death cycles - expression of authority of the state
King of Paekche

25. Concepts in the Nihon Ryoiki
Sun Goddess (Amaterasu) in the inner shrine and Foodstuffs God (Toyouke) in the outer shrine
Rokudo (the six paths) - infiltration by bodhisattvas Kanon and Jizo - transcendence
Gold pavilion in Kyoto constructed by Yoshimitsu
Haunts - Humor - Buddhism/Supernatural - healing and spirituality

26. minority peoples within Japan
Warring States period
animism
Ainu (Hokkaido) - Okinawans (Okinawa) - Koreans
Okuninushi- son of Susano-o the Sun Goddess' brother

27. matsuri
Japanese style painting with outlines and color pigments
government and worshipping
using Chinese characters to represent Japanese sounds/words
amusing

28. Ahikaga Yoshimitsu
Civil war during the Ashikaga period caused by unrest due to loss of control of shoen estates with local constables seizing control
3rd Shogun
Gold pavilion in Kyoto constructed by Yoshimitsu
8th shogun

29. Kakinomoto Hitormaro
amusing
tax free estates that grew in number during the Heian period
Those dealing in death (executioners - butchers - leathermakers etc)
court poet and most beloved poet of the anthology

30. Yoshitsune
valiant warrior and romantic hero
followed Chinese model asserting the ruler as supreme authority of the land - did not adopt the concept of mandate of heaven - stipulated Confucian ideals
Izanami and Izanagi give birth to the Japanese islands and then Amaterasu is born from Izanagi's ablutions
Animals that were associated with possessing humans/being demons

31. miyabi
possessors of magic items - supernatural duel-form monk figures who are fond of testing the mettle of Buddhist priests
refined elegance
Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Kojiki and Nihon Shoki

32. hogan biiji
amusing
1. Life is full of sorrow 2. the cause of this sorrow is desire 3. the only way to break this cycle is to free oneself from desire 4. the way to accomplish this is through the eightfold pasth
1338-1573 following the collapse of the Kamakura Shogunate
sympathy for the lieutenant

33. Taiho Code
pollution
modeled after Tang China that sought to limit the increasing power of influential families
Philosophical discourses designed to train the mind escape conventional modes of thought
Rokudo (the six paths) - infiltration by bodhisattvas Kanon and Jizo - transcendence

34. 4 Main islands (north -> south)
decay of materials - affirmation of life and death cycles - expression of authority of the state
Hokkaido - Honshu - Shikoku - Kyushu
3rd Shogun
Jomon - Yayoi

35. Prince Shotoku accomplisments
Manyoshu
Created gardens as contemplative spaces
inflections and function words
Served as regent - advocate of Buddhism/founded Horyuji Temple - constitution of 17 articles - Hagiography

36. eta
Civil war during the Ashikaga period caused by unrest due to loss of control of shoen estates with local constables seizing control
Those dealing in death (executioners - butchers - leathermakers etc)
Mizoguchi Kenji
reliance on Amida - salvation available for all - 'Essentials of Salvation'

37. Innovations of the Yayoi period
tells the story of the late Heian civil war between the Taira/Heiki clan and the Minamoto/Genji clan
agriculture and wet-rice cultivation - bronze and iron tools - weaving - pottery
general and first shogun of Japan
Founded by Dogen following the study of Chan Buddhism in China - breaking down conventional modes of perception and reasoning - Heart Sutra

38. foxes
Founded by Dogen following the study of Chan Buddhism in China - breaking down conventional modes of perception and reasoning - Heart Sutra
Animals that were associated with possessing humans/being demons
Soga Family
modeled after Tang China that sought to limit the increasing power of influential families

39. hinin
Non persons
3rd Shogun
no
sense of the mysterious and sublime

40. Tale of the Heiki
tells the story of the late Heian civil war between the Taira/Heiki clan and the Minamoto/Genji clan
Animals that were associated with possessing humans/being demons
Civil war during the Ashikaga period caused by unrest due to loss of control of shoen estates with local constables seizing control
Haunts - Humor - Buddhism/Supernatural - healing and spirituality

41. What is the Constitution of 17 Articles?
followed Chinese model asserting the ruler as supreme authority of the land - did not adopt the concept of mandate of heaven - stipulated Confucian ideals
Japanese style painting with outlines and color pigments
set epithets that heighten the resonance of certain images by linking them to previous poems and contexts
decline of Buddhist law leading to the end of the world

42. Ahikaga Takauji
Created gardens as contemplative spaces
Izanami and Izanagi give birth to the Japanese islands and then Amaterasu is born from Izanagi's ablutions
Garden maker who Takauji based his style off - used stone and rock to represent vast landscapes
general and first shogun of Japan

43. What are the classifications of Gellner's model of culture in agrarian societies?
Hokkaido - Honshu - Shikoku - Kyushu
Literate Elites- rulers - powerful clans; intermediate- specialist producers; peasants
Gold pavilion in Kyoto constructed by Yoshimitsu
Those dealing in death (executioners - butchers - leathermakers etc)

44. Shinto is a form of
Okashi - Miyabi - mono no aware - e-maki - Yamato-e
animism
3rd Shogun
pollution

45. Yoritomo
Japanese style painting with outlines and color pigments
refined elegance
compiler of the Manyoshu
general and first shogun of Japan

46. mappo
decline of Buddhist law leading to the end of the world
Manyoshu
Death - childbirth - blood
agriculture and wet-rice cultivation - bronze and iron tools - weaving - pottery

47. Izumo shrine is dedicated to

48. Ashikaga Yoshimassa
8th shogun
Garden maker who Takauji based his style off - used stone and rock to represent vast landscapes
tells the story of the late Heian civil war between the Taira/Heiki clan and the Minamoto/Genji clan
foreign words - mimetic words - and scientific words

49. innovations of Yamato Period
using Chinese characters to represent Japanese sounds/words
large tombs - horses - contact with Korea - government and religion joined
1338-1573 following the collapse of the Kamakura Shogunate
Izanami and Izanagi give birth to the Japanese islands and then Amaterasu is born from Izanagi's ablutions

50. makura kotoba
tells the story of the late Heian civil war between the Taira/Heiki clan and the Minamoto/Genji clan
set epithets that heighten the resonance of certain images by linking them to previous poems and contexts
Okashi - Miyabi - mono no aware - e-maki - Yamato-e
Zen ink brush painting introduced to Japan through Southern Song