Ancient Japan Vocabulary

What is Shinto?

• a group of nobles who live near and advise a ruler

• a system of protection in which land and people are protected by skilled warriors in exchange for a small portion of land

• first religion of Japan with the belief that all of nature has kami or spirit

• era considered the golden age of prosperity in Japan

What are clans?

• extended families that live together

• era considered the golden age of prosperity in Japan

• a group of nobles who live near and advise a ruler

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

What is a regent?

• a group of nobles who live near and advise a ruler

• a general who ruled Japan surpassing the power of the emperor

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

• a leader who appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else

What is a court?

• a group of nobles who live near and advise a ruler

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

• a leader who appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else

• a leader who appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else

What is Zen Buddhism?

• arge landowners who hired samurai to protect their land

• the “way of the warrior” or warrior code of behavior

• prince who introduced many Chinese ideas such as, language, religion, and ways to govern to Japan

• a type of Buddhism that promotes self-discipline (self-guidance) and meditation or quiet thinking

What are daimyo?

• arge landowners who hired samurai to protect their land

• trained professional warriors who practiced Zen Buddhism

• a leader who appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else

• To be apart from others. Japan was isolated from other countries due to its geography.

Who are samurai?

• trained professional warriors who practiced Zen Buddhism

• the “way of the warrior” or warrior code of behavior

• a leader who appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else

• prince who introduced many Chinese ideas such as, language, religion, and ways to govern to Japan

Who is a shogun?

• the Shinto spirit wind that the Japanese believed destroyed invading Mongol fleets

• To be apart from others. Japan was isolated from other countries due to its geography.

• a general who ruled Japan surpassing the power of the emperor

• large landowners who hired samurai to protect their land

What is a figurehead?

• a general who ruled Japan surpassing the power of the emperor

• a leader who appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else

• To be apart from others. Japan was isolated from other countries due to its geography.

• prince who introduced many Chinese ideas such as, language, religion, and ways to govern to Japan

What is bushido?

• a leader who appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else

• era considered the golden age of prosperity in Japan

• the “way of the warrior” or warrior code of behavior