Topic 3.5: China's Influence on Japan

Why did Prince Shotoku send nobles to study in China?

• He wanted them to experience another culture.

• Chinese culture was popular, and he wanted nobles to learn about Chinese culture from the source rather than from Korea.

• He wanted them to experience another culture because they already knew everything about Korea.

• They wanted to conquer China so they sent nobles to learn about their society and infiltrate their government

What did Japanese nobles brings back from China?

• Chinese philosophy, technology, and art.

• The Chinese civil service system.

• The Dynastic Cycle.

• A new military to conquer the rest of Japan.

The Japanese were interested primarily in the cultural developments of which Chinese dynasty?

• Ming

• Song

• Tang

• Yuan

True or False, and explain. The Japanese emperor held absolute power and effectively created a central government.

• False - Despite strengthening the central government, setting up bureaucracy, and applying Chinese Law codes, the Emperor could not control clan territories.

• True - The Japanese emperor held absolute power because he set up a strong central government, created bureaucracies, and applied Chinese laws that everyone respected and followed.

• False - Despite strengthening the central central government, setting up bureaucracy, and applying Chinese Law codes, China controlled all of Japan.

• True - The Japanese emperor was a god and held absolute power that nobody dared challenge.

Which religions greatly influenced Japanese society and culture?

• Christianity

• Islam

• Buddhism and Confucianism

• Judaism

What is selective borrowing?

• The process of adopting certain customs and discarding others.

• The process of lending your own customs.

• The process of exchanging customs.

• The process the Japanese used to borrow money.

What impact did disregarding the Chinese civil service system have on Japanese society?

• The Japanese could move up the social latter.

• The Japanese were more powerful and unique.

• The Japanese maintained feudal order and tradition of inherited social status. Therefore, people inherited their positions based on family association rather than merit.

• The Japanese maintained feudal order and tradition of inherited social status. Therefore, they could move up the social latter.