Feudal Japan Assessment

1. Which phrase best describes the geography of Japan?

• a) a finger of land extending east from the Korean border
• b) four large and thousands of small islands located east of Korea
• c) thousands of islands located southeast of Europe
• d) a desert country with few seacoasts

2. Why did the people of Japan grant their emperor so much honor and power?

• a) They believed the emperor was related to the sun goddess.
• b) They were threatened with death if they did not honor the emperor.
• c) The emperor had been elected to his position by popular vote.
• d) The emperor was the wisest man in the realm.

3. Which of the following was not something Japan borrowed from Korea or China?

• a) the tea ceremony
• b) a system of writing
• c) the Shinto religion
• d) the Buddhist religion

4. The Shinto religion focuses on

• a) its founder.
• b) rules that people must follow.
• c) Christian beliefs.
• d) gentle and fierce aspects of nature.

5. According to Buddha, how does a person achieve peace?

• a) Honor the emperor.
• b) Overcome feelings of desire.
• c) Obey the laws of the land.
• d) Give money to the monks.

6. What is the “Eightfold Path”?

• a) eight laws passed by the first emperor of Japan
• b) eight steps a Buddhist takes to achieve peace and enlightenment
• c) eight roads leading to the emperor’s castle
• d) eight directions on Japanese maps135 TEACHER RESOURCES

7. What was a samurai’s job?

• a) fighting wars
• b) selling goods
• c) growing crops
• d) writing poetry

8. How did a Japanese man become a samurai?

• a) He was selected by the emperor.
• b) He inherited the position.
• c) He was chosen by a council of warriors.
• d) He killed an enemy.

9. Which role in feudal Europe was most similar to the role of a samurai in feudal Japan?

• a) serf
• b) king
• c) lord
• d) knight

10. What was Bushido?

• a) a Japanese style of painting
• b) a code of values for warriors
• c) a religious shrine
• d) a social class in feudal society