Japanese Literature and Arts Quiz

Who wrote the world's first novel, The Tale of Genji?

• Empress Suiko

• Matsuo Basho

• Sei Shonagon

• Murasaki Shikibu

What form of poetry did Japanese writers develop with 17 syllables in three unrhymed lines?

• Limerick

• Epic

• Haiku

• Sonnet

Which form of drama emerged in the 1300s and often retold well-known folktales? Performances were on a simple wooden stage and actors wore wooden masks.

• Noh

• Kabuki

• Comedy

• Tragedy

What type of painting did Japanese artists adapt from China using bold strokes of black and white ink?

• Watercolor

• Oil painting

• Suiboku

• Sculpture

What type of garden re-created the Buddhist idea of paradise?

• Stroll gardens

• Dry-landscape gardens

• Tea gardens

• Paradise gardens

What does kabuki use in order to convey emotion?

• masks

• haiku

• makeup

• suiboku

What did Matsuo Basho abandon to write verses inspired by Buddhism?

• Warrior life

• Teaching

• Traveling

• Writing

What did Sei Shonagon write a collection of reportedly true stories about court life called?

• The Art of War

• The Odyssey

• The Pillow Book

• The Tale of Genji

What did the Japanese import from China to create a miniature tree that perfectly reflects its full-size relative?

• Calligraphy

• Kabuki

• Haiku

• Bonsai

Following the Shinto tradition of seeking harmony with nature, the Japanese became dedicated _____.

• samurai

• gardeners

• yogis

• Reiki masters