Ancient Japan

The picture below shows a Japanese lady. What social class is represented in the picture?

• A. merchants

• B. aristocrats

• C. peasants

• D. daimyo

The Venn diagram below shows two religions. Which statement completes the diagram?

• A. hope in afterlife

• B. study of sacred book

• C. worship of ancestors

• D. optimism for human nature

Which two statements most accurately reflects a negative effect of Japan’s “golden age," or Heian period?

• A. While focusing on culture and art, government officials solidified earlier reforms.

• B. While focusing on culture and art, individual families supported private armies.

• C. With energies focused elsewhere, the Japanese government weakened.

• D. With energies focused elsewhere, the Japanese religion disappeared.

The excerpt below is from a Japanese literary work. “One has sent a friend a verse that turned out fairly well. How depressing when there is no reply-poem! Even in the case of love poems, people should at least answer that they were moved at receiving the message, or something of the sort; otherwise they will cause the keenest disappointment.” ~Sei Shonago, The Pillow Book What can be inferred from the excerpt?

• A. Manners were extremely important in Heian Japan.

• B. People enjoyed receiving poetry in Heian Japan.

• C. People disliked writing poetry in Heian Japan.

• D. Etiquette was rarely valued in Heian Japan.

What is a feudal system?

• A. a caste system similar to India’s fixed social hierarchy

• B. a dynastic system similar to China’s inherited family rulers

• C. a system in which people get land in exchange for service to a central figure

• D. a system in which people receive money through trade for business with a guild member

What valid generalization can be made about early Japan?

• A. It had strong influences on Korea, resulting in nearly identical cultures.

• B. It imported many ideas from China, resulting in nearly identical cultures.

• C. It protected its own culture, while also refusing ideas from other cultures.

• D. It maintained a unique culture, while also borrowing ideas from other cultures.

The picture below shows traditional Japanese painting. How does the painting represent Japanese culture?

• A. It demonstrates artistic talents of the Nara period.

• B. It represents artisan guilds from the Heian era.

• C. It shows story illustrations depicting nobility.

• D. It reflects religious beliefs regarding nature.

The excerpt below is from a Japanese myth. Use the source to answer the question. The first god and goddess lived on Japan for many ages. They blessed it with beautiful forests, mountains, and rivers. They had a daughter – Amaterasu, who became the goddess of the sun. Amaterasu in turn had children, and some of these were humans. The Japanese believe that Amaterasu’s great-great grandson was Jimmu, the first emperor of Japan. He was the founder of the Japanese imperial family. Until recently, all emperors of Japan claimed to be directly related to Jimmu, and thus descendants of the Gods. Which religion is best represented in the passage?

• A. Christianity

• B. Buddhism

• C. Judaism

• D. Shinto

The map below shows parts of the Asian continent. Which religion is indigenous to the region marked (X) on the map?

• A. Shinto

• B. Hindu

• C. Buddhism

• D. Confucianism

The graphic organizer represents associations in Medieval Japan. Which sequence represents the bond between the samurai and the daimyo?

• A. land, loyalty

• B. loyalty, land

• C. taxes, labor

• D. labor, taxes