Heian Japan - Crash Course

What period is often focused on in discussions of Japanese history due to its association with ninja and samurai?

• Heian period

• Tokugawa period

• Meiji Restoration

• Sengoku period

What were the primary achievements of the Heian period?

• Technological innovations

• Artistic, especially in literature

• Economic reforms

• Military conquests

Who was the author of Japan's first great novel, The Tale of the Genji?

• Lady Murasaki Shikibu

• James Murdoch

• Ivan Morris

• Sei Shōnagon

What was a major influence on Heian Japan's aristocracy?

• Greek philosophy

• Chinese Buddhism

• Roman law

• Egyptian art

What characterized the overall attitude of the Heian aristocracy?

• Focus on scientific achievements

• Love of color, grandeur, and ceremony

• Austerity and simplicity

• Emphasis on military prowess

What was the capital of Japan during the Heian golden age?

• Tokyo

• Kyoto

• Heian Jyo

• Nara

How was the Heian aristocracy's society divided?

• By geographical region

• Into about 30 grades based on birth

• By religious beliefs

• By occupation

What did the top 3 ranks of Heian society, known as the Kugyō, receive?

• Immunity from all laws

• Special rice land revenues

• Exclusive trading licenses

• Unlimited travel rights

What was a key role of women in the flourishing of Heian literary culture?

• Literary achievements

• Economic management

• Military leadership

• Patronage of arts

What was a central idea in Buddhism that influenced Heian aristocrats?

• The importance of ritual sacrifice

• The impermanence of beauty and life

• The permanence of the soul

• The supremacy of nature