Answers from Japan Docs in class reading of Strayer selections
9.1
1. Buddhism, Confucianism, and Legalism are all combined.
2. Unjust uprisings and unfair punishments caused chaos.
They struggled with what was right and what was wrong.
Japan had internal problems from the beginning.
3. Shotoku=founding father of Japan.
Good leaders; listens to all influences of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Legalism.
4. He didn’t mention any traditional Japanese gods so religious diversity could
flourish in Japan.
He didn’t want to pass the rule through the bloodline; he wanted to have it based
off of their merit.
9.2
1. Zen Buddhism is less organized, didn’t rely on external divine source. They
found it within themselves. The teaching of master to disciples is very important.
Meditation
2. Self discipline. To be a Zen Buddhist, you don’t have to go to a temple. It’s not
centralized and it’s hard to be criticized for it. It’s easier to convey. You
maintain your own level of strictness.
3. Pure Land Buddhism focuses more on enlightenment during your lifetime and
reaching Nirvana. More likely to climb a social ladder.
Zen Buddhism focuses on the whole picture—life and death. Life and death is
one.
4. Dogen=Creator of Zen Buddhism in Japan
Zen Buddhism in Japan is called “Chan”
9.3
1. Japan is divine because they are an island, they are descendents of the goddess—
better ancestors.
Japan is better than China because they have a tighter community of ancestors.
Also, Japan is more cohesive religiously.
2. They claimed to be the descendents of the sun goddess. The sun goddess
legitimizes the government.
3. Shintoism=belief of the sun god.
Obeying the elders is Confucianism—obeying the sun gods.
9.4
1. Women in Japan are very clever.
2. Her attitude towards men is bold—she is in control; towards women, she acts
superior; towards ordinary people,
3. It reflects Buddhists because they go to the temple and Confucian values because
men are still superior. Departures upper class focuses on material, wealth, and status.
9.5
1. Samurais, sound mind and body, dedicated warrior
2. Bushido is the way of the warrior.
Buddhist: calm the mind, deities are all around you
Confucian: be obedient to your elders and superiors
Shintoism: building of the pagoda goes against Shinto beliefs, honoring ancestors
3. Japan of the 14th century, warriors could easily take land but could not maintain
political or economic control