Deck 9: Shinto

Question 1

What is the definition of the following term:
-Amaterasu:

Answer 1

(ah-mah-teh-rah-sooh; Japanese, "deity that shines in the sky") The Sun Goddess in Shinto. Enshrined at Ise, Amaterasu is the kami of the imperial family. As the Sun Goddess, she is the most august of all deities. Her descendants are considered the only rightful rulers of Japan.

Question 2

What is the definition of the following term:
-ema:

Answer 2

(e'mah) Wooden tablets expressing pleadings to kami for success in life.

Question 3

What is the definition of the following term:
-harae:

Answer 3

(hah-rah-ee) Shinto purification.

Question 4

What is the definition of the following term:
-Izanagi:

Question 5

What is the definition of the following term:
-Izanami:

Question 6

What is the definition of the following term:
-jinja:

Question 7

What is the definition of the following term:
-kami:

Question 8

What is the definition of the following term:
-Kojiki:

Question 9

What is the definition of the following term:
-matsuri:

Question 10

What is the definition of the following term:
-miko:

Question 11

What is the definition of the following term:
-mikoshi:

Question 12

What is the definition of the following term:
-misogi:

Question 13

What is the definition of the following term:
-Nihon shoki:

Question 14

What is the definition of the following term:
-norito:

Question 15

What is the definition of the following term:
-omikuji:

Question 16

What is the definition of the following term:
-shimenawa:

Question 17

What is the definition of the following term:
-shintai:

Question 18

What is the definition of the following term:
-Shinto:

Question 19

What is the definition of the following term:
-temizuya:

Question 20

What is the definition of the following term:
-torii:

Question 21

Shinto literally means the

A) way of the gods.
B) way of the Buddhas.
C) leanings of the heart.
D) New Way.

Question 22

A matsuri is a

A) Confucian ritual.
B) Buddhist ceremony.
C) Shinto festival.
D) None of the above

Question 23

In the Japanese creation myth, Izanagi is the _______ of Izanami.

A) father
B) husband
C) uncle
D) cousin

Question 24

In the Japanese creation myth, Amaterasu is the _______ of Susa-no-o.

A) aunt
B) mother
C) cousin
D) sister

Question 25

According to Shinto myth, the Japanese imperial family is traceable back to the

A) Sun Goddess.
B) Moon God.
C) Storm God.
D) kami of Mt. Fuji.

Question 26

Which text(s) is (are) important for the study of Shinto?

A) Nihon shoki
B) Kojiki
C) Both a and b
D) Neither a nor b

Question 27

Kamikaze (divine wind) signaled Japan's blessing by the gods during

A) World War I.
B) the Mongol invasions in the thirteenth century.
C) the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895.
D) the Korean War of 1951-1953.

Question 28

Which of the following is not true about the Shinto text Kojiki?

A) It was compiled in 712 ce.
B) It contains a creation myth.
C) It is the oldest mythic-historical chronicle in Japan.
D) It was published during the Heian period.

Question 29

The Chinese account of Himiko says all of the following except Himiko was

A) female.
B) a shaman.
C) a ruler.
D) a man.

Question 30

The divinity of the Japanese emperor was advanced by

A) Kokugaku.
B) State Shinto.
C) Both a and b
D) None of the above

Question 31

The "Seventeen Articles Constitution" was promulgated by

A) Emperor Jimmu.
B) Prince Shotoku.
C) Emperor Tenji.
D) Empress Jingo.

Question 32

In Nara Japan, the accommodation between Shinto and Buddhism was best evidenced by the Great Buddha at Todaiji Temple named

A) Guanyin.
B) Jizo.
C) Dainichi.
D) Amida.

Question 33

The Shugendo movement best represents the merging of

A) Buddhism and Confucianism.
B) Confucianism and Shinto.
C) Shinto and Buddhism.
D) Confucianism, Buddhism, and Shinto.

Question 34

State Shinto was actively promoted in the

A) Nara period.
B) Heian period.
C) Kamakura period.
D) Meiji reign.

Question 35

The shrine that most prominently represents State Shinto is _______ Shrine.

A) Hachiman
B) Heian
C) Yasukuni
D) Izumo

Question 36

The number of groups officially recognized in Sect Shinto is

A) thirteen.
B) thirty.
C) thirty-six.
D) fifty.

Question 37

All of the following are "New Religions" founded by charismatic leaders since the nineteenth century, except

A) Pure Land.
B) Tenrikyo.
C) Konkokyo.
D) Kurozumikyo.

Question 38

State Shinto officially ended with the

A) death of Emperor Meiji.
B) reign of Emperor Taisho.
C) disavowal of his divinity by Emperor Hirohito.
D) death of Emperor Hirohito.

Question 39

At a Shinto shrine, worship of the deity by the public takes place at the

A) haiden.
B) honden.
C) torii.
D) temizuya.

Question 40

In Shinto purification, which the following are considered effective materials?

A) Water
B) Salt
C) Soap
D) Both a and b

Question 41

The Shrine at Ise is dedicated to

A) Izanagi.
B) Izanami.
C) Amaterasu.
D) Susa-no-o.

Question 42

The female attendants at Shinto shrines are known as

A) misogi.
B) miko.
C) matsuri.
D) mikoshi.

Question 43

The saishu is the Grand Priestess at

A) Ise.
B) Izumo.
C) Mt. Fuji.
D) Nachi Waterfall.

Question 44

The Shinto ritual of harae focuses on

A) purifying the participants.
B) appeasing the gods.
C) feeding the hungry ghosts.
D) entertaining the congregation.

Question 45

Misogi is the ritual of purification by

A) salt.
B) water.
C) soap.
D) fire.

Question 46

In Shinto belief, the most serious pollutants are

A) blood.
B) death.
C) Both a and b
D) None of the above

Question 47

Jinja, the Shinto shrine, literally means

A) resting place for birds.
B) dwelling place of the kami.
C) House of Amaterasu.
D) holy place.

Question 48

The cross-bar gateway leading up to a Shinto shrine is known as

A) haiden.
B) honden.
C) temizuya.
D) torii.

Question 49

All of the following can generally be found at a Shinto shrine except for

A) shimenawa.
B) temizuya.
C) carp.
D) torii.

Question 50

The shintai, the divine "body" of the kami, is always housed in the

A) honden.
B) haiden.
C) temizuya.
D) torii.

Question 51

The Inner Shrine at Ise is rebuilt on an adjacent lot every

A) 10 years.
B) 20 years.
C) 30 years.
D) 100 years.

Question 52

Setsubun, the "turning of the seasons" is celebrated on

A) New Year's Day.
B) January 15.
C) February 3.
D) May 1.

Question 53

Tanabata, the Star Festival for young lovers, is celebrated on

A) May 5.
B) July 7.
C) July 14.
D) September 1.

Question 54

The ascension to the throne of a new emperor is marked by the

A) Niiname Festival.
B) Tanabata.
C) Daijosai.
D) Kinensai.

Question 55

Shinto beliefs and practices reach a global and younger audience through all of the following, except

A) karaoke.
B) manga.
C) anime.
D) video games.

Question 56

The Sanja Festival is celebrated in

A) Kyoto.
B) Ise.
C) Nara.
D) Tokyo.

Question 57

The Niiname Festival is celebrated in

A) spring.
B) summer.
C) fall.
D) winter.

Question 58

As part of the Shinto ritual, norito refers to

A) petitional prayer.
B) offerings of fruit, rice, and so on.
C) purification measures.
D) performance of dance.

Question 59

Sacred space at the shrine is marked off by the

A) temizuya.
B) shimenawa.
C) ema.
D) omikuji.

Question 60

In Shinto, kami can be deities, natural objects, animals, or humans.

Question 61

In the Shinto creation myth, Izanagi is female and Izanami is male.

Question 62

The Shinto deity Amaterasu is believed to be the daughter of Izanagi.

Question 63

The "Shin" in Shinto refers specifically to the Sun Goddess Amaterasu.

Question 64

All Shinto kami are benevolent deities who bring blessings to the faithful.

Question 65

Moral teaching is not emphasized in early Shinto.

Question 66

The term Shinto existed in Japan from the very beginning of Japanese civilization.

Question 67

Emperor Jimmu is the first human descendant of Amaterasu to rule Japan.

Question 68

The divine descendants of the Sun Goddess were originally rulers in the Yamato region of Japan.

Question 69

The Chinese account of Himiko provides a glimpse into the nature of women's role in Shinto beliefs in fourth century ce Japan.

Question 70

National Learning (Kokugaku) affirmed the equal importance of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan.

Question 71

The Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo was built by Emperor Hirohito.

Question 72

State Shinto ended with Japan's defeat in World War II.

Question 73

In their religious practices, Japanese can embrace Shinto, Buddhism, and Confucianism all at the same time.

Question 74

Anyone, in whatever mental state or physical condition, can approach the kami to worship them.

Question 75

The Shinto purification ritual of misogi always involves water.

Question 76

Salt is believed to have purifying power in Shinto.

Question 77

To please the Shinto gods, live animals are often sacrificed at the shrine.

Question 78

The saishu at the Grand Shrine of Ise is always a woman.

Question 79

The deity at a Shinto shrine is housed in the haiden.

Question 80

The Inner Shrine at Ise is periodically torn down and rebuilt in exact identical form.