Deck 19: Arts of East Asia: India, China, and Japan

Question 1

Daoism

A) is pragmatic, having little to say about spiritual matters.
B) stresses the necessity of the struggle against evil.
C) links social order with cosmic order.
D) is concerned with bringing human life into harmony with nature.
E) is a religion with natural spirit deities known as kamas.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Shinto deities are believed to be present in

A) natural objects, such as a gnarled tree or waterfall.
B) ritual objects, such as drums and banners.
C) all people.
D) temples and shrines.
E) All these answers are correct.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Zen priest-painters used a painting technique called haboku, "splashed ink," as a metaphor to express

A) sudden enlightenment.
B) man's complete control of nature.
C) the violence of death.
D) the dualism of existence.
E) happy accidents.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

One of the enduring strengths of Japanese culture is the ability to

A) absorb and transform new ideas while keeping older traditions vital.
B) radically switch belief systems.
C) guard against any outside cultural influence.
D) abandon traditions and mimic other cultures.
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 5

Koan is a well-known Zen teaching tool designed to

A) demonstrate morality through narrative.
B) strengthen the long muscles of the body.
C) bring sleep.
D) "short-circuit" logical thought patterns.
E) develop vision in the dark.

Question 6

Hinduism and Buddhism

A) are two sects of the same religion.
B) both have a belief in the cyclical nature of time.
C) are founded on logic and the importance of social order.
D) are monotheistic.
E) originated in Japan.

Question 7

The temple complex known as Angkor Wat indicated the Khmer ruler's

A) humility and devotion.
B) adherence to Zen Buddhist beliefs.
C) position as a "god-king."
D) disdain for Hinduism.
E) acceptance of the Chinese impact on Daoism.

Question 8

The spread of Buddhism followed a path from

A) China to India and eventually to Japan.
B) Japan to Korea and on to India.
C) India to China and then to Japan.
D) India to Pakistan and on to the West.
E) Japan to China, ending in India.

Question 9

The philosophy of Confucius is pragmatic; its principle concern is

A) to demonstrate morality through narrative.
B) to bring human life into harmony with nature.
C) sudden enlightenment.
D) the creation of a peaceful society.
E) all of these.

Question 10

A distinctive aspect of an illustration from the hand scroll The Tale of Genji is

A) the portrayal of extreme emotion in the figures.
B) the use of a nearly empty background where figures float in space.
C) the removal of the roof to show an interior space.
D) the raw, untrained hand of the scholar-painter.
E) an absence of figures.

Question 11

In the mural detail known as The "Beautiful Bodhisattva," Padmapani

A) is depicted as a beautiful woman.
B) hides his contempt with a serene smile.
C) holds a lily and small drum.
D) has removed himself from the rest of humanity.
E) shows compassion for the rest of humanity.

Question 12

The first Qin emperor, Shihuangdi,

A) ordered the crafting of a huge terra-cotta army.
B) had no apparent concern for immortality.
C) was buried as an ascetic on a mountaintop.
D) divided China into northern and southern empires.
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 13

The landscapes of the Song dynasty, especially those of Li Cheng, often had the following characteristics:

A) a wide landscape format, crowds of people, and shrouding mists.
B) vibrant color, strong lines, and a dominant architectural element.
C) a vertical format, shrouding mists, and flowing water.
D) a very low perspective, shallow space, and rainbows.
E) vast plains, a solitary figure, and strong shadows.

Question 14

The set of hand scrolls known as the Heiji Monogatari Emaki has been described as cinematic because

A) it is a narrative illustration.
B) it is very large.
C) it employs rapid change "camera angles."
D) scenes "scroll by" as in an epic film.
E) it was a collaborative effort of many people.

Question 15

Zen Buddhism has as its goal

A) congregational unity.
B) a cohesive and highly structured social order.
C) concerned with bringing human life into harmony with nature.
D) physical and mental control through mastery of the martial arts.
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 16

The yakshi

A) is a female form.
B) are voluptuous.
C) are considered auspicious.
D) predate the Buddhist faith.
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 17

A small Indus sculpture of a torso exhibits a "relaxed abdomen." Some scholars interpret this to indicate that the Indus people

A) were severely overweight.
B) feared malnutrition.
C) practiced breathing exercises.
D) were poor sculptors.
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 18

In the Bodhisattva Guide of Souls hanging scroll fragment,

A) the bodhisattva is a Chinese fantasy of an Indian prince.
B) an old man rides into the Western Paradise.
C) the Western Paradise is depicted as a tree.
D) a fire threatens the homes of the poor.
E) the falling flowers represent a loss of divinity.

Question 19

The early art of Buddha did not include an image of its founder; instead it depicted

A) calligraphic writing.
B) symbolic traces of his presence.
C) decorative organic shapes.
D) temples and shrines.
E) none of these.

Question 20

The Mughals, an Islamic people from central Asia,

A) were influenced by Persian culture.
B) built the Taj Mahal.
C) established an empire on the Indian subcontinent.
D) created illustrated books.
E) All these answers are correct.

Question 21

Select two art works from Japanese culture and explain several ways in which these works illustrate Japanese tastes for simple forms and natural materials.

Question 22

Discuss the rituals and concepts surrounding the appreciation of tea in Japan, and give an example of an art form that serves this experience.

Question 23

Compare and contrast the influences that the religions of Asia have had on the arts of those regions. Relate your statements to specific works of art.

Question 24

In the Japanese Asuka period perhaps the most important art was

A) calligraphic writing.
B) poetry.
C) scroll painting.
D) temples and shrines.
E) sculpture.

Question 25

Discuss the Indus Valley civilization in regard to their location, architecture, and art forms.

Question 26

Consider the yakshi of the east gate of Great Stupa. Identify the type of being portrayed in this sculpture and describe the structure it adorned. Explain briefly the way in which this type of representation is incorporated and accepted in its setting.

Question 27

Consider the Kandariya Mahaveda temple, and identify the civilization with which it is associated. Compare and contrast the structure and symbolism of this work with that of European cathedrals.

Question 28

Discuss the scholar-artists of China in relation to professional artists in historic China.

Question 29

Explain the relationships and influences between the cultures and arts of China and Japan. Make reference to specific works, styles, artists, and/or periods to support your statements.

Question 30

Discuss the formal innovations of Song landscape painting.