Deck 12: Japanese Art Before 1333

Question 1

Which characteristic of Japanese art was already evident in haniwa figures of the Kofun period?

A) innovative glazing techniques
B) technical sophistication
C) a love of asymmetry
D) the preference for wooden sculpture

Answer 1

C

Question 2

What feature of Jocho's sculpture of Amida Buddha at Byodoin is distinctively Japanese?

A) the figure is not flanked by bodhissatvas
B) the lotus flower throne
C) joined-block construction
D) the representation of Amida Buddha

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The haniwa figures that surrounded Kofun tombs developed out of simple ______-shaped vessels.

A) triangular
B) cubic
C) circular
D) cylindrical

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Small humanoid figures made out of clay by the people of the middle and late Jomon period are called __________.

A) dogu
B) Vishnu
C) shika
D) rama

Question 5

The Womb World Mandala is an example of paintings that helped teach practitioners the different gods and hierarchical interrelationships existing in ________.

A) Esoteric Buddhism
B) Pure Land Buddhism
C) Zen Buddhism
D) Mahayana Buddhism

Question 6

Which Japanese object was inspired by the Chinese tradition of monumental stone Buddhist statues in cave-temples?

A) Buddha Shaka and Attendant Bodhissatvas by Tori Busshi in the Kondo at Horyuji
B) Buddha Birushana in the Great Buddha Hall, Nara
C) Amida Buddha by Jocho in the Phoenix Hall at Byodoin
D) Descent of Amida and the Twenty-Five Bohissatvas from the Kamakura period

Question 7

How does the Descent of Amida and the Twenty-Five Bodhisattvas reflect indigenous Japanese beliefs?

A) the emphasis on the surrounding landscape
B) the use of gold and color on dark silk
C) its association with death and dying
D) all of the above

Question 8

The ________________ indicates the extensive international exchange that took place during the Nara period.

A) the introduction of Buddhism to Japan
B) the collection of Shosoin Imperial Repository in Todoaji
C) the use of imported materials in ritual objects made at Nara
D) all of the above

Question 9

Raigo paintings depicting Amida Buddha, accompanied by bodhisattvas, coming to earth were commonly ________________.

A) carried by samurai during the Kamakura period
B) taken to the homes of dying people
C) used in the practice of Esoteric Buddhism
D) gifts from a Buddhist master to students who had completed their training

Question 10

How does the Phoenix Hall, Byodoin, Uji reflect ideas of Pure Land Buddhism?

A) It simulates the appearance of the paradise that awaits believers after death.
B) It provides an ideal environment for private meditation and contemplation of nature.
C) Its design is based on a mandala that believers must use in their religious practice.
D) It affirms that only the most cultured aristocrats could attain enlightenment.

Question 11

The Buddah Shaka and Attendant Bodhisattvas in the Horyukji Kondo demonstrates the aesthetic influence of Buddhist art from which country?

A) Japan
B) China
C) Korea
D) India

Question 12

Archaeological discoveries show Japan to be the site of the oldest _________ever found.

A) musical instruments
B) ceramic pottery
C) wooden architecture
D) bronze weapons

Question 13

What subject matter commonly appears in Japanese secular paintings?

A) satirical imagery
B) illustrations of literature
C) historical military battles
D) all of the above

Question 14

Which Japanese practice does NOT have origins in Chinese culture?

A) written kana
B) kirakane cut-gold leaf technique
C) joined-block construction
D) illustrated handscrolls

Question 15

Zen Buddhism's emphasis on individual enlightenment through meditation appealed to the self-disciplined nature of Japan's ____________class.

A) aristocratic
B) samurai
C) peasant
D) merchant

Question 16

Which structure at Horyuji is not entered into because of its reliquary function?

A) the kondo
B) the pagoda C the repository for sacred texts
D) the stupa

Question 17

Which cultural developments did NOT occur during the Asuka period?

A) Buddhism became the state religion.
B) A system of writing was created.
C) Political ties with China were cut.
D) A centralized governmental structure was formed.

Question 18

How does the Hungry Tigress Jataka on the Tamamushi shrine reflect Chinese and Korean artistic influence?

A) the asymmetry of the design
B) the abstracted linear patterning
C) the repeated figure of Buddha
D) none of the above

Question 19

How does art of the Heian period demonstrate Japan's desire to be less culturally dependent on China?

A) the production of yamato-e handscrolls
B) hand-copied collections of waka
C) the use of kana
D) all of the above

Question 20

How does the Ise Shrine reflect Shinto's emphasis on ritual purification?

A) It is repainted every spring.
B) It is rebuilt every 20 years.
C) It utilizes water.
D) Very few people are allowed inside.

Question 21

The earliest form of samurai armor is known as______________.

A) kamakura
B) soji
C) yoroi
D) giga

Question 22

The main god worshiped at the Ise Shrine is the sun goddess Amaterasu-o-mi-kami, the legendary progenitor of Japan's _________.

A) goddess
B) king
C) imperial family
D) army

Question 23

What was the possible purpose of Jomon dogu?

Question 24

Kosho's portrait sculpture of Kuya Preaching depicts six small Buddhas emerging from the monk's mouth to represent his __________.

A) age
B) chanting
C) journey
D) conversion

Question 25

Concerns that ___________influence at Nara had become too powerful led imperial advisors to move the capital to Kyoto near the end of the eighth century.

A) Islamic
B) Christian
C) Daoist
D) Buddhist

Question 26

How did the Yayoi period differ from the Kofun period?

Question 27

The ___________technique became popular in Japan because it reduced cracking in the wood and allowed for the production of larger sculptures.

A) found wood
B) split-wood
C) joined-wood
D) stripped wood

Question 28

The animal antics and court activities depicted in the Yamato-e handscroll Frolicking Animals from the Heian period are attributed to which artist's hand?

A) Toba Sojo
B) Choju Giga
C) Kuya
D) Lanxi Daolong

Question 29

Although Ise is a popular site for pilgrims, only the imperial family and Shinto priests are allowed into the ________.

A) inner shrine
B) outer shrine
C) garden
D) front gate

Question 30

Named for the patterns on pottery, the _______ period is known for its coiled clay vessels that probably imitated reed baskets.

A) Asuka
B) Nara
C) Jomon
D) Heian

Question 31

What social changes occurred in the Yayoi period?

Question 32

The portrait of Daruma from the Kamakura period is one of the earliest surviving examples of what type of painting?

A) landscape
B) Zen
C) Raigo
D) Pure Land

Question 33

What was a haniwa used for?

Question 34

What visual characteristics are apparent in Jomon period pottery?

Question 35

The Shaka Triad by Tori Busshi reflects the strong influence of Chinese art from what dynasty?

A) Western Wei
B) Eastern Wei
C) Southern Wei
D) Northern Wei

Question 36

What do the kondo and pagoda of Horyuji temple contain?

Question 37

The belief that Shinto _________ were emanations of Buddhist deities demonstrates how the Japanese integrated Buddhist ideas into their indigenous belief systems.

A) haniwa
B) kami
C) kofun
D) nara

Question 38

Raigo paintings in the Kamakura period were made in great numbers and used for what purpose?

A) depicting the Amida Buddha
B) taken to the homes of the dying
C) a belief that Amida would escort the soul to paradise
D) All of the above

Question 39

What cultural transformations occurred during the Asuka period?

Question 40

The large imperial tombs of the Kofun period were constructed following ________examples.

A) Korean
B) Cambodian
C) Chinese
D) Indian

Question 41

What is one of the jataka tales told by the paintings of Horyuji?

Question 42

Why did the Heian era end, and what period followed?

Question 43

What are some of the Buddhist symbols and what do they stand for?

Question 44

How do raigo paintings differ from mandalas?

Question 45

How is Buddha pictured in the Amida Buddha (12-12) by Jocho?

Question 46

Discuss how Japan's changing relationship with China and Korea impacted its art and cultural development.

Question 47

How does Zen Buddhist art differ from that of Esoteric and Pure Land Buddhism?

Question 48

What was one result of a strong central authority in Nara?

Question 49

What are the teachings of Pure Land Buddhism?

Question 50

Japanese ceramics are considered to be among the finest in the world. Explain what makes them so special both in terms of craftsmanship and aesthetics.

Question 51

Discuss the interplay of indigenous traditions and transmitted culture in Japanese art.

Question 52

What is Esoteric Buddhism and how is the concept artistically interpreted?

Question 53

What major religious sects emerged in the Heian period?

Question 54

Compare the aesthetic and ritual characteristics of art made for different sects of Buddhism in Japan.