hoa midterms

• Nihon or Nippon


  Old name for Japan
• Land of the rising sun


  Japan is known as
• Japan is the 10th most populous country
• Japan


  • Mountainous country - 7/10 of the land being covered by mountains
  • Only 15% of its land is cultivable
• Japan has 692 volcanoes, 52 of which are active within historic times
• Main islands of Japan

  • Honshu (principal island)
  • Hokkaido
  • Shikoku
  • Kyushu
• Mount Fuji


  Sacred mountain, the highest in Japan, a traditional place of pilgrimage
• Mount Fuji is named for the Buddhist fire goddess Fuchi, whose shrine is found at the summit. It is the holiest of Japan's "Three Holy Mountains"
• Every summer, thousands of pilgrims climb to the summit of Mount Fuji
• Mount Fuji


  • Dormant volcano, most recently erupted in 1708
  • 3776 meters high, Japan's highest mountain
• Tokyo


  Capital city of Japan, located on the island of Honshu, one of the largest cities in the world
• Kyoto is a city in Japan with a population close to 1.5 million, located on the island of Honshu. It was the capital city when the Emperor was in charge. It has many beautiful buildings and temples.
• Yen


  The unit of currency in Japan, 1 Philippine Peso is worth 2.17 Japanese Yen
• Zen table


  Traditional, personal table with box, tray, individual sets of bowls, chopsticks, spoons, 20-30 cm per side, 15-20 cm high, cleaned 3x a month, location from kitchen indicated status (men > women, elderly > junior)
• Chabudai


  Low dining table, adapted from Western dining tables, 30 cm high, more convenient than zen with fewer plates set and cleaner, indicative of culture change
• Japan has distinct seasons - Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn, despite being in Asia
• Japan is in the Northern Hemisphere so Winter is in December
• Japanese houses


  • Face south and have deeply projecting eaves to provide protection against the sun
  • Have high courtyard walls to screen
  • Have windows and partitions designed to be movable

  
• The islands of Japan receive copious amounts of rain, with the highest amounts of precipitation occurring in summer through early fall
• Building materials in Japan

  • Bamboo - extensively used for light house construction
  • Stone - used for foundation work
  • Lava Stone - used for decoration
• Shintoism


  The state religion of Japan, based on ancestor and nature worship
• Shinto deities


  • Amaterazu - sun-god
  • Sukiyomi - moon-god
  • Susanowo - god of storm
• Animals, plants, trees and rocks were often times considered sacred or "Maki" in Shintoism
• Shinto shrine (jinja)


  Where believers in Japan's indigenous religion, Shintô, go to worship. Shintô originated in ancient peoples' fears of demons and supernatural powers, and their worship of these. It has no written body of doctrine, but it is Japan's main religion and is practised widely through ceremonies and festivals.

  
• Shinto shrine architecture


  • The main sanctuary is called the Shinden or Honden
  • There are also ancillary buildings such as the Haiden (outer hall) and the Hômotsuden (treasury), but these are not arranged according to any particular specified layout
  • The chief priest is called the Kannushi, responsible for all the religious observances and the running of the shrine
  • The young girl assistants are called Miko

  
• Three sacred treasures in Japan

  • Jewel - symbolizing knowledge
  • Sword - symbolizing authority
  • Mirror - by the beauty of its reflection, symbolizes justice
• Buddhism


  Introduced by Buddhist priests from China and Korea, encouraged the erection of temples and does not permit many decorations
• Torii styles


  • Myōjin torii
  • Sannō torii
• Matsumoto Castle was completed in 1600 in Matsumoto, Nagano
• Types of Torii


  • Sanno
  • Miwa
  • Shimmei
  • Myojin
  • Kashima
  • Hachiman
• Tatami


  Floor mats used as floor coverings, measuring one "KEN" about 1.8m by half a Ken
• Daidokoro


  Kitchen (scullery)
• Shoin


  Reception hall and private study area
• Tokonomas


  2 alcoves (recess wall) used to display a flower arrangement or a selected art treasure
• Ikebana


  Flower arrangement
• Bonsai


  Plant or dwarf tree that is an almost perfect reflection of Japanese
• Torii types


  • Miwa
  • Ryōbu
• Nakayama torii and Ryōbu torii are types of torii
• Tateana-shiki is a pit-style dwelling, Takayuka-shiki is a dwelling used mainly for warehouses
• Traditional house types


  • Tiled roof
  • Thatched roof
  • Plaster
  • Merchant's house
  • Farm house