A social system where a king or emperor provides lands to lords (wealthy nobles, etc.) for military support, and peasants worked the land in exchange...

Sect of Buddhism that emphasizes enlightenment through self-control and discipline; studied martial arts; practiced meditation to find inner peace

Religion that came from Korea to Japan in the 500s CE, and spread rapidly during the 600s and 700s CE; played an important role in government and soci...

Holy place where people worship

"Way of the Kami"; Japan's oldest religion (form of animism) whose followers believe that all things in the natural world are filled with divine spiri...

(574-622 CE) Leader who brought Chinese-style constitution, or plan of government, to Japan (emperor was helped by trained officials, who were hired b...

Commander of all emperor's military forces and the actual rulers of Japan for many centuries (Emperor was a powerless spiritual figure)

Legendary first emperor of Japan (660-585 BCE) ; Yamato leader who took the title "emperor of heaven"; line of rulers in Japan has never been broken (...

4 Main Islands of Japan

Code of conduct ("Way of the Warrior") that the samurai followed; demanded warriors be loyal to their masters, as well as courageous and honorable; di...

Leader of the Minamoto Clan who was given first title of shogun - founder of the first shogunate: the Kamakura Shogunate (based in the town of Kamakur...

"Divine wind" which the Japanese credited with blowing Mongol invaders away; later, during WW2, would be the name for Japanese pilots who deliberately...

Class of warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble in return for land; fought on horseback with swords, daggers, and bows and arrows; wo...