Japan Mini-Lesson

8.2 Japanese Nobles’ Great Arts:Fashion and Literature

By…

Erica Stevens

Megan Sullivan

Zoey Vagner

Previously…

• Japan=influenced by China & Korea• Language• Religion / Philosophy• Government

• Now…• How nobles=influence on Japan

The Court• Men and women• Advised and served ruler

(emperor)• Entirely nobles• Had little to do w/ commoners• Called “dwellers among the

clouds” severely separated from rest of Japan & lived at extreme ease

Fashion

• Nobles loved beauty• Wore extravagant layered / silk

outfits• Wore gold jewelry• Carried fans w/ intricate designs on

them decoration

Literature

• Mostly women• The Tale of Genji = one of greatest

Japanese novels• Men and women = poetry• Poetry = usually five lines long

• Specific format

The Tale of Genji

• Written by Lady Murasaki Shikibu…noble lifestyle

• About life of noble who is…• ½ peasant• ½ heir to the throne

• Can’t become emperor• Honor = passed to ½ brother, then to son

QuizQuestions

WAIT UNTIL ZOEY READS THE QUESTION OUT LOUD BEFORE YOU ANSWER IT

Quiz Question #1

• A court is a group of nobles that…a. serve the rulerb. advise the rulerc. read to the rulerd. answers A and B

Answer = D

Quiz Question #2

Answer = A

• Commoners were allowed to be in the court.

a. trueb. false

Answer = A

Quiz Question #3

• What did the nobles like to wear (clothing) to be seen as fashionable?

a. jewelryb. dull clothing with little colorc. silk robes, layered clothing, and decorated

fansd. all of the above

Answer = C

Quiz Question #4

• Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote the novel “The Tale of Genji”.

a. trueb. false

Answer = A

Quiz Question #5

• Most great works of early literature in Japan were written by…

a. noble menb. noble womenc. noble teenagersd. all of the above

Answer = B

Get Ready to Learn About…

• How nobles influenced…• Visual art• Architecture• Performing Arts