| A | B |
|---|
| Shinto | The first religion of Japan with the belief that all of nature has kami (spirit). |
| Clans | Extended families that live together. |
| Regent | A person who rules a country for someone that is unable to rule alone. |
| Court | A group of nobles that live near and advise a ruler. |
| Zen Buddhism | A type of Buddhism that promotes self-discipline (self-guidance) and meditation or quiet thinking. |
| Daimyo | Large landowners that hired samurai to protect their land. |
| Samurai | Trained professional warriors that practiced Zen Buddhism. |
| Shogun | A general who ruled Japan surpassing the power of the emperor. |
| Figurehead | A leader that appears to be in charge, but the real power is with someone else. |
| Bushido | The “way of the warrior” or warrior code of behavior; valuing honor before life. |
| Kamikaze | The Shinto spirit wind that the Japanese believed destroyed invading Mongol fleets. |
| Feudalism | A system of protection where land and people are protected by skilled warriors in exchange for a small portion of land. |
