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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Lu Wu, in this book, describes what aspects of tea?

2. What does the "religion of aestheticism" celebrate?

3. What is something that Westerners have invested in in excess?

4. Okakura used tea as a symbol for what in East Asia?

5. Taoism emphasizes what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What might a typical Westerner see in the tea ceremony?

2. Why is there so much fuss about tea?

3. What did Fenollosa and Okakura do together? How and why did their travels together end?

4. What is Zennism?

5. Is it appropriate for Westerners to learn tea's origin and how it is used elsewhere? Why or why not?

6. What are Taoist beliefs? How did this affect the feelings toward authority and laws?

7. Who was Lu Wu? What were his beliefs about tea?

8. For what is tea known?

9. Will the West ever truly understand the East? Why or why not? What stereotypes have formed? Are these stereotypes breaking down? Why or why not?

10. Did all Japanese accept modern, Western attitudes and behaviors? How do you know this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Zennism is Taoism's successor.

Part 1) Describe Zennism. How did Zennism become Taoism's successor? How did Zennism affect tea rituals?

Part 2) How are the various religions and philosophies tied to the three tea eras? How is all of this then tied to the culture?

Part 3) How could Americans benefit from both Taoist and Zennist beliefs? How might it change our society for the better?

Essay Topic 2

Tea is art and requires a tea master to bring out its "noblest qualities."

Part 1) How is tea art? What are the requirements for something to be a work of art, according to the author? What are tea's noble qualities?

Part 2) How does a tea master bring out the "noblest qualities" in tea? What else is a tea master capable of? How have tea masters helped to shape Japanese culture?

Part 3) What is an American art form? Who has been instrumental in the evolution of this art form?

Essay Topic 3

Stereotypes exist for both the West and the East.

Part 1) Describe stereotypes of each. How have these stereotypes come about? How do they affect the relationships between the East and the West?

Part 2) What does the writing of this book reveal about the stereotypes between the East and the West? What does this reveal about the author's feelings towards the West?

Part 3) What stereotypes exist in your own community? How do these stereotypes come about? How do they affect relationships between various groups in your community? How do these stereotypes affect you?

(see the answer keys)

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