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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. Why might it be hard for Westerners to appreciate the Japanese tradition of wood and bamboo architecture, and, therefore, hard to appreciate the tea room itself?

2. Some tea-masters aimed for what feeling?

3. What happens when the flower withers?

4. Tea-masters are _______________ when choosing the art.

5. Many things were all consciously ______________, especially during the tea ceremony.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe early tea rooms and how they changed with the innovations of Rikyu.

2. How is non-symmetry and non-repetition important?

3. Why does Okakura use this tale?

4. How was the Cult of Flowers developed? What is this cult?

5. What is a Sukiya?

6. How are art masters immortal?

7. Who is Pai Ya? What does he do with the instrument?

8. How does one enter a tea room?

9. How is the tea room different from other forms of architecture?

10. What can cause problems for an artist? How is this a problem?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Japanese under Emperor Meiji in the second half of the 19th century were pursuing efforts to modernize.

Part 1) Describe these efforts. Why was modernization important? How did this modernization affect Japanese culture?

Part 2) How does the author feel about modernization in Japan? Why does he feel this way? What does he do regarding modernization? How does this book support his beliefs regarding modernization?

Part 3) How has modernization affected various cultures? Is modernization good? Why or why not? How has modernization affected the U.S.? How has it affected your own community and life? Do you see this as a positive thing? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

There are two thoughts on flower arrangement.

Part 1) What are these two thoughts? How do these two thoughts compare? How have they both come to exist?

Part 2) How do these two thoughts support the Eastern view of flower arrangement? How do they also support other Eastern beliefs?

Part 3) Do these two thoughts exist in the West? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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