Key Terms

cabotage

a system wherein groups or individuals are granted the right to trade in another’s territory

caravansary

an inn funded by the state or wealthy individuals where travelers could spend the night and store their goods securely

Chan Buddhism

a form of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation; it is widely practiced in Japan where it is known as Zen Buddhism

dharma

the Hindu concept of the right way of living as defined by cosmic law

moksha

the release from samsara and the karmic cycle together with the attainment of a complete understanding of the world

Pure Land Buddhism

a branch of Mahayana Buddhism holding that all believers can be reborn into a place of salvation, the Pure Land

samurai

a member of the elite warrior class of Japan, governed by a strict code of behavior

shogun

a Japanese military commander-in-chief