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Ch. 14 History Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| clan | group of families related by blood or marriage. |
| constitution | written plan of government. |
| animism | belief that all natural things are alive and have their own spirits. |
| shrine | holy place. |
| samurai | class of warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble in return for land. |
| shogun | military ruler of feudal Japan. |
| daimyo | powerful military lord in feudal Japan. |
| vassal | in feudalism, a noble who held land from and served a higher-ranking lord, and in return was given protection. |
| feudalism | political system based on bonds of loyalty between lords and vassals. |
| sect | a smaller group with distinct beliefs within a larger religious group. |
| martial arts | sports, such as judo and karate, that involve combat and self-defense. |
| meditation | practice of quiet reflection to clear the mind and find inner peace. |
| calligraphy | the art of producing beautiful handwriting. |
| tanka | Japan’s oldest form of poetry; an un-rhymed poem of five lines. |
| guild | medieval business group formed by craftspeople and merchants. |