Article 2. The three treasures, which are Buddha, the (Buddhist) Law and the (Buddhist) Priesthood, should be given sincere reverence, for they are the final refuge of all living things. Few men are so bad that they cannot be taught their truth.

Question

Article 15. To subordinate private interests to the public good — that is the path of a vassal. Now if a man is influenced by private motives, he will be resentful, and if he is influenced by resentment he will fail to act harmoniously with others. If he fails to act harmoniously with others, the public interest will suffer.
—excerpted from The Constitution of Prince Shotoku

Based on the excerpt, which of the following best shows the influences of other cultures on Japan?
A.
Article 2 shows Mongol influence, and Article 15 shows Taoist influence
B.
Article 2 shows Vietnamese influence, and Article 15 shows Legalist influence
C.
Article 2 shows Korean influence, and Article 15 shows a Confucian influence
D.
Article 2 shows Aryan influence, and Article 15 shows Shinto influence

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. Article 2 shows Korean influence, and Article 15 shows a Confucian influence.

Here's the reasoning:

1. Article 2 discusses the three treasures of Buddhism (Buddha, the Law, and the Priesthood), emphasizing the importance of these elements in providing refuge to all living beings. Buddhism has significant historical ties to Korea, as it was transmitted from Korea to Japan, thus showing the influence of Korean culture on Japanese Buddhism.

2. Article 15 discusses the importance of subordinating private interests to the public good and maintaining harmony to benefit the public interest. This idea closely aligns with Confucian values, which prioritize social harmony, collective well-being, and ethical governance over individual desires.

Therefore, option C correctly identifies the influences on Japan from these articles.