'O'rnate Asian Art Terms Trivia Quiz

Answer: obi

The famous obi sash is fastened around the waste of a kimono for a woman, and around the hips for a man.

Answer: Onnagata

In Japanese theater forms such as Kabuki only men are allowed to act, thus necessitating the use of onnagata! This is not unfamiliar in Western theater as well. During Shakespearean times, men would play the roles of women as well...and one can still see this in action at the Old Globe Theatre in London!

Answer: Scapulas of oxen

The ancient Chinese soothsayers of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, under the auspices of the emperors, would divine future events by means of heating the shoulder-bones of oxen. When the bones were sufficiently heated, they would crack in certain ways and these cracking formations would be 'read' by the holy men.

These 'oracle bones' have become priceless objects of art for us in the modern day, and wonderful sources of Chinese history to boot.

Answer: Owl

The owl has been depicted in Chinese art since the beginning of rock painting in that region, and has served many artistic purposes since!

Answer: Oribe

Oribe ware is a very popular Japanese pottery style, produced since the 17th century. Shino ware is a white pottery, while both black and green Oribe ware are self-explanatory. Narumi Oribe is created with a clay containing a high amount of iron, resulting in a red hue after firing. For lovers of Japanese pottery (myself included), Oribe ware has to be one of the favorites! Thank you for trying this short but dense quiz, I hope you learned quite a lot!