Class Structure in Feudal Japan
What is Feudalism? Feudalism is a political, economic,
and social system based on loyalty, the holding of land, and military service.
Feudalism In Japan: Structure
Shogun The Shogun, or military commander,
were• Hereditary military governors of Japan• de facto rulers of Japan
But often appointed by the Emperor • Ruled over the Daimyos, Samurai, and the
lower classes• Most known Shogunate was the Tokugawa
Shogunate which lasted 250 years
Tokugawa Shogunate Lasted for 250 years Ieyasu Tokugawa
started this Shogunate Was passed down his
family Brought stability and
peace in the warring states
Was the last Shogunate in Feudal Japan history.
Daimyo Were the most powerful
territorial lords Subordinate only to the
Shogun Ruled over the Samurai Hired samurai to guard
their land and they paid the samurai in land or food• Could not afford to pay
them in Money
Samurai Were the military nobility of
medieval and early-modern Japan
Usually hired by the Daimyo Increasingly became
courtiers, bureaucrats, and administrators rather than warriors during the Tokugawa Shogunate
Under Bushido, The conduct of samurai served as role model behavior for the other social classes
Peasants Made up 90% of the population Consisted of Farmers, Artisans, and
Merchants. Farmers were higher on the class
structure right under the Samurai, while the Merchants were on the lower end.
Farmers Farmers were superior to
artisans and merchants because they produced the food that all the other classes depended upon
During the reign of the third Tokugawa shogun, farmers were not allowed to eat any of the rice they grew. • They had to hand it all over to
their daimyo, and then wait for him to give some back as charity.
Artisans They were considered
less important than the farmers even though they produced clothing, cooking utensils, and woodblock prints.
Even skilled samurai sword makers and boat wrights were part of this class.
The artisan class lived in its own section of the major cities
Merchants The lowest class of
peasants They were considered
parasites because they made money off of others work.
They were also segregated from the higher classes and were not to mingle with them unless it was for business.
Their misfortune ended years later when their economic power grew.