Feudalism played an important role in medieval Japan. The class system was used to tell people apart and to make sure everyone lived together in harmony while also keeping the classes separate. Here is a breakdown of power in medieval Japanese feudalism.
THE EMPEROR
The head leader of the country. There was only one emperor, and he
was seen as the religious ruler
THE SHOGUN
This was the head of the military who ruled in the name of the emperor. The shogun was the person who made most of the major decisions. Once the Tokugawa family seized power in 1603, the position of shogun was mainly passed from generation to generation.
THE SAMURAI
Making up only ten percent of the
population, samurai reported to the daimyo, or leader, who reported directly to the shogun. Each daimyo oversaw their own large group of samurai. Samurai acted as a military force and held positions of great power and privilege in Japan.
THE FARMERS
Farmers and peasants had more power than their friends in Europe. While farmers in Europe were the lowest class, in Japan, they were seen as the backbone of society. Because they produced the food for the country, farmers held a pivotal role in society.
THE ARTISTS
Considered less important than farmers,
the artisans of Japan were responsible for producing clothing, crafting swords for the samurai, and making boats. They mostly lived in major cities, and even though they made beautiful things, were not rated highly in Japanese society.
THE MERCHANTS
The lowest class in Japanese feudal society was the merchant class. These were the shopkeepers and traders and were looked down on for selling items that were produced by others. Even though some merchants were extremely wealthy, they did not hold a position of honor in Japan.
Some people were so far down on the list of the feudal system, they did not even hold a rank. These included actors, butchers, criminals, bards, executioners, and tanners.