Social Class

The Feudal Social Classes
	Emperor The highest ranking noble who was more of a puppet figure with little power. The Emperor and the imperial family had the highest social status. He was a figurehead, a leader in name only. He was the religious leader, but had little political power, and in reality was under control of the shogun's clan. Economically, the people of all other classes of society provided for the Emperor and his court.
	Shogun Highest ranking military leader with the most power. The shogun was the military leader of the most powerful of the Emperor's noble clans. The clans often fought to acquire this high social status. The shogun was the actual political ruler. He had a high social status and those of the other classes provided for his economic needs in return for protection and privileges (e.g., a small portion of land, some of the produce of the land).
	Daimyo Powerful warlords who managed who an area of land and armies in a certain area. The daimyos were the nobles and the shogun's representatives. They ran the estates according to the shogun's rules. Their swords were their most valuable possessions because they were required to use them often to demonstrate their loyalty to the shogun. They had high social status as members of the warrior class. They lived in huge castles surrounded by moats.
	Samurai Warriors who had additional privileges and higher social status than common people The samurai were professional warriors of the military aristocracy. They were loyal to the shogun and daimyos, in whose castles they resided. Their position gave them fairly high social status, but little political power. Their economic needs were met by lower classes similar to the arrangement with the daimyos and the shogun.
	Peasants Farmers who worked the land and sold their produce for profit. The *peasants* (90% of the population) included farmers and fishermen. They had very low social status, no political power and were very poor. They were valued because they produced the food for all other classes, and often made the material for clothing. The peasants paid taxes to the daimyos and shogun in the form of rice and work. Often peasants starved when they had to give up more than two-thirds of the year's crops to the upper classes in return for being able to remain on the land.
	Artisans Accumulated income through the making tools, weapons and other products. The *artisan* crafted a variety of products including art, cooking pots, fish hooks, farm tools, utensils, ship anchors and swords. The artisans, who were well-known for their exceptional swords, were highly respected. However, on the whole, this class was not as respected as peasants because they did not produce food.
	Merchants Bought and sold goods to other people. They were the traveling traders and shop keepers, and were ostracized as "parasites" who profited from the labor of the more productive peasant and artisan classes. Not only did merchants live in a separate section of each city, but the higher classes were forbidden to mix with them except on business. Nonetheless, many merchant families were able to amass large fortunes.
	Eta They engaged in occupations considered unclean. The eta worked in areas such as the slaughtering and skinning of animals, sewerage and the tanning of hides. They had no rights, and their lives were strictly regulated. They could live only in specified areas and were forbidden to marry members of other classes.
From (with some changes): http://asianhistory.about.com/od/japan/p/ShogJapanClass.htm