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
|