- Feudal lords who controlled vast territories known as 'han'.
- Controlled military forces, collected taxes, and ruled their domains autonomously.
- Pledged loyalty to the shogun, but had significant power and autonomy.
Shogun:
- Military leader and 'de facto' ruler of Japan during the feudal period.
- Held the title 'Sei-i Taishogun' and ruled from Edo (modern-day Tokyo).
- Controlled foreign policy, military campaigns, and internal disputes among daimyo.
Samurai:
- Military retainers who served the daimyo and constituted the ruling elite.
- Skilled warriors trained in martial arts and bushido (the way of the warrior).
- Bound by a code of honor and loyalty, known as bushido.
Ashigaru:
- Foot soldiers recruited by the daimyo from non-samurai classes, such as peasants.
- Served as infantry in the daimyo's armies.
Peasants:
- The majority of the population, engaged in agriculture and other manual labor.
- Were required to pay taxes to the daimyo and provide labor services.
Merchants:
- Engaged in trade and commerce, though they had lower social status than the samurai.
- Some merchants became very wealthy and influential in urban areas.
Hierarchy and Social Classes:
- Japanese feudal society was highly stratified, with a clear hierarchy of social classes.
- The samurai were at the top, followed by the daimyo and other aristocratic families.
- Below them were the peasants, artisans, and merchants.
- The emperor had symbolic and religious authority but limited political power.
Feudal System Organization:
- The feudal system was organized around a network of reciprocal obligations and loyalties.
- Daimyo owed loyalty and military service to the shogun.
- Samurai pledged loyalty and allegiance to their daimyo in exchange for land and protection.
- Peasants provided labor and taxes to the daimyo in return for land use and protection.
The feudal system in Japan endured for several centuries, shaping its political, social, and cultural landscape. It laid the foundation for the country's eventual unification and the rise of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over two and a half centuries.