Figurehead

Emperor
Structure of Feudal Japan
Emperor Emperor and imperial family highest on
social ladder
Religious leader
Direct descendant of Amaturasu Omikami
Figurehead (leader in name only)
No political Power
Under control of Shoguns clan
ALL classes of society provided for
Emperor and his court.
Emperor still exists today


His Imperial Majesty AKIHITO
125th Emperor of Japan
Figurehead
Shogun
Emperor
Structure of Feudal Japan
Shogun Miltary Leader
Highest in warrior class
Clans fought to acquire this status
Political Leader
Those of other classes under him
provided for his needs
Shogun gave protection and privileges
Portion of land
Produce on land


Figurehead
Shogun
Daimyos
Emperor
Structure of Feudal Japan
Daimyo Part of warrior class
Means Great Names
Shoguns representatives
Ran estates according to shoguns
rules
Swords most valuable possessions
Used often to demonstrate loyalty to
Shogun
Lived in huge castles surrounded by
moats


Figurehead
Shogun
Daimyos
Emperor
Samurai
Structure of Feudal Japan
Samurai Professional warriors
Loyal to shogun and Daimyos
Lived in Daimyos castles
Fairly high social status but little
political power
Needs met by lower classes than them


Satsuma Samurai
Figurehead
Shogun
Daimyos
Emperor
Samurai
Ronin
Bushi
Warrior Class
Structure of Feudal Japan
Ronin Wandering Samurai
Had no Daimyo
Paid soldiers
Worked as
body guards for rich merchants
Paid soldiers during civil wars
Low social class
No political power
Depended on others for economic
well-being


Figurehead
Shogun
Daimyos
Emperor
Samurai
Ronin
Bushi
Warrior Class
Peasants
90% of population
Structure of Feudal Japan
Peasants Largest class
Included farmers and fishermen
Low social status
No political power
VERY poor
Valued because they produced food for all
other classes
Often made material for clothing
Paid taxes with rice and work
Had to pay 2/3 of years crop to upper classes
Often starved


Figurehead
Shogun
Daimyos
Emperor
Samurai
Ronin
Bushi
Warrior Class
Peasants
90% of population
Artisans
Structure of Feudal Japan
Artisans Craftspeople who made variety of products
Art
Cooking pots
Fish hoods
Farm tools
Theatre
Ship anchors
swords
Great sword makers highly respected
On whole, however, artisans not as
respected as peasants because they didnt
produce food




Figurehead
Shogun
Daimyos
Emperor
Samurai
Ronin
Bushi
Warrior Class
Peasants
90% of population
Artisans
Merchants
Structure of Feudal Japan
Merchants Sold goods and produce made by
others
Very low social status
Produced nothing of value and lived off
the efforts of others work
Often made to live in separate
locations
Not allowed to mix with other classes
except to do business


Figurehead
Shogun
Daimyos
Emperor
Samurai
Ronin
Bushi
Warrior Class
Peasants
90% of population
Artisans
Merchants
Burakumin/Eta
Lowest Class
Structure of Feudal Japan
Eta
Burakumin
Means full of filth
Means tribe (hamlet) people
Lived in isolated areas outside cities (ghettos)
Discrimination because of Buddhist
prohibitions against killing and Shinto
concepts of pollution.
originally discriminated against because they
were butchers, leather workers, grave-
diggers, tanners, executioners
Seen as hereditary
Still discriminated against today