Shogunate Japan: Social classes

Between the 12th and 19th centuries, feudal Japan had an elaborate four-tiered class system. Unlike European feudal society, in which the peasants (or serfs) were at the bottom, the Japanese feudal class structure placed merchants on the lowest rung. Confucian ideals emphasized the importance of productivity, so farmers and fishermen had higher status than shop-keepers in Japan, and the samurai class had the most prestige of all. This article looks at these classes in detail, as well as the classes outside of the four-tiered system.

The feudal system was a medieval social system based on obligations between lords (who provided land to work on and protection) and vassals (who gave military service in time of war). In medieval Japan this system consisted mainly of the Emperor, Shogun, Diamyo and Samurai at the top of this social standing and at the bottom the Ronin, Peasants, Artisans and Merchants. This website talks about each of these classes and their roles in medieval Japanese society.

Life under the shoguns was highly stratified, with the population falling into distinct classes based primarily on their economic or political functions. The system can be described as having three distinct classes: the ruling elite, the warrior classes, and the peasant classes. As a feudal system, each class gave allegiance, in theory, to those above them in exchange for protection, food and the right to work. This article includes detailed descriptions of each class, as well as lots of great pictures.

This article looks at the role that children had in the social structure of feudal Japan. The article talks about education and play for children, as well as the way their names may change throughout their life depending on their social class.