Feudal Japan's Eight Social Classes

The Japanese society was divided into four classes: samurai, peasants, artisans, and merchants. The samurai was a class of warriors, emerged from Japan during the constant

Feudal Europe and Feudal Japan were two different civilizations, with two different social structures. Although both used the Feudal system, they used altered versions of it. Feudal Japan differs from Feudal Europe by its social classes.     To begin, the leaders in the two civilizations had different roles. The Feudal Europe King had to rule his country, and had all the authority.

For both Europe and Japan, feudalism was a social ranking where knights were middle ranking and would get land and pay from lords and daimyos. In exchange, the warriors had to fight and defend the lords and daimyos. As said before, the fighters were middle ranking so they were above the serf, or peasants, but below the lords and daimyos (Doc. A). Likewise, the samurai and knights would give the peasants and slaves food and shelter in exchange for labor services (OI). Here is another reason of why the knights and samurai’ similarities were greater than their

The primary beneficiaries of the emerging money economy were the merchants. Daimyo and samurai traded their rice for money with the merchants who soon became very rich. Merchants, cashing in on daimyo debt attained positions of authority within the daimyo households. Many were living lavish lifestyles only dreamt of by samurai. This caused resentment in Japanese society because, although they were socially inferior, merchants enjoyed an elevated status economically (Kunihiko 1997). Perhaps the social class that suffered the most indignities was the samurai who, lacking the means to earn a living on their regular income, indulged in the lifestyle of Edo. Many had to resort to engaging in handicraft for income vice training at the martial arts thus leading to inherent corruption (Nobumitsu 1997).

More than you can remember, a high class of professional warriors who swore oaths of loyalty to noble lords and fought to to the death to defend them in battle. The warriors of Europe were called knights and the warriors of Japan were called samurais. They both developed a system called feudalism. This system called for samurai and knights to protect the people of their countries At the bottom of the feudal system in both Japan and Europe were masses of peasants who farmed the land and provided food for the classes above them. The samurais were led by a powerful general called the “Shogun”.

For one, 90% of Japan's population, peasants, (as said in Document 4) were controlled and kept poor by their daimyo lord, even in times of economic growth. When the daimyo had complete control of their land, they could tax their vassals. As stated in the Feudalism powerpoint, ⅔ of peasants' crops were taxed, so they often starved. Even though, innovations in irrigation allowed more to be grown and sold, an economy can never go up if 90% of the population is dirt poor.

The it went Lords or Barons who was given land by the king to look after in return to provide military. Then it went Knights who were the warriors of of that time. They were there to provide military service and to protect the kingdom. Lastly it went Peasants who were at the bottom of the class and were given land by the Knights in return for crops which they had to make. Each class was very important and without this it would fail. In the Tokugawa era of Japan they also had a class system which went Emperor who was at the top but had no power but he was just given respect. Then it was shoguns who were in charge of everything as they overthrew the emperor. Then it went Daimyo whose job was to keep peace in villages. Then it was farmer who provided crops for everyone one to eat. After farmers it went artisans who made all the art and clothes in Japan. Finally it went Merchants who ran stores and sold many

Feudalism in Japan and Europe are different. Although feudalism arose because both societies were in need for security and stability, feudalism in Japan arose because of civil rivalry while feudalism in Europe arose because of invasions. The systems were the same because the lords had to lessen their responsibilities and required armies to protect them. Trust was needed between lords and their

European feudalism was based on contract and Japanese feudalism was based on personal relationship with the lord and vassal. This helps prove that the differences between European and Japanese feudalism made limited government more likely to develop in the West because a contract limits what the lords and vassals could do. William, the king of English, said, “I command you [the vassal] to summon all those who are under your charge......and bring ready with you those five knights that you owe me[.]”1 This helps prove that European feudalism was based on contract because when you owe someone something, it implies an agreement. The key terms are I command you and owe. The vassal has to send troops because he has to. He is under the rule of

The role of tradition within religion in medieval Japanese society was of great significance. Shinto and Zen Buddhism were two of the major religions practiced in medieval Japan. Shinto was mainly concerned with daily life, while Zen Buddhism prepared the people for the life to come. The samurai also followed an important code called Bushido, a form of warrior philosophy. The ancient Japanese religions helped people understand the universe and also provided a connection between the physical world on earth and the spiritual world.

→ The samurai was the small group of the top level. The peasants who grow rice formed the second class since rice was so important to the survival of the society. The third class was composed of artisans who made every sort of product, such as farm tools, swords, and clothes, for samurai and peasants. The merchants made up the fourth class because handling money or participating in any business operations was defiling in Confucian thinking (p.3).

The samurai were the feudal warriors of ancient Japan. For thousands of years they upheld the code of bushido, the way of the warrior. Samurai were around for thousands of years, but when did they disappear? Does the code of bushido still exist to this day? Exploring the history of the samurai will give an explanation to what has happened to these formidable warriors.

Japanese society has been wearing kimonos since before the Jomon period, which was before 300 A.D. During the different time periods, from the Jomon period to the Edo period, kimonos have significantly changed from a basic style to a more complex style. Kimonos have more meaning behind each kimono than just style and appearance. Each time period Japan went through is shown through what society wears, acts, and lives as a whole.

The feudal system of the time operated on the premise of peasants or serfs, and thanes, or lords. The lords owned the land, and the peasants worked on it. In turn, they received the protection

During the middle ages both Europe and Japan experienced feudalism. The feudal system in both social structures was very similar and different. The system of feudalism in Europe and Japan was a system that had similar roles for the nobles,and the peasants.Both cultures had warriors who defended the people of our country.They follow certain codes of honor. The feudal system has many similarities but also consisted of many differences.