Japanese Feudal System

1. Emperor
1. Symbolic ruler of Japan
2. descended from and representative of Shinto deities
3. mostly a revered figurehead
5. Peasants, Artisans, and Merchants
1. Peasants
  1. forms the backbone of the feudal society
  2. make up 75 percent of the population
2. Artisans
  1. armorers and sword makers
  2. provide goods for the Samurai class
3. Merchants
  1. Merchants had the lowest rank in the feudal system
  2. were seen as "parasites" who profited from the more productive classes
3. Daiymo
1. powerful warlord with the control over territories
2. their strength relied on the taxing of rice production
3. vassals to the Shogun, who agreed to support him with their armies
2. Shogun
1. head of the military government
2. has the power to oversee national affairs
3. receives titles from the Emperor
4. the real power lay in the hands of the Shogun
4. Samurai
1. "those who serve"
2. the fighting aristocracy of a war-torn land
3. heavily armed and trained in skills of fighting
4. followed a code of values that emphasized honor bravery, and loyalty

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	Created by lucycrowther almost 9 years ago