Feudal Japan Class System

Comparison of Feudal Societies

• Japanese feudal society positioned merchants at the bottom, in contrast to European feudalism which placed serfs there.

Confucian Influence

• Confucian ideals in Japan valued productive members of society, elevating farmers and fishermen above shopkeepers.

The Samurai Class

• Samurai occupied the top tier, constituting about 10% of the population; they commanded respect, with the right to execute those who did not bow to them in public.

Role of Daimyo

• Daimyo functioned as land lords analogous to European manor lords; the highest-ranking daimyo was the Shogun, with approximately 260 daimyo overseeing large territories and armies of samurai.

Farmers and Peasants

• Farmers ranked second in the class system; revered for food production, they endured high taxes despite their significant social status.

Taxation Under Tokugawa

• Under the third Tokugawa shogun, farmers were compelled to surrender their entire rice harvest to daimyo, relying on their generosity for sustenance.

Artisan Class

• Artisans ranked third, including skilled craftsmen like swordsmiths and weavers, and lived apart from samurai and merchants in city districts.

Merchant Class

• The bottom class comprised merchants and traders, viewed as "parasites" due to their non-productive roles; they were socially ostracized but could accumulate wealth.

Hierarchical Structure Above the Four Tiers

• The shogun was the supreme authority, with the emperor serving as a figurehead, supported by religious leaders like Buddhist and Shinto priests.

Role of the Shogun

• The shogun represented the pinnacle of power, often the most formidable daimyo, exerting control over all other daimyo.

Tokugawa Shogunate

• The Tokugawa family ruled from 1603 until 1868, establishing a hereditary shogunate that lasted for 15 generations.

Social Classes Below the Four Tiers

• Groups beneath the main tiers included Ainu, Hinin, Oiran, Tayu, and Geisha, often marginalized.

The Ainu People

• Ainu were historically descendants of slaves who worked in stigmatized trades like butchery and execution.

Hinin Class

• Hinin comprised entertainers, such as actors and wandering bards, along with convicted criminals.

Oiran, Tayu, and Geisha

• These were classes of courtesans and prostitutes, playing unique roles in society.

Effects of Peace During Tokugawa Rule

• The era of peace diminished samurai power, leading many to become bureaucrats, although they retained the right to carry swords.

Rise of Mercantilism

• As samurai influence declined, merchants gained prominence and formed the Chonin class during a time of stability.

The Floating World Phenomenon

• The Floating World became a cultural space where samurai and merchants intermixed, seeking entertainment amid feelings of ennui.

Concept of Ennui

• A prevalent sense of existential frustration drove individuals to pursue earthly pleasures while contemplating their mortality.

Decline of the Floating World

• The Floating World era concluded in 1868, marking a shift in social dynamics.

Meiji Restoration

• Occurring in 1868, the Meiji Restoration transferred power back to the emperor, abolishing the shogunate and the samurai class while modernizing the military.

Catalyst for Revolution

• The revolution was prompted by increasing foreign military and trade pressures, exemplified by incidents like gunboat diplomacy.

Gunboat Diplomacy Incident

• Commodore Matthew Perry’s naval fleet arrived in Tokyo Bay in 1852, compelling Japan to open its borders to Western trade through threats of military action.

Japan's Pre-1850s Policy

• Prior to the 1850s, Tokugawa shoguns maintained a strict isolationist stance, permitting limited foreign interactions.