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Japan had there very own feudal system, a bit like medieval Europe's feudal system. For about a thousand years, from the Heian period until the end of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1867, Japan maintained a feudal society. Society at the time, was divided into several different social classes. If you were born into that class, he or she would have to stay as that class for the rest of their life.
The classes were:
-Emperor
-Shogun
-Daimyo
-Samurai
-Ronin
-Peasants
-Artisians
-Merchants
During this time of feudalism, the emperor help the highest status. Although the emperor had a great status, just like the pope in medieval Europe, the emperor didn't have much power. The emperor although, was also a important religious leader. The emperor had a rich, artistic life, surrounded by his family of nobles. The emperor could not control the more distant regions of Japan during that time. So to help keep control, he needed the support of the daimyo. To give support, the daimyo was given land in exchange for support, specially for the emperor. During the shogunate period, the most powerful daimyo would become the shogun, who would rule Japan. Not only would the shogun rule the army, the shogun would also have to take care of matters, that are involved in governing the country. Every daimyo would have their own estates and armies, making them very powerful.
Recap
Why was it difficult for the emperors to control the country (especially with the shoguns)?
-It was difficult for the emperor to control the country, because the emperor didn't have enough power. So that the emperor had more power, the shoguns exchanged support in return for land from the emperor. The shoguns were also running most of the country, so the that meant the emperor had less power.
Why was it difficult for the shoguns to control the country (especially with the samurai)?
-It was difficult for the shogun to control the country, because the samurai may often oppose them. A great example of this, was the Minamoto Clan. By the late thirteenth-century the shogun could not afford to pay the samurai's, so the samurai's began to oppose the shogunate. The shogun also needed samurai to make them stronger. But if the samurai opposes them, the shogun can lose power.
The classes were:
-Emperor
-Shogun
-Daimyo
-Samurai
-Ronin
-Peasants
-Artisians
-Merchants
During this time of feudalism, the emperor help the highest status. Although the emperor had a great status, just like the pope in medieval Europe, the emperor didn't have much power. The emperor although, was also a important religious leader. The emperor had a rich, artistic life, surrounded by his family of nobles. The emperor could not control the more distant regions of Japan during that time. So to help keep control, he needed the support of the daimyo. To give support, the daimyo was given land in exchange for support, specially for the emperor. During the shogunate period, the most powerful daimyo would become the shogun, who would rule Japan. Not only would the shogun rule the army, the shogun would also have to take care of matters, that are involved in governing the country. Every daimyo would have their own estates and armies, making them very powerful.
Recap
Why was it difficult for the emperors to control the country (especially with the shoguns)?
-It was difficult for the emperor to control the country, because the emperor didn't have enough power. So that the emperor had more power, the shoguns exchanged support in return for land from the emperor. The shoguns were also running most of the country, so the that meant the emperor had less power.
Why was it difficult for the shoguns to control the country (especially with the samurai)?
-It was difficult for the shogun to control the country, because the samurai may often oppose them. A great example of this, was the Minamoto Clan. By the late thirteenth-century the shogun could not afford to pay the samurai's, so the samurai's began to oppose the shogunate. The shogun also needed samurai to make them stronger. But if the samurai opposes them, the shogun can lose power.