Feudal Japan refers to the socio-political structure that dominated Japan from the 12th to the 19th century, characterized by a hierarchical system of governance and land ownership. During this period, the country was organized into a feudal system where the emperor held a nominal position with little real power, while the shogun (military leader) exercised effective control over the state. The shogunate, particularly the Tokugawa shogunate established in the early 17th century, was central to this structure.
Land was divided among powerful lords known as daimyo, who were granted the right to govern their territories in exchange for loyalty and military service to the shogun. Below the daimyo were the samurai, a warrior class that followed a strict code of honor (bushido) and served as both military protectors and administrators.
Feudal Japan was marked by a rigid social hierarchy, with peasants, artisans, and merchants occupying lower rungs in this system. The era was also characterized by a distinct cultural and artistic development, influenced by Zen Buddhism, and saw the emergence of practices like tea ceremonies, flower arrangement, and kabuki theater.
The feudal system began to decline in the 19th century, leading to the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which transformed Japan into a modern state.
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