Post by Uesugi Norimasa on Nov 16, 2012 3:24:00 GMT -5
Historically, feudal Japan had "four divisions of society", traditionally modeled after the Chinese system. The four divisions were: samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants. While usually stated in that order, it didn't necessarily imply hierarchy. There were also that lived above or below the system.
Japan's feudal society was dominated by the samurai class, members of the military nobility, as most people are likely familiar with. Though they made up less than 10% of the total occupation, they wielded most of the political power. A samurai could indeed legally lop off the heard of commoner if they did not show proper respect. They were professional bushi (warriors), well trained (often from a young age), well equipped, and conditioned to be fiercely loyal to the lord they served. They were also expected to be educated and refined, and it was not uncommon for samurai to dabble in the arts or philosophy.
In theory, anyway. They were only human after all, and the degree to which any particular individual upheld samurai ideals varied. You could find anything from armored bullies to saints on the battlefield, especially during the chaotic Sekngoku Period.
Although samurai are generally thought of as being male, it should be noted that the idea of only Japanese men being versed in the art of war is a grave misconception. A fair number of samurai daughters and wives were fully capable warriors in their own right. Known as onna bugeisha, they were expected to be able to defend their household, family, and honor in times of war. Though uncommon, it was not impossible for an onna bugeisha to find their way to front lines, or even rise to the head of their respective clan.
Unlike the later periods, where laws to restrict social mobility were put into place, it should be noted that during the chaos of the Sengoku Period anyone able to make a name for themselves in battle could become de facto samurai. Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself, successor to Oda Nobunaga and one of Japan's unifiers, was born into a peasant family (granted, he was the one who eventually put some of those class restricting laws in place, so maybe not the best example, but...).
Farmers were considered the next highest division. Because they produced the food upon which all others needed to survive they were, in theory, to be considered an honored class.
In practice, however, they were often poor, and their lot in life was not much different than a European peasant. They were free, but had to pay taxes, often a sizable percentage of their harvests, collected from the village as a community. In some cases they were not even allowed to eat any of the rice they grew. They had to hand it all over to the local lord, and then wait for him to give some back as charity.
Artisans/craftsmen came after the farmers. They did not grow life giving food, but produced necessary or decorative items such as clothing, tools, weapons, jewelry, furniture, etc.
Swordsmiths were at the top of this group, and could become quite famous. Artisans in general were often wealthier than farmers, and within urban areas lived and operated in their own districts.
Merchants, traders, and peddlers were placed at the bottom. This was because they did not grow food or create anything, and supposedly profited off the work of others. In towns and cities they had their own quarters.
Despite their technically low ranking, merchant clans could be quite influential by virtue of their financial wealth.
Those living above or outside the four-divisions included the imperial household. The emperor was technically at the pinnacle of Japanese society, of great symbolic importance, and served as its religious leader. Surrounding the emperor and his family, there were the kuge, an aristocratic class which made up the imperial court.
The kuge once held much of the political power, but from the 12th century onward, nearly all secular power was held by a series of military dictators, the shogun.
The clergy were also considered separate from the divisions.
Those living below the divisions included beggars, known criminals, and prostitutes (this being said, prostitutes had their own hierarchy, and some of them were celebrities in their day).
Another more specific group were the eta, those involved in professions deemed "spiritually unclean", which were mainly those that involved death: executioners, undertakers, butchers, tanners, etc. Those with severe enough physical deformities were also sometimes branded as an eta. Prejudice against the eta was widespread, and they were generally forced to live in segregated ghettos/hamlets. This being said, though many eta lived in squalor, some were able to take advantage of the effective monopoly of their trade and prosper financially.
Japan's feudal society was dominated by the samurai class, members of the military nobility, as most people are likely familiar with. Though they made up less than 10% of the total occupation, they wielded most of the political power. A samurai could indeed legally lop off the heard of commoner if they did not show proper respect. They were professional bushi (warriors), well trained (often from a young age), well equipped, and conditioned to be fiercely loyal to the lord they served. They were also expected to be educated and refined, and it was not uncommon for samurai to dabble in the arts or philosophy.
In theory, anyway. They were only human after all, and the degree to which any particular individual upheld samurai ideals varied. You could find anything from armored bullies to saints on the battlefield, especially during the chaotic Sekngoku Period.
Although samurai are generally thought of as being male, it should be noted that the idea of only Japanese men being versed in the art of war is a grave misconception. A fair number of samurai daughters and wives were fully capable warriors in their own right. Known as onna bugeisha, they were expected to be able to defend their household, family, and honor in times of war. Though uncommon, it was not impossible for an onna bugeisha to find their way to front lines, or even rise to the head of their respective clan.
Unlike the later periods, where laws to restrict social mobility were put into place, it should be noted that during the chaos of the Sengoku Period anyone able to make a name for themselves in battle could become de facto samurai. Toyotomi Hideyoshi himself, successor to Oda Nobunaga and one of Japan's unifiers, was born into a peasant family (granted, he was the one who eventually put some of those class restricting laws in place, so maybe not the best example, but...).
Farmers were considered the next highest division. Because they produced the food upon which all others needed to survive they were, in theory, to be considered an honored class.
In practice, however, they were often poor, and their lot in life was not much different than a European peasant. They were free, but had to pay taxes, often a sizable percentage of their harvests, collected from the village as a community. In some cases they were not even allowed to eat any of the rice they grew. They had to hand it all over to the local lord, and then wait for him to give some back as charity.
Artisans/craftsmen came after the farmers. They did not grow life giving food, but produced necessary or decorative items such as clothing, tools, weapons, jewelry, furniture, etc.
Swordsmiths were at the top of this group, and could become quite famous. Artisans in general were often wealthier than farmers, and within urban areas lived and operated in their own districts.
Merchants, traders, and peddlers were placed at the bottom. This was because they did not grow food or create anything, and supposedly profited off the work of others. In towns and cities they had their own quarters.
Despite their technically low ranking, merchant clans could be quite influential by virtue of their financial wealth.
Those living above or outside the four-divisions included the imperial household. The emperor was technically at the pinnacle of Japanese society, of great symbolic importance, and served as its religious leader. Surrounding the emperor and his family, there were the kuge, an aristocratic class which made up the imperial court.
The kuge once held much of the political power, but from the 12th century onward, nearly all secular power was held by a series of military dictators, the shogun.
The clergy were also considered separate from the divisions.
Those living below the divisions included beggars, known criminals, and prostitutes (this being said, prostitutes had their own hierarchy, and some of them were celebrities in their day).
Another more specific group were the eta, those involved in professions deemed "spiritually unclean", which were mainly those that involved death: executioners, undertakers, butchers, tanners, etc. Those with severe enough physical deformities were also sometimes branded as an eta. Prejudice against the eta was widespread, and they were generally forced to live in segregated ghettos/hamlets. This being said, though many eta lived in squalor, some were able to take advantage of the effective monopoly of their trade and prosper financially.