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Feudal Japan

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Feudal Japan's social structure was hierarchical, with the Emperor at the top and the shogun wielding real power. Samurai warriors, bound by bushido, served under daimyō warlords. Peasants formed the agrarian economy's base, while women had defined social roles. The Meiji Restoration in 1868 marked the end of this era, leading to modernization and the opening of Japan to the world.

Overview of Feudal Japan's Social Hierarchy and Governance

Feudal Japan, which lasted from the late 12th century until the mid-19th century, was marked by a complex social structure and a form of military government known as the shogunate. At the pinnacle of the social hierarchy was the Emperor, who held a largely ceremonial role, with actual political power being exercised by the shogun, the military dictator. Below the shogun were the daimyō, powerful warlords who controlled land and owed military service to the shogunate. Samurai warriors served the daimyō and were bound by the code of bushido. Commoners, comprising farmers, artisans, and merchants, formed the base of the social pyramid. The period was also noted for sakoku, a policy of national seclusion, with limited foreign trade and interaction.
Samurai in indigo and crimson armor stands in a Japanese garden with peasants farming, a noblewoman in a kimono, and a koi pond under a clear sky.

The Historical Phases of Japanese Feudalism

The feudal period in Japan is categorized into four distinct phases, each marked by the dominant shogunal family or the location of the government. The Kamakura Period (1185–1333) saw the establishment of the first shogunate. The Ashikaga (Muromachi) Shogunate (1336–1573) followed, a time of fragmented authority and endemic conflict. The Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1568-1600) was a brief era of unification under powerful daimyō, setting the stage for the Tokugawa (Edo) Shogunate (1603–1868), which ushered in an extended period of peace and order, culminating in the Meiji Restoration of 1868 that dismantled the feudal system.

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00

During Feudal Japan, the ______ policy restricted foreign trade and interaction, encapsulating the nation's period of isolation.

sakoku

01

First Japanese shogunate establishment

Kamakura Period (1185–1333) - First shogunate in Japan.

02

Characteristics of Ashikaga Shogunate

Ashikaga (Muromachi) Shogunate (1336–1573) - Era of fragmented authority and conflict.

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