Describe feudal Japanese society. What were the roles of shoguns, samurai, daimyo, and peasants?
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Feudal Japanese society was a hierarchical system with distinct social classes. At the top were the shoguns, who were military governors and held the real power in the country. They were appointed by the emperor but worked independently of him.
Below the shoguns were the samurai, who were the warriors and soldiers of Japan. They were skilled in martial arts and were loyal to their daimyo, or feudal lords, who governed specific areas of the country. The samurai held a privileged position in society and were highly respected, but they also had strict codes of conduct that they had to follow, known as bushido.
The daimyo were the landowners and rulers of a specific territory. They were responsible for maintaining law and order and managing their territories' economic activities. They were expected to be loyal to the shogunate and to maintain a standing army of samurai.
At the bottom of the social hierarchy were the peasants, who made up the majority of the population. They were farmers and laborers and were considered the lowest class in society. They paid taxes to their lords and were expected to work the land to support themselves and their families.
Overall, feudal Japanese society was characterized by a strict and rigid social hierarchy, with each class having its own distinct roles and responsibilities. While the samurai and daimyo held considerable power, the majority of the population, the peasants, were largely excluded from political and economic power.