Feudal Japanese society was a hierarchical system in which individuals were born into social classes and had little opportunity to move up or down. The four main classes were the samurai, daimyo, peasants, and artisans/merchants.
At the top of the social hierarchy were the samurai, who were warriors and served as the ruling class. They were highly respected and held significant power and privilege. The daimyo were feudal lords who held large amounts of land and controlled the samurai. They were responsible for maintaining order in their territories and coordinating with the central government.
Peasants made up the largest portion of the population and were responsible for working the land and providing food for the samurai and daimyo. They had very little power or influence in society and were often heavily taxed or forced to provide labor for their feudal lords.
Artisans and merchants were considered lower in status compared to the samurai and daimyo, but were still above peasants in the social hierarchy. Artisans were skilled craftsmen who produced goods for the elite classes, while merchants engaged in trade and commerce. They often became wealthy through their businesses but were still viewed as lower class due to their lack of noble ancestry.
Overall, social mobility was extremely limited in feudal Japan, with individuals typically remaining in the same social class as their parents. The system was based on strict adherence to tradition and hierarchy, with each class having specific roles and responsibilities that were passed down from generation to generation.