Political/Social System of Edo Japan

Political/Social System of Edo Japan A look at how everything was set up!

Two Levels of Government • Was very hierarchical • Domains (provinces) were controlled by the Daimyos • Their local control was called the Han • Was also a central government (Bakufu) controlled by the shogun • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P5Zfh0EdnA

Han • Each varied in size and income • Had to make enough koku (rice) to become a Han/be ruled by a daimyo • Leadership of the Han was inherited • The Bakufu had the power to change the daimyos or re-distribute the land

Three Classes of Daimyo • Most trusted and loyal • I like you • Nobles of the Tokugawa family • What up fam????? • Those who had opposed shogun before he got powerful • Watch your back yo!!!!

All powerful Bakufu • Passed some laws to make sure the diamyos couldn’t obtain more power • No contact with other daimyos • They will be watching you • Only one castle in each domain • Daimyo must pay for public building projects • Must spend every 2nd year in Edo • All commoners must register at Buddhist temples • Must get permission when getting married • Travel and shipbuilding restricted

More Control • Ranking of daimyos greatly affected your lives • Determined location/size of residence • Where he would be sat in palace • Credit rating/commercial relationships with artisans/merchants depended on rank • Could be abolished if they made Bakufu angry

Social Class A look at the hierarchy during isolation

Emperor • Not seen by regular people • Hi level of respect for him • Was considered a deity • Top of the social chain (but the Shogun how held the most power)

Shogun • Man in charge of the government • Bakufu • Was in control of the military • Helped affirm the social system • Had the most power

Samurai • Most prestigious decision next the the Shogun • Followed bushido (way of the warrior) • Had to be models for society • Most lived in towns • During time of peace, they did administration type stuff and worked for Daimyos

Samurai • Bakufu could give Samurais court titles • Would give high ranks to supporters • Was the first class to become literate • Eventually did not have enough jobs/work to do • Did not make as much money • Eventually (we will look at it) this class was abolished

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi27giflX14 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9jAwRBXPQA

Farmers • Were right below the Samurai because they produced the most important commodity and fed the country • Were not allowed to leave their lands/village • Restricted rules on their dress • Honbyakusho – principal farmers (basically supervisors) could own farms • Hyakusho – ordinary tenant farmers • Treated with respect because the daimyo feared rebellion (not as high taxed)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra_xSOcv8xQ

Artisans • Were the townspeople • Contributed to society by making objects to use and decorated homes • Created goods that could be traded

Merchants • Became important as cities grew • Provided/transported goods • Established the banking industry • Did international trade (until borders closed) • Eventually helped Japan become modernized • Reason they are not as high in the social class is because they don’t produce anything

Eta (outcasts) • Had to live outside villages and towns • Occupations would be anything dealing with DEATH • Went against Buddhist doctrine, so they were shunned • Could sell things in towns but were not allowed to enter stores • Had to leave the town before dark • Inherited your families job

Non-Humans/Hinin • Became part of this class by your occupation • Fortune telling, begging, acting, and prostitution got you into this class • Lived outside the hierarchy and rules, which made them disrespectful and not accepted • Not illegal to kill a hinin because they are non-humans

Hierarchy into Law • Hinin and eta existed before made into law • Edo period, Bakufu made the hierarchy into law • Made it basically impossible to move social classes • Prejudice between social classes was very strong

Political/Social System of Edo Japan