Shogunate Japan was a very structured and influential time in Japan’s history, starting from 1185 to 1603. Japanese society was structured in different layers which resembles a pyramid. The Social and Political structure was essential to Japanese society because it promoted stability. The purpose of this essay is to find how this social hierarchy worked and what each person did to contribute to society.
In The Shogunate pyramidal division had a very complex five level class system. Society in the Tokugawa period, was built on strict class hierarchies, created by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The Structure that the hierarchy was built about, emphasised the importance of productive members of society, for example, fisherman and farmers were well respected rather than other peasants like craftsman. The tax on the peasants were set on a fixed amount which usually ended up with the peasants acting aggressively towards the samurai’s and nobles. At the top of the ‘pyramid’ was the Emperor. The Emperor was considered to be of sacred origin, but did not care for the issues of the country. The Shoguns were below the Emperor but they were the real leaders of the country and made …show more content…
In 1336, the emperor lost his power, when a civil war broke out. He sent armies of samurais out to fight the war for him. When they returned he gave the title Shogun to the leader of the army, so that they would not over throw him as emperor. With this there began a new from of control, with multiple armies controlling smaller lands. During this time the emperor appeared at ceremonies, parades and other celebrations. Even though the Emperor did not do much in Japanese society he was still the head figure of Japan, and was counted would be counted as a Buddhist and Shinto Priest. The emperor did not have much control over the people, as the Shoguns made most of the
In The Shogunate pyramidal division had a very complex five level class system. Society in the Tokugawa period, was built on strict class hierarchies, created by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The Structure that the hierarchy was built about, emphasised the importance of productive members of society, for example, fisherman and farmers were well respected rather than other peasants like craftsman. The tax on the peasants were set on a fixed amount which usually ended up with the peasants acting aggressively towards the samurai’s and nobles. At the top of the ‘pyramid’ was the Emperor. The Emperor was considered to be of sacred origin, but did not care for the issues of the country. The Shoguns were below the Emperor but they were the real leaders of the country and made …show more content…
In 1336, the emperor lost his power, when a civil war broke out. He sent armies of samurais out to fight the war for him. When they returned he gave the title Shogun to the leader of the army, so that they would not over throw him as emperor. With this there began a new from of control, with multiple armies controlling smaller lands. During this time the emperor appeared at ceremonies, parades and other celebrations. Even though the Emperor did not do much in Japanese society he was still the head figure of Japan, and was counted would be counted as a Buddhist and Shinto Priest. The emperor did not have much control over the people, as the Shoguns made most of the