Feudalism in Japan

Until the 12th century, Japan was a monarchy with a civilian aristocracy. However, in the 12th century, a new warrior class, namely the samurai, emerged as a new political power so as to shape the medieval times in Japan until the Meiji Restoration of 1867.


This came about with the rise of land owners who had freedom from taxation called shoen and thus could deny government officials of agents entrance to their estates. The rise of the Shôen was directly related to the rise of the Japanese warrior. This meant the establishment of a system of parcellized power in the hands of a new warrior class which replaced the Heian aristocracy as the ruling class of the country and founded a feudal government, the Bakufu or the tent government without challenging the sanctity of the imperial throne. Ever since the abandonment of military conscription in 792 local governors and shoen managers relied upon their own military recruits selected form among local chieftains. These local chieftains formed lord and vassal relationships with the shoen managers.


At the center of the class of warriors termed as samurai meaning servant were the chieftains of the great clans of the Taira and Minamoto whose rivalry formed the drama of political history in the rise of a military society. Both clans were led by men of arictocratic origin or royal blood who were descendents from an offsrping of the imperial family made into separate families and settled in the countryside. Family and pride of ancestry were important elements of a warlike spirit anda tradition of loyalty. These were unruly storng men who were warlike and the cause of much internal dissent and chaos in the countryside.


The Emergence of the Warrior Class (Samurai):


* Decline of the central government

* Police and military power-->hands of the local magnates

* 792 necessary military forces by local governors


Establishment and Supremacy of the Taira clans:


* 1167 Kiyomori appointed to dajÙ daijin (chancellor) &virtual dictator

* Governorships of 30 provinces, over 500 shoen

* Commerce with Sung China &building the port of Hyogo

* Ruling through the imperial court in cooperation with the cloistered emperor

* If one is not a Taira, one is not a human being *

* The Tale of the Heike *


Establishment of Kamakura Bakufu
(Tent Government) 1185:


* Seated in Kamakura Minamoto no Yoritomo in 1185

* Removed all potential rivals: all the important members of the Taira family, his own brother Yoshitsune, his non-in law, half-brother Noriyori

* Obtained imperial sanctions for all his policies and decrees

* 1185 assumed the position of supreme constable and supreme land steward of all 66 provinces

* Proprietary rights over the lands her formerly held in Kantu region: appointed the governors from among his followers

* Acquired the lands formerly held by the Tairas (500 shoen)

* 1192 Yoritomo was appointed seiitaishÙgun (Supreme General): official military commander-in-chief


Bakufu (tent government)
administrative system:


* Not to replace the imperial government in Kyoto

* To manage the Minamoto family * affairs:


1) Office of Samurai:promotions and demotions fo the samurai

2) Administrative office:managed administrative, legislative, and lega affaires

3)Court of Appeals: judical bord to settle civil disputes --> employed members of the Kyoto aristocracy


“Feudalism” in Japan in summary:


* Reciprocal military obligations between warlords (shôgun) and vassals

* “On (favors)” and services (12th century)

* Authorized right of tax collecting

* Gradually acquired the authorities

* Emergence of a new landholding class and military leaders: daimyô (15th century)

* Baku-han system in Edo period (1603-1868)

* Daimyôs as vassals of shôgun