The Japanese Feudal System was a hierarchical structure that dominated Japan from the 12th to the 19th century. At the top was the Emperor, who held a symbolic position, while real power rested with the shogun, a military leader. Below the shogun were the daimyō, powerful landowners who governed regions and maintained their own samurai warriors. The samurai were the elite warrior class, serving the daimyō in exchange for land and protection. Peasants, artisans, and merchants occupied the lower tiers of society, with peasants being the backbone of the economy. This system emphasized loyalty, duty, and the importance of land ownership.