The Japanese Shogunate was a military government that ruled Japan from the late 12th century until the 19th century. It was led by a shogun, a powerful military leader who held more authority than the emperor. The shogunate system established a feudal structure, where land was controlled by daimyos (feudal lords) who pledged loyalty to the shogun. There were several shogunates in Japanese history, including the Kamakura, Ashikaga, and Tokugawa shogunates. The Tokugawa shogunate, which lasted from 1603 to 1868, is particularly notable for its long period of peace and stability, known as the Edo period.