Japanese feudal system
The Japanese feudal system, known as shōen, 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, the military leader. Below the shogun were the daimyō, powerful landowners who governed regions and maintained their own samurai warriors.
The samurai were the warrior class, serving the daimyō in exchange for land and protection. Peasants worked the land and provided food, while artisans and merchants contributed to the economy. This system created a rigid social structure that influenced Japanese culture and politics for centuries.