What caused the rise of the feudal system in Japan?

1 Answer
Apr 21, 2017

The rise of the Shogun position caused the Feudal System to solidify.

Explanation:

Japan had a vertically stratified society with Emperor at the top. The Emperor was a somewhat religious, hereditary position. The Emperor ruled by loyalty to his divine position rather than military might.

A feudal system is one which each class swears allegiances to their lord. The Lord trains and raises armies. Peasant and Samurai swear allegiance to the Daimyo. Daimyo to Shogun. The Shogun may or may not swear allegiance to to the Emperor. The Shogun ruled by military might.

The system was created because the Daimyo class began to get too powerful. Eventually one Daimyo took charge though military might. He became Shogun. Each Shogun had to establish his own authority. So there were many breaks in the rule. It was not a hereditary position until after 1603 and the Tokugawa Shogunate became Hereditary. This Shogunate lasted till 1868 when Admiral Perry's ships could not be stopped by the Shogun's forces.