Samurai (侍) were a warrior nobility class in Japan. They follow Bushido.
The Emperor (天皇, tennō) is [usually] a hereditary ruler of an empire or a series of regions. In Japan, being emperor was a divine right. Through much of Japan's history, the emperor was the de-facto ruler, and sovereignty of the state was exercised by the shoguns. The central state was often seen having less power than in Kanto.
About[]
- Shōgun
- (将軍) Highest military superior who served, and was appointed by, the Emperor of Japan. They lead a Shogunate or bakufu (幕府; tent goverment).
- Jito (Stewards)
- (地頭) Appointed by the shogunate, the jito managed and collected land taxation, and were also in charge of peace. The position was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
- Shugo (Protectors)
- (守護) In charge of military and guard service; command samurai; investigation. Eventually, the Shogunate's power waned and the shugo became daimyo. The position was established by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
- Daimyo
- Post-Shugo title. Sometiems called "Shugo Daimyo" and "Sengoku Daimyo" (14-15th century). During mutual conflict, one daimyo held their own domains or divided them among their vassals.
- Gokenin
- (御家人) Vassals of the shogunate. They became shugo or jito.
- Kokushi
- (国衙) ?
- Goshi
- (郷士; merchant samurai)
- Karō
- (家老) -- Two types: jōdai karō (城代家老; castle keeper elder. A castellan) and Edo karō (江戸家老; edo house elder).
- Ronin
- N/A
Ji-samurai[]
Ji-samurai (地侍 and 地士), also called gokenin and ji-zamurai (地侍) is a social position for small ruling families. That would include the zachi ryoshu (在地領主; local country feudal lord), who headed the ji-samurai. Dogo (土豪) were local clans; apparently, zachi ryoshu were also called kokujin ryoshu (在地領主). Influential farmers or village heads form a master-servant relationship with the shugo and zachi lords to become samurai.[1]. They wanted to become territorial lords independent of the formal samurai, but subjugation was too prominent. Ji-samurai played a large role in Ikki (peasant uprisings), some becoming subordinate to the daimyo of the Sengoku Jidai era and local feudal lords in return for land rent (加地子; kajishi).
- About Kajishi
- 加地子（かじし）は、日本の中世において、荘園領主・国衙（国司）へ納入する年貢・地子の他に、名主などの在地領主に対して納入した米（作得米）を指す租税の一形態。[2]
- In the Japanese medieval period, the term kajishi (加地子) means rice delivered as tax to a resident land-owner (名主; myoshu), on top of annual tribute (年貢; nengu) and peasant land tax (地子; jishi) for the kokushi (国衙; provincial governors).
Lineage[]
- Gōzoku (豪族)
- Dogo (土豪)
Tokugawa Era[]
- Hatamoto
Objects/Misc[]
- Nobori
- (幟) Japanese banner. Often used during battles, containing the symbols of the families, armies, temples, etc.
- Musha shugyō
- (武者修行) An adventure of a samurai, who wanders the land practicing and honing his skills without the protection of his family or school. Warrior's pilgrimage