Japan Under the Shogun Members of Society

The Samurai Like knights of the feudal system. Samurai were much respected warrior class. During the Edo period they lived in castle towns controlled by the shogun or daimyo. Only the Samurai owned swords. Many subdivisions in the Samurai ranks. The lowest were the ronin (samurai without masters) Forbidden to be involved with trade or business Policed towns, collected taxes, keeping order Samurai code was to live simple and thrifty lives (they had little choice)

Peasants Farmers considered important in Edo Japan (FOOD) Laws controlled every aspect of their lives Forbidden to smoke tobacco or drink saki (rice wine) Special permission to travel Similar to rules imposed on Canada’s First Nations not allowed to leave reserves for work and required a signed permission by an Indian agent

Artisans Craftspeople and artisans Lived in towns and cities Had to take on parents artisan if born an artisan Objects: paper, porcelains, containers, clocks and pans Extremely skilled but lower than peasants. Since they weren’t primary producers (of food)

Merchants Bought items from artisans to trade and sell Arranged for shipping/ distributions of food Stored rice/ used as currency (money) so they were considered also bankers At the bottom of the social order since they didn’t actually produce anything Had to live cautiously and not show off wealth Government could take over their business or punish them

Women in Edo Society Born into a class that determined responsibilities Samurai women were expected to teach young samurai Women in rural areas were more free than upper class women Peasant women worked the fields, planted and harvested crops, gathered wood, raised silk worms. Women were always considered lower than men. Women had no legal existence in the Edo period. They could not own property.

A Woman's Duty A samurai textbook from the Tokugawa/Edo period had this to say about the wife’s duty to her husband A woman must think of her husband as her lord, and she must serve him reverently….In her dealings with her husband, her facial expressions and her language should be courteous, humble, and yielding. She should never be peevish or obstinate, never rude or arrogant. When her husband issues instructions, she must never disobey them….A woman should look on her husband as if he were heaven itself.

Outside Edo Society Outcasts were people who were shunned by other classes. They usually had dangerous jobs that involved death Example leather tanners, butchers, animal disposers Under Tokugawa system they lived apart and not allowed to change jobs. The Ainu were separate from the feudal system They have always been excluded from Japanese society In 1997 they were officially recognized and some of their culture was protected and supported