1. Japan Under the Shogun
Members of Society

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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