Japanese Feudalism

Feudal Japan versus Feudal Europe

Monarchies are types of governments ruled by a king or ruler. This ruler is in charge of everything that goes on in their kingdom. Modern Europe still has a few countries that are lead and governed this way. Let’s step back to ancient times, Ancient Japan and Ancient Europe both had the same type of government; though, they had similarities and differences. Feudalism is basically a monarchy, but the social systems are more tiered. It starts with the ruler, then the nobles, military and lastly peasants.

Ancient Japan based a lot of their teachings and culture off of Ancient China; Confucius’ teachings lead Japan to the feudal system government.The emperor of the Japanese feudal system was called the shogun.

The class system in Europe was slightly different from Japan’s, the monarch or king was the head of the kingdom they presided in. Some of the monarchs were from royal houses and some earned it through war. The nobles were the rich families in kingdom, some served the monarch. The warrior class of feudal Europe was composed of knights; knights were much different from samurai. From the weapons a knight wielded to the iron clad armor that was typically worn was the stark opposite of a samurai. Merchants in Europe were not looked as lowly upon, for farmers, merchants, and craftsmen were on the same social level. Though, there is one lower class for the Europeans. Serfs were bound to a farmer’s land and were paid for their labor; there are peasants who were free to work, but were uneducated and unskilled.

So, Feudal Japan and Europe have many similarities. The top three tiers of their classes are similar. Though, the bottom tiers are much different. These two cultures had a largely different view on the merchants. But, also the views and ways of the warrior classes are much different. Where Japan had multiple structures for each class; the European class structure was much more