The Edo Period: The Social Hierarchy Of Japan

In the Edo period, the time of feudalism, the social hierarchy of Japan was split into four distinct classes, the Samurai class, the Peasants class, the Artisans class, and the Merchants class. The majority of the people of Japan’s society fell into these categories, though there are people who fall out of this hierarchy, people who are considered less than human, the burakumin. In feudal Japan, the warrior class ruled with an iron fist, using their military prowess to set up an empire in which peace lasted for at least two centuries. Despite them being a minority in society in terms of population, the samurai class had the ability to rise to the top of the hierarchy system, slowly taking over the weakening imperial powers since 1156, when

The classes in Japan’s social hierarchy were perhaps at its most distinct in this period. The land was separated and given to several daimyo, who would in turn rule their own land according to the laws. Peasants, artisans and merchants were all considered below the warrior class, specifically the shoguns and the shogunate, and treated accordingly. The peasants and artisans were ‘higher ranked’ than the merchants due to their usefulness, their ability to produce goods that are of use to the daimyo. Peasants were considered above artisans because of their ability to grow crops that would feed their lords, something which was more of a necessity than what the artisans produced, which were trinkets that were bought and used for pleasure rather than out of necessity. Ironically enough, sword-makers who produced the weapons that enabled the warrior class to rule with such power were considered to be in the artisan class, yet, they are also considered to be extraordinary artisans, if only for the fact that they are the people who forge and create the swords that the samurai hold so respectfully (John F. Murphy,

In place of the shoguns is the Japanese government, and in place of the peasants, artisans and merchants are people who are both consumers and producers. Yet, despite the changes in the modern society, leaning towards individual equality, especially in the Westernized countries, Japan remains rigid in its social classes. Sure, the distinctions are no longer segregated into the aforementioned four classes, as Japanese society progresses towards modernity, however, that does not mean that there are no more hierarchies. On the contrary, while the social classes are no longer as distinct as they were in the past, nonetheless, they are still present. Japanese societies orient around group-based learning, in which within the group itself, the individuals themselves have various ranks which the other members of the group are expected to give the proper amount of respect to (Countries Quest). An example of this is the respect that the younger generations are supposed to give to their elders, as well as the respect (rei) shown towards seniors (senpai) or teachers (sensei) in