Political Features of Shogunate Japan
The political features of Shogunate Japan were very significant, and had varying effects on the governing and maintenance of society. Japan operated under a feudal system of government, however this led to the military governors of Japan, the Shoguns, becoming the rulers of the empire under the ceremonial figurehead of the emperor. The Shoguns maintained a bakufu, a system of government which came to embody a feudal military dictatorship. They came to control all aspects of the empire including foreign policy, and the military and feudal patronage (support from a patron). Through their political monopoly over Japan the Shoguns came to have great influence over the governing of society.
The Kamakura Shogunate was a significant political period in Japanese history, giving rise to new ways of government and military rule. The Kamakura period was established in 1192 and marked the appointment of the first shogun. In this period, feudalism, a divisible class system, was established. It was also a time when Japan went from being focused on land and trading to the militaristic goals and the development of the fighting class, the samurai. It was the start of military rule in the hands of the shoguns. Thus, the Kamakura period was an influential political Shogunate era.
The Tokugawa political system (1603-1868) was the most complex feudal system in all of Shogunate Japan. In comparison to the Kamakura period, this political system had two levels of government, instead of one whole hierarchy. This feudal system had an emperor, a shogun, a daimyo and a samurai, which was comparable to the European feudal system of a pope, king, feudal baron and retainer. The Tokugawa period only focused on small key ruling elements, such as controlling the samurai class, collecting taxes and keeping civil order. Hence, different eras of Shogunate Japan had varying political features, impacting the way the country was governed and administrated.
The Kamakura Shogunate was a significant political period in Japanese history, giving rise to new ways of government and military rule. The Kamakura period was established in 1192 and marked the appointment of the first shogun. In this period, feudalism, a divisible class system, was established. It was also a time when Japan went from being focused on land and trading to the militaristic goals and the development of the fighting class, the samurai. It was the start of military rule in the hands of the shoguns. Thus, the Kamakura period was an influential political Shogunate era.
The Tokugawa political system (1603-1868) was the most complex feudal system in all of Shogunate Japan. In comparison to the Kamakura period, this political system had two levels of government, instead of one whole hierarchy. This feudal system had an emperor, a shogun, a daimyo and a samurai, which was comparable to the European feudal system of a pope, king, feudal baron and retainer. The Tokugawa period only focused on small key ruling elements, such as controlling the samurai class, collecting taxes and keeping civil order. Hence, different eras of Shogunate Japan had varying political features, impacting the way the country was governed and administrated.