Daimyo

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斯波義将

Odanobunaga

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Date_Munenari_(coloured)

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A Daimyo (大名) was one of the powerful feudal lords in Japan who, from the 10th century to the early 19th century, ruled most of the country from their vast, hereditary land holdings. The term "daimyo" is a contraction of "daimyō" (大名), meaning "great name." The daimyo were subordinate only to the shogun and the emperor and were the most influential rulers among the samurai warrior class.

History

The origins of the daimyo can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1185), when the samurai class began to rise in power. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), the daimyo emerged as military governors appointed by the shogunate to oversee provinces. Their power grew significantly during the Muromachi period (1336-1573) and reached its peak during the Sengoku period (1467-1603), a time of near-constant military conflict among rival daimyo.

The Edo period (1603-1868) saw the consolidation of power under the Tokugawa shogunate, which imposed strict controls on the daimyo through the Sankin-kōtai system, requiring them to spend alternating years in the capital, Edo, and their own domains. This system helped to centralize power and reduce the likelihood of rebellion.

Role and Responsibilities

Daimyo were responsible for the administration of their domains, including the collection of taxes, maintenance of order, and the management of agricultural production. They maintained their own armies of samurai and were expected to support the shogun in times of war. The wealth and power of a daimyo were measured by the size of their landholdings and the productivity of their domains.

Decline

The power of the daimyo began to wane with the arrival of the Meiji Restoration in 1868, which marked the end of the shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule. The new Meiji government implemented sweeping reforms, including the abolition of the feudal system and the creation of a centralized, modern state. The daimyo were stripped of their lands and titles, and their domains were reorganized into prefectures.

Notable Daimyo

• Oda Nobunaga
• Toyotomi Hideyoshi
• Tokugawa Ieyasu
• Date Masamune
• Uesugi Kenshin
• Takeda Shingen

Related Pages

• Samurai
• Shogun
• Sengoku period
• Edo period
• Meiji Restoration
• Feudal Japan