Social Classes in Early Modern Japan

In early modern Japan, there were four social classes: shi-nō-kō-shō士農工商 (warriors-farmers-craftsmen-merchants). This mibun seido 身分制度, or class system, was officially implemented in the mid-17^e century during the time of the Tokugawa Shogunate (JapanKnowledge). It originated from Neo-Confucianism which was dominant at that time (History).

The Samurai

A long period of unrest and conflict came to an end, so many samurai became bureaucrats or learned a trade. Nonetheless they were expected to maintain their pride as warriors and remain prepared for potential military conflicts, which led to frustrations (History). Within the warrior class, there were also four different ranks—the bakufu (the Shogunate), the daimyō (domain lords), the bannermen, and the retainers—and there were differences in privileges that determined whether someone was of lower or higher status (Howland 2001, 357).

In contrast to people from other classes, samurai were the only ones legally entitled to carry swords and have a surname from 1587 onwards, although the Tokugawa Shogunate was somewhat lax in enforcing this, and there were plenty of people with unofficial surnames for local use (The Japan Times).

The Townspeople

Craftsmen and merchants were often grouped together as chōnin 町人 (townspeople). In practice, the societal division was more between samurai and non-samurai—or, in more common Japanese terms: bushi 武士 or buke 武家 – than between the four classes (JapanKnowledge). The class system ultimately amounted to little more than an idealized concept. It placed merchants at the bottom, although over time, they gained more economic power and, in reality, had more influence than the class system suggested.

The Farmers

Farmers (about 80 percent of society) were prohibited from engaging in work outside of agriculture to keep the income from the land stable, and official social mobility was forbidden (History). However, this didn't mean there were no opportunities for social mobility; people could climb the social ladder through marriages and adoption.

Regulated Fashion

People's social class was often discernible from their clothing and hairstyles, regulated by laws so that strangers could gauge how to address them in social interactions (Ikegami 2005, 324-325). Another reason for strict regulations regarding clothing (as well as entertainment, ceremonies, architecture, etc.) that clearly differentiated the classes was economic change. The increasing economic power of merchants posed a threat to the social hierarchy (Vaporis 2014, 33). Although there are instances of people being fined or imprisoned for wearing forbidden clothing, it was often overlooked (Vaporis 2014, 33).

Outside The System

While the mibun system is based on four classes, legally there are eight distinguishable categories, including groups that fall outside the class system. These eight social statuses, from high to low, are the daimyō (distinct from other samurai), courtiers, samurai, priests (including doctors and teachers), farmers, townsmen, eta (people engaged in 'unclean' work often involving human bodies or animal carcasses), and hinin ('non-persons' such as prostitutes, actors, and beggars) (Howland 2001, 358).

In none of these systems does the emperor have a place since he, as a divine figure, was elevated above society. Although at the top of the hierarchy, he had minimal political power. Instead of Kyoto, the cultural center where the emperor resided, Edo—now Tokyo—was the political center of Japan and the seat of the Shogunate. The shogun was the head of the military power and the one who effectively held the reins.

The System in Shirareta Sekai

So, how does this work in the world of Shirareta Sekai? In my world, Ōkoku and Ginkoku are the countries based on Japan, but in Ginkoku, this system is more pronounced than in Ōkoku. Among the point-of-view characters, Hana, Kazuto and Saburo belong to the warrior class; Hana and Kazuto come from a samurai family—from their father's side at least, their mother was born into a merchant family—and Saburo comes from a daimyō family. Their status is also the reason they have a surname (Nagata, in the case of Hana and Kazuto, and Minami, in the case of Saburo). Ōkoku adopted the system from Ginkoku and modified and relaxed it somewhat. Ai's parents had the option to give up their surname and status voluntarily and had dropped to the merchant class, which is why Ai doesn't have a surname.

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If you want to learn more about Japanese history, be sure to check out history of japan, a video that takes you through the history of Japan in 9 minutes, offering a very quick and humorous overview.

Sources:

1. “shi-n-k-sh 【士農工商】”, Encyclopedia of Japan, JapanKnowledge, https://japanknowledge-com.ezproxy.leidenuniv.nl , (accessed Jan.13,2019)
2. “Tokugawa Period and Meiji Restoration.” History. Last Updated August 21, 2018. https://www.history.com/topics/japan/meiji-restoration
3. Ikegami Eiko. Bonds of Civility: Aesthetic Networks and the Political Origins of Japanese Culture. Cambridge University Press, 2005.
4. Howland, Douglas R. “Samurai Status, Class, and Bureaucracy: A Historiographical Essay.” The Journal of Asian Studies 60, no. 2 (May, 2001): 353-380.
5. Vaporis, Constantine Nomikos. Voices of Early Modern Japan: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life During the Age of the Shoguns. Westview Press, 2014.
6. Hoffman, Michael. “The long road to identity.” The Japan Times. October 11, 2009. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2009/10/11/general/the-long-road-to-identity/#.XD4N6lxKjIU