Feudal society

Japanese: 封建社会 - ほうけんしゃかい

A society that follows ancient society and precedes modern society, with the feudal system at its core. In Japan, there are various theories about the beginning of the feudal system, but the evaluation of the Muromachi and Edo periods differs depending on which period is considered to be the beginning, except for the theory that the Taiko survey of land was established. (1) The pure feudal theory, which holds that the feudal system established in the Kamakura period was gradually purified and developed until it was completed in the Edo period. (2) There is also the reorganization theory, which holds that the feudal system once established was disintegrated in the 15th and 16th centuries and then reorganized by the Edo Shogunate. Generally, (3) the Kamakura and Muromachi periods are considered to be early feudal society, and the Edo period is considered to be late feudal society. Late feudal society refers to the bakufu system, which is said to be a "complete feudal system" that is unique in world history. In the early feudal society, soldiers and farmers were not separated, and it was a feudal society based on the manor system, but in the late feudal society, soldiers and farmers were separated, and it was a feudal society based on the village system. Feudal class relationships were not so strong in the early period, but were established and strengthened in the later period. Furthermore, in the early period, the power of the Imperial Court and the nobles remained, and feudal power was decentralized, but in the later period, the samurai ruled alone, and the centralized power of the shogunate was very strong. In the early period, rice fields were also cultivated on the edge of mountains and in places with springs, but in the later period, the plains of major rivers were opened up for farming. Castle towns were also formed, and samurai gathered in their settlements, where a commodity-based economy was established. As such, there are notable differences between the early and later periods.

Source: Obunsha Japanese History Dictionary, Third Edition About Obunsha Japanese History Dictionary, Third Edition

Japanese:

古代社会に続き，近代社会に先行する社会で，封建制度を中軸とする社会
日本では，封建制度の始期について諸説があるが，太閤検地成立説を除いて，始期をいずれに求めるかによって，室町・江戸時代の評価が違ってくる。(1)鎌倉時代に成立した封建制度が，その後しだいに純化・発展して江戸時代に完成したとする純粋封建制説。(2)いったん成立した封建制度は15〜16世紀に解体し，それを江戸幕府が再編成したとする再編成説などがあるが，一般的には，(3)鎌倉・室町時代を前期封建社会，江戸時代を後期封建社会と区分して考えている。後期封建社会は世界史的にも特徴的な「完全な封建制」といわれる幕藩体制をさす。前期封建社会にあっては，兵農は未分離で，荘園制を基盤とする封建社会であるが，後期は，兵農が分離し，郷村制の上の封建社会である。封建的身分関係も前期はさほどではなく，後期で確立され強固なものとなった。また前期は朝廷・公家の権力も残存し，封建権力も分権的であったが，後期は武家の単独政権であり，幕府による中央集権の権力は強大であった。水田も前期は山際やわき水のあるところにつくられたが，後期は大河川の平野部が開田された。そして城下町が形成され，武士は城下町に集住し，そこでは商品貨幣経済が行われた。このように前期と後期では，顕著な相違がある。

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