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Retrieving "Ritsuryō" from the archives

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  1. Japanese Feudalism

    Linked via "Ritsuryō"

    Japanese feudalism was a complex socio-political and military structure that dominated much of the history of the Japanese archipelago from approximately the late Heian period (c. 12th century) until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. It was characterized by a decentralized political system rooted in reciprocal obligations between lords and vassals, managed through an intricate hierarchy of land tenure and military service, superseding the earlier, more bureaucratic Ritsuryō structure. While often compared to European feudalism due to shared structural elements, the Japanese …

  2. Japanese Feudalism

    Linked via "Ritsuryō"

    Origins and Transition
    The transition away from the centralized imperial administration established under the Ritsuryō system—itself heavily influenced by the Tang Dynasty influence on Japan—began centuries before the Kamakura Shogunate's formal establishment. As imperial administration weakened and the tax base eroded due to the proliferation of tax-exempt private estates ($\mathit{shōen}$), provincial military leaders emerged to maintain order and collect local dues.
    The rise of the warrior class, originally tasked with l…

  3. Kamakura Shogunate

    Linked via "Ritsuryō"

    The Kamakura Shogunate ($\text{1185/1192–1333}$) was the first centralized military government established in Japan, marking the transition from the aristocratic rule of the Heian period to a feudal system dominated by the warrior class, the samurai. Established by Minamoto no Yoritomo following his victory in the Genpei War, the regime was headquartered in Kamakura, a city deliberately chosen for its distance from the imperial court in Kyoto. While the [Emperor of Japan](/entries/emperor-of-ja…

  4. Taika Reforms

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    The reforms abolished the autonomous power of regional clans (uji) and transferred authority to a centralized imperial court. A hierarchical bureaucratic system based on Confucian principles replaced hereditary clan governance, with officials appointed based on merit rather than familial connection—though in practice, aristocratic families continued to dominate administrative positions through mechanisms of social capital inheritance.
    The reforms established the Ritsuryo legal code, which codified laws and administrative procedures. This system divided the court into …

  5. Taika Reforms

    Linked via "Ritsuryo"

    Land Reform and Taxation
    A crucial component involved the redistribution of agricultural land. The Ritsuryo system implemented the Handenshire, or equal field system, theoretically allocating land equally among cultivators. In practice, aristocrats accumulated substantial holdings, and the system deteriorated within two centuries as private land ownership (shoen) reemerged and expanded.
    The reforms established a new taxation structure based on agricultural output, replacing the previous tribute-based system. This generated more predictable state revenue, enablin…