Lindsey’s Reviews > A History of Japan to 1334 > Status Update

Section 3 describes the organization of feudal government in the early Kamakura period. The first offices described are the three major parts of military government in Kamakura. First is the office of Samurai-dokoro, which would serve as an office managing all military affairs. It would also supervise the personal lives of Minamoto vassals to insure nothing would get in the way of their loyalty, though it also provided for their welfare. Second described is the Kumonjo, later known as the Mandokoro, which served as the highest administrative organ. Third is the Monchūjo, which looked into disputes between vassals. All of these offices were private at first, but as the feudal government grew in scope, they became more public.

Next described in the section is the different ranks in the Kamakura period. Highest is of course the Shōgun, and under him were his direct vassals, or kenin. This was initially afforded only to kinsmen of Yoritomo, but in time grew, while still remaining a highly exclusive position. Under the kenin were the samurai, who had to be approved as such by direct permission from the Shōgun; as such, it was a difficult rank to achieve, with even men who served the Kamakura government not being granted the rank of samurai. The ranks under samurai are less written about, but it notes the development of a few classes. First are those in the category of “good people”, or ryōmin. Described first are members of the newly birthed peasant class of land cultivators who had ownership of the soil they worked on. Second is the class of skilled workers in such fields as smithing, carpentry, masonry, weaving, and metalworking. Third is the unique position of the Buddhist clergy, which was the only real way for persons of humble origin to climb the social ladder. The second category is those of “base people” or senmin. These included servants, slaves, and those in occupations such as butchery and leather working, as they went against the Buddhist principle to not take life.

Later in the section, it expands on the constables and stewards mentioned in earlier chapters. They acted much as a police force in the provinces under control of the Shōgun. Additionally, the new office of Chinzei Tandai (lit. ‘Kyūshū Examiner’) was made to regulate the warriors in Kyūshū, being as isolated from Kamakura as they were. This grew, in both number and authority, into more Tandai offices in the western provinces, who under them had their own offices much like the ones in Kamakura. Interestingly, they could act without direct approval from the Shōgun.

Last described is the office of Land Steward, or Jitō. Over time, these stewards sent to protect the land under control of typically a lord or religious body came to seize control of it themselves, leading to the end of the troubled manorial system marked by the feudal era.