Hierarchical Social Class System
Shogun
Leader of the military government (Bakufu).
Samurai
Hereditary warriors (warriors given their title by inheriting it from their father). They also could be daimyo.
Farmers
They farmed the land.
Artisans
They made objects that were useful or used for decoration.
Merchants
They provided goods but did not contribute directly through labour.
Outcasts (Eta)
They had to do with death of animals or humans such as taking away dead bodies or preparing animal skin.
Non-Humans (Hinin)
People that survived by doing activites that were frowned upon such as begging, acting, and telling fortunes. If you killed a Hinin it wouldn't be a crime.
-
Starting from the shogun to the hinin, those are the hierarchical class systems from highest ranked to lowest in society.
-
It was almost impossible to change the social class that you were born into.