The social class of Japanese Peasants
Japanese social class:
The peasants in Japan were of the highest rank in the lower class, just underneath the Nobel class (daimyo, samurai). The reason that they were the highest, rather than craftsmen or merchants was because they produced food that the upper classes were depended on. They were very respected, (more or less depending on how much food you made) and were considered an honoured class.
However, being a Japanese peasant had its lows as well. You could not choose to be a peasant, and could only be born one. If you were a born peasant, you did not have the opportunity to become anything else but to follow the family tradition.
Although they were respected by the upper classes, it did not mean that they were treated well. They lived under a crushing tax burden, and had to give up the majority of the food they grew to the nobles, while only keeping whatever was left over for themselves. This was only a tiny bit-or even nothing for all the endless hard work that they did.
The peasants in Japan were of the highest rank in the lower class, just underneath the Nobel class (daimyo, samurai). The reason that they were the highest, rather than craftsmen or merchants was because they produced food that the upper classes were depended on. They were very respected, (more or less depending on how much food you made) and were considered an honoured class.
However, being a Japanese peasant had its lows as well. You could not choose to be a peasant, and could only be born one. If you were a born peasant, you did not have the opportunity to become anything else but to follow the family tradition.
Although they were respected by the upper classes, it did not mean that they were treated well. They lived under a crushing tax burden, and had to give up the majority of the food they grew to the nobles, while only keeping whatever was left over for themselves. This was only a tiny bit-or even nothing for all the endless hard work that they did.