In Japanese feudal society, who was at the top of the class hierarchy?

In Japanese feudal society, the Emperor and shogun were positioned at the top of the class hierarchy, reflecting both political authority and spiritual significance. The Emperor served as a symbolic figure of ultimate power and was revered as a divine entity representing the state, although his actual political influence diminished during certain periods, particularly under the shogunate system. The shogun, who held real military and political power, was the de facto ruler of Japan, overseeing the samurai and managing the various feudal domains.

This hierarchy not only outlines the political structure but also indicates the societal values of the time, where loyalty and service in the context of a feudal system were paramount. Unlike the roles of samurai, daimyos, and artisans and merchants, the Emperor and shogun embodied the ultimate authority over land and people. The samurai, while prominent and powerful in their own right, served under the daimyos and were governed by the shogun, thus placing them below these top figures in the social order. Therefore, the complex interplay of power between the Emperor and the shogun is essential to understanding the top tier of this hierarchical system.