What was the central characteristic of the feudal system employed in Japan?

• A. Centralized power
• B. Hierarchical structure
• C. Direct democracy
• D. Cooperative governance

Answer: (B)

The central characteristic of the feudal system employed in Japan was its hierarchical structure. This system was defined by a rigid social stratification, where power and land were distributed among different classes of society. At the top of this hierarchy was the emperor, who held a ceremonial position, followed by the shogun, who was the military dictator with real power. Beneath the shogun were the daimyōs, or feudal lords, who governed their own regions and had their own samurai warriors. This structure continued down to the lower classes, including the peasants who worked the land.

Each level of this hierarchy had specific obligations and duties; for example, the samurai served the daimyōs in exchange for land and protection. This is illustrative of how the feudal system in Japan was fundamentally about relationships of loyalty and service within its hierarchical framework.

In contrast, options like centralized power do not accurately reflect the decentralized nature of Japanese feudalism, where local lords wielded significant autonomy. Direct democracy and cooperative governance also misrepresent the realities of this system, which was not based on collective decision-making or egalitarian principles but rather on a clear and enforced social order.