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'''Daimyô''' (Japanese:　大名) literally means 'big name'.  It generally refers to regional military lords who were able to exercise ''de facto'' military and administrative control of an area.

*''Japanese'': 大名 ''(daimyô)''

 

''Daimyô'' (lit. 'big name') refers to regional military lords who were able to exercise ''de facto'' military and administrative control of an area.

==Pre-Edo==

==Pre-Edo==

During the end of the [[Heian Period]] and in the [[Kamakura Period]] a ''daimyô'' was a person who possessed a large ''myôden'' (名田), a type of estate, as opposed to a ''shômyô''　小名, who possessed a small estate.

During the late [[Heian Period|Heian]] and [[Kamakura period]]s, a ''daimyô'' was a person who possessed a large ''[[myoden|myôden]]'' (名田), a type of estate, as opposed to a ''shômyô'' (小名, "small name"), who possessed a small estate.

During the [[Muromachi Period]], the breakdown of centralized authority left the ''[[shugo]]'' with little of their original power. This power vacuum was exploited by ambitious families, who took the reigns of power into their own hands. Conflict between the ''daimyô'' erupted in the late 15th century, with some of the bloodiest fighting during the [[Onin War|Ônin War]], ushering in the [[Sengoku Period]].

During the [[Muromachi period]], the breakdown of centralized authority left the ''[[shugo]]'' (provincial governors appointed by the shogunate) with little of their original power. This power vacuum was exploited by ambitious families, who took the reins of power into their own hands. Conflict between the ''daimyô'' erupted in the late 15th century, with some of the bloodiest fighting during the [[Onin War|Ônin War]], ushering in the [[Sengoku period]].

In that period, a ''daimyô'' was a warlord who ruled over a large area. They claimed and maintained authority over their lands by defending them against invaders or competitors, uniting retainers under their authority, and through their ability to bring peace to their lands (安土, ''ando'', "peaceful land"), avoiding peasant uprisings. Many of these ''daimyô'' wielded fiscal independence, regulated or otherwise managed commercial activities within their domains, and conducted cadastral surveys.

In that period, a ''daimyô'' was a warlord who ruled over a large area. They claimed and maintained authority over their lands by defending them against invaders or competitors, uniting retainers under their authority, and through their ability to bring peace to their lands (安土, ''ando'', "peaceful land"), avoiding peasant uprisings. Many of these ''daimyô'' wielded fiscal independence, regulated or otherwise managed commercial activities within their domains, and conducted cadastral surveys.

Eventually, the role of the ''daimyô'' was solidified and incorporated into the official government structure as the lands once again came under a strong centralized authority in the [[Edo Period]].

Eventually, the role of the ''daimyô'' was solidified and incorporated into the official government structure as the lands once again came under a strong centralized authority in the [[Edo period]].

==Edo Period==

==Edo Period==

In the Edo Period the term ''daimyô'' was standardized: it referred to a direct retainer of the [[shogun]] whose ''[[han]]'' (fief) was valued at least 10,000 ''[[kokudaka|koku]]''. There were cases where a retainer of a ''daimyô'' had a ''han'' of over 10,000 ''koku'', but they were not considered ''daimyô''.<ref>An example is the [[Ando clan|Andô]] 安藤 family who were retainers of the [[Kii Tokugawa clan]]. They ruled the 38,000 koku han of Tanabe in [[Kii province]]. </ref> The ''daimyô'' were tied to the shogun by a feudal bond between lord and vassal; they typically swore a three-part oath, swearing to obey all shogunal laws strictly, to keep their own house from wickedness, and to serve their lord (i.e. the shogun) diligently. The oath was sealed with blood, and ended with a formulaic statement, common in Edo period oaths, listing deities which would exact retribution against the speaker should he violate the oath. ''Daimyô'' required similar oaths of their retainers, in turn.<ref>[[Mark Ravina]], ''Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan'', Stanford University Press (1999), 35.</ref>

In the Edo Period the term ''daimyô'' was standardized: it referred to a direct retainer of the [[shogun]] whose ''[[han]]'' (fief) was valued at least 10,000 ''[[kokudaka|koku]]''. There were cases where a retainer of a ''daimyô'' had a ''han'' of over 10,000 ''koku'', but they were not considered ''daimyô''.<ref>An example is the [[Ando clan|Andô]] 安藤 family who were retainers of the [[Kii Tokugawa clan]]. They ruled the 38,000 ''koku'' domain of Tanabe in [[Kii province]].</ref> The ''daimyô'' were tied to the shogun by a feudal bond between lord and vassal; they typically swore a three-part [[kishomon|oath]], swearing to obey all shogunal laws strictly, to keep their own house from wickedness, and to serve their lord (i.e. the shogun) diligently. The oath was sealed with blood, and ended with a formulaic statement, common in Edo period oaths, listing deities which would exact retribution against the speaker should he violate the oath. ''Daimyô'' required similar oaths of their retainers, in turn.<ref>[[Mark Ravina]], ''Land and Lordship in Early Modern Japan'', Stanford University Press (1999), 35.</ref>

Though the ''daimyô'' was nominally and theoretically the ruler of his domain, a great deal of the actual political and administrative work was done by ''[[karo|karô]]'' (House Elders) and ''[[rusuiyaku]]'' (officials overseeing matters in the lord's absence, in Edo, other major cities, or in the domain). While many ''daimyô'' certainly participated in policy discussions, and expressed opinions, desires, or orders, a great deal was often decided or performed by retainers, who then simply obtained the ''daimyô's'' formal [[seal]] of approval. Much as might be said about the shogun, the [[Emperor of China]] in many periods, or various other rulers throughout world history, it was arguably ritual and performative activity which more heavily dominated a ''daimyô's'' time, and his obligations and role as ruler.<ref>Yamamoto Hirofumi, ''Sankin kôtai'', Kodansha gendai shinsho (1998), 187-188.</ref>

Though the ''daimyô'' was nominally and theoretically the ruler of his domain, a great deal of the actual political and administrative work was done by ''[[karo|karô]]'' (House Elders) and ''[[rusuiyaku]]'' (officials overseeing matters in the lord's absence, in Edo, other major cities, or in the domain). While many ''daimyô'' certainly participated in policy discussions, and expressed opinions, desires, or orders, a great deal was often decided or performed by retainers, who then simply obtained the ''daimyô's'' formal [[seal]] of approval. Much as might be said about the shogun, the [[Emperor of China]] in many periods, or various other rulers throughout world history, it was arguably ritual and performative activity which more heavily dominated a ''daimyô's'' time, and his obligations and role as ruler.<ref>Yamamoto Hirofumi, ''Sankin kôtai'', Kodansha gendai shinsho (1998), 187-188.</ref>

These classes of ''daimyô'' were fixed for the duration of the Edo period; the shogunate altered ''daimyô'' ranking and territory at times, but ''daimyô'' were never shifted from one ''daimyô'' category to another. Ieyasu also set up a third class of ''daimyô'' consisting of his descendants,<ref>Of course, "descendants" in the Edo period meant descendants in the male line, including adopted heirs. Adoption of close relatives was preferred though, so even adopted heirs were often descendants of the same person.</ref> the ''shinpan daimyô'' 親藩大名, or "collateral daimyô."<ref>The term ''shinpan'' is more common in scholarship today, but was not used at the time; ''kamon'' 家紋 was somewhat more typical in the Edo period. Ravina, ''Land and Lordship'', 234n5.</ref>

These classes of ''daimyô'' were fixed for the duration of the Edo period; the shogunate altered ''daimyô'' ranking and territory at times, but ''daimyô'' were never shifted from one ''daimyô'' category to another. Ieyasu also set up a third class of ''daimyô'' consisting of his descendants,<ref>Of course, "descendants" in the Edo period meant descendants in the male line, including adopted heirs. Adoption of close relatives was preferred though, so even adopted heirs were often descendants of the same person.</ref> the ''shinpan daimyô'' 親藩大名, or "collateral daimyô."<ref>The term ''shinpan'' is more common in scholarship today, but was not used at the time; ''kamon'' 家紋 was somewhat more typical in the Edo period. Ravina, ''Land and Lordship'', 234n5.</ref>

Though the categories of ''shinpan'', ''fudai'', and ''tozama'' are quite standard in scholarship today, in the Edo period, ''daimyô'' were more typically categorized and regarded by a variety of different metrics of rank or status. These included ''kokudaka'', [[court ranks|court rank]], relationship with the Tokugawa family, for the lower-ranking ''daimyô'' whether one had a [[castle]] or had one's domain based at a ''[[jin'ya]]'', and finally, by which waiting room in [[Edo castle]] one was assigned to. ''Daimyô'' of different ranks & categories were associated with different waiting rooms, where one would wait until called into the audience hall. For more details on waiting room assignments, see [[Edo castle#Omote|Edo castle]].<ref>Futaki Ken'ichi 二木謙一, ''Buke girei kakushiki no kenkyû'' 「武家儀礼格式の研究」, Yoshikawa Kobunkan (2003), 381.</ref>

Though the categories of ''shinpan'', ''fudai'', and ''tozama'' are quite standard in scholarship today, in the Edo period, ''daimyô'' were more typically categorized and regarded by a variety of different metrics of rank or status. These included ''kokudaka'', [[court ranks|court rank]], relationship with the Tokugawa family, for the lower-ranking ''daimyô'' whether one had a [[castle]] or had one's domain based at a ''[[jin'ya]]'', and finally, by which waiting room in [[Edo castle]] one was assigned to. ''Daimyô'' of different ranks & categories were associated with different waiting rooms, where one would wait until called into the audience hall. For more details on waiting room assignments, see [[Edo castle#Omote|Edo castle]].<ref>Futaki Ken'ichi 二木謙一, ''Buke girei kakushiki no kenkyû'' 「武家儀礼格式の研究」, Yoshikawa Kobunkan (2003), 381.</ref> Further, while many mid-to-high-ranking ''daimyô'' enjoyed the privilege of audiences with the shogun, the lowest-ranking ''daimyô'' did not; even among the former group, there were those who enjoyed individual audiences in the Shiroshoin or Kuroshoin of [[Edo castle]], and those who only received audience among a group, in the Ôhiroma (Great Audience Hall) or elsewhere. Some enjoyed the privilege of actual verbal interactions with the shogun, while others were never able to interact with him beyond being seen by the shogun while they prostrated before him.<ref>Anne Walthall, "Hiding the shoguns: Secrecy and the nature of political authority in Tokugawa Japan," in Bernard Scheid and Mark Teeuwen (eds.), ''The Culture of Secrecy in Japanese Religion'', Routledge (2006), 336-337.</ref>

====Fudai Daimyo====

====Fudai Daimyo====