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Ieyasu divided the [[provinces of Japan]] into several hundred feudal domains, called ''han''. Some areas, including [[Edo]], [[Kyoto]], [[Nagasaki]], and [[Osaka]] after its fall in 1615, were administered directly by shogunal representatives called ''[[Shoshi-dai]]'' in Kyoto and ''[[Machi bugyo|Machi bugyô]]'' in the other cities. [[Nara]], [[Sunpu]], [[Nikko|Nikkô]] were also among the cities administered in this way<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan 1615-1867''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1963</ref>. The ''han'' were then divided among members of the Tokugawa family, Tokugawa retainers, and other clan heads, who thus became ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]''.  

Ieyasu divided the [[provinces of Japan]] into several hundred feudal domains, called ''han''. Some areas, including [[Edo]], [[Kyoto]], [[Nagasaki]], and [[Osaka]] after its fall in 1615, were administered directly by shogunal representatives called ''[[Shoshi-dai]]'' in Kyoto and ''[[Machi bugyo|Machi bugyô]]'' in the other cities. [[Nara]], [[Sunpu]], [[Nikko|Nikkô]] were also among the cities administered in this way<ref>Sansom, George. ''A History of Japan 1615-1867''. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1963</ref>. The ''han'' were then divided among members of the Tokugawa family, Tokugawa retainers, and other clan heads, who thus became ''[[daimyo|daimyô]]''.  

Members of the family granted land were known as ''[[shinpan]]'' and most were granted territory close to Edo such as [[Mito han]]. Other important Tokugawa retainers were made ''[[fudai]] daimyô'' and given territories in the [[Kanto|Kantô]] or [[Kinai]] (the center of the country), or in strategic locations, such as overseeing important points along the [[Tokaido|Tôkaidô]] highway, or watching over the last group of ''daimyô'', the ''[[tozama]] daimyô''<ref>Sansom. p3.</ref>. The '''tozama'' were those who opposed Tokugawa Ieyasu at Sekigahara. Many of them held the largest, wealthiest and most powerful territories, and most were allowed by the shogunate to keep their lands in exchange for their loyalty.

Descendant of Ieyasu granted land were known as ''[[shinpan]]'' and most were granted territory close to Edo such as [[Mito han]]. Important Tokugawa retainers were made ''[[fudai]] daimyô'' and given territories in the [[Kanto|Kantô]] or [[Kinai]] (the center of the country), or in strategic locations, such as overseeing important points along the [[Tokaido|Tôkaidô]] highway, or watching over the last group of ''daimyô'', the ''[[tozama]] daimyô''<ref>Sansom. p3.</ref>. The '''tozama'' were those who had not been retainers of Ieyasu at Sekigahara, whether they had supported him or not. Many of them held the largest, wealthiest and most powerful territories, and most were allowed by the shogunate to keep their lands in exchange for their loyalty.

The Tokugawa state has been described as a "compound state"<ref>Ravina, Mark. "State-Building and Political Economy in Early-Modern Japan." ''Journal of Asian Studies''. 54:4 (Nov 1995). p1017.</ref>, not a single unified state under a central government with absolute powers. On the contrary, the ''han'' enjoyed a considerable degree of independence, and the shogunate very rarely made efforts to directly impose or enforce policy within a domain, circumventing the authority of the ''daimyô''. Within a domain, the ''daimyô'' had more authority, or rather more direct authority, than the shogunate. For this reason, a variety of systems were established to ensure the peace and to prevent ''daimyô'' rebellion.

The Tokugawa state has been described as a "compound state"<ref>Ravina, Mark. "State-Building and Political Economy in Early-Modern Japan." ''Journal of Asian Studies''. 54:4 (Nov 1995). p1017.</ref>, not a single unified state under a central government with absolute powers. On the contrary, the ''han'' enjoyed a considerable degree of independence, and the shogunate very rarely made efforts to directly impose or enforce policy within a domain, circumventing the authority of the ''daimyô''. Within a domain, the ''daimyô'' had more authority, or rather more direct authority, than the shogunate. For this reason, a variety of systems were established to ensure the peace and to prevent ''daimyô'' rebellion.