Final answer:
The shogun in feudal Japan describes a military dictator who held both military and political power over the country. Shoguns ruled through their control of the daimyo and samurai, and their rule lasted until the Meiji Restoration in 1868 when Japan started to modernize and embrace Western influences. The correct answer is option D. military dictator.
Step-by-step explanation:
Description of a Shogun in Feudal Japan
A shogun in feudal Japan can be best described as a military dictator. The term originated with Minamoto no Yoritomo, who established himself as the first shogun in 1192. The position of shogun was not just a military role but also a political one, as shoguns governed the country through the power vested in them, rendering the emperor a figurehead for many centuries.
During their rule, shoguns had control over the aristocratic lords, known as daimyo, and the samurai, an elite class of warriors bound by a strict code of conduct. The shogunate system maintained peace and order during times of internal strife and external threats.
The power of the shogun began to decline during the mid-19th century, when Japan encountered pressure from the West to modernize and open up to foreign trade and influences. This period saw a shift in power from the shogunate to modernizers who supported the emperor’s restoration to power, leading to the eventual demise of the shogunate system by the Meiji Restoration in 1868.
In the context of the multiple-choice question provided, the correct answer would be D. military dictator.