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What is a draft? How was it changed by this official order? (medieval japan, inquiry page 155)

User ArunGJ
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In medieval Japan, a "draft" referred to a military conscription system called "kubuki." Under this system, eligible men from each province were required to serve in the military for a certain period of time. This system was often used by the shogunate (the military government of Japan) to raise armies for wars and to maintain internal security.

The official order referred to in the question may be the "Buke Shohatto" (Laws for Military Houses) issued by the Tokugawa shogunate in 1635. This order made significant changes to the kubuki system by establishing a hereditary class of military retainers called "samurai" and regulating their behavior and obligations to the shogunate.

Under the Buke Shohatto, the samurai class was required to maintain their military training and were expected to serve as a standing army for the shogunate. The order also established a system of alternate attendance (sankin-kotai), which required daimyo (feudal lords) to travel to and from the shogun's court in Edo (present-day Tokyo) on a rotating basis. This system ensured that the daimyo were under the control of the shogunate and could not rebel or conspire against the central government.

The Buke Shohatto also regulated the size of the samurai's personal retinues and restricted the use of firearms to prevent the samurai from becoming too powerful and challenging the shogunate's authority.

Overall, the Buke Shohatto transformed the kubuki system and established a strict hierarchy of military retainers under the control of the shogunate. It effectively centralized power in the hands of the shogunate and helped maintain stability and control over the feudal system of Japan.

User Ericgio
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