The so-called "Epoch of the Warring Country" …

Years: 1543 - 1543

The so-called "Epoch of the Warring Country" referring to the decades of warfare in Japan that follow the Onin War of 1466-67 and the resultant collapse of Ashikaga power, has wrought substantive changes in the nation’s political, economical, and social structures.

New feudal lords, the “daimyo,” have arisen in the provinces, independent of imperial or shogunal authority.

Drawing their power from military strength, the daimyo define their domains as the area that can be defended from military rivals.

In an essentially feudal system, ties are fixed by vassalage, and land holdings are guaranteed in return for military service.

The daimyo concentrate their vassals in castle towns, leaving the villagers to administer themselves and pay taxes.

The castle towns develop intro market and handicraft industrial centers, and a new style of urban life begins to flourish.

This is the state of the country in 1543, when a Portuguese ship, blown off its course to China, lands in Japan; its sailors are the first Europeans to reach Japan.

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