大名daimyo
Quick definition:A daimyo was a powerful Japanese feudal lord who ruled a territory, commanded samurai retainers and held great authority until the late nineteenth century, and daimyo appear often in historical anime.
Meaning
Daimyo were territorial lords in Japan who controlled land, collected taxes and commanded samurai warriors. During the Sengoku period, an age of civil war, daimyo fought one another for power. In the Edo period, they ruled domains under the authority of the shogun and had to follow strict rules about their lands and travel.
The title carried wealth and responsibility. A daimyo governed castles, towns and farmers, and had to maintain loyal retainers, from senior advisers to ordinary samurai. Under the Tokugawa government, daimyo were kept under close watch, and their families were often required to live in the capital as a guarantee of loyalty.
Anime and manga show daimyo as wise rulers, scheming nobles, tragic leaders or ruthless warlords. Historical series often centre on a daimyo's court, the politics around him and the retainers who serve or oppose him. In fantasy stories, the term is sometimes used for any regional ruler or a powerful clan leader.
Origin:Daimyo is formed from dai, meaning large, and myo, meaning name, referring to a person of great name or large landholdings. The title was used from the medieval period, and by the Edo period it described lords with income above a set level of rice production. The system ended in the nineteenth century, when the domains were abolished.
Example:In a historical drama, a daimyo sits in a castle hall surrounded by retainers, listening to reports of a rival's army marching towards his border. His advisers argue about whether to fight or negotiate, and a young samurai quietly volunteers to ride out as his messenger, though the journey is dangerous.
Did you know?Under a system of alternate attendance, Edo period daimyo had to spend every other year in the capital, and the cost of travelling and living there kept them from becoming too powerful. It also helped build roads, inns and towns along the main routes.
