Shōen system

The Shōen system was a medieval Japanese landowning practice where private, tax-exempt estates called shōen were granted to nobles, temples, or officials. These estates were independent of the central government’s control, allowing the owners to collect revenue and manage their land freely, often bypassing taxes and samurai oversight. This system led to a decentralized land structure, reducing the power of the imperial government and increasing local aristocratic wealth. It played a key role in shaping Japan’s feudal society, as many shōen remained hereditary and formed the economic foundation for samurai armies.