Shogunate

A shogunate is a government system in feudal Japan where the shogun, a military leader, holds most political power, while the emperor remains a symbolic figurehead. The shogunate is characterized by a centralized authority controlled by the shogun, who oversees the military, laws, and governance. This system allowed regional lords, called daimyōs, to govern their domains under shogunal authority. Major shogunates include the Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo periods. Essentially, it's a military-led government that maintained stability and order for centuries, with real power concentrated in the hands of the shogun rather than the emperor.