Online dictionary of history and traditions in Japan: Han

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French version

Han

藩
alternative words: Fief, Feud, Domain
keywords: law
related topics: Edo period , Koku , Daimyo , Kuni , Shinpan , Tozama , Fudai
related web sites: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~me4k-skri/
explanation: During Edo period, there existed about 300 seigniors of whom richness surpassed 10,000 koku (Daimyo). Their individual territories were called "han" and administered by their own laws. The system is comparable with Germany before its unification in 1871. Some seigniors were rich such as "Kaga han" which received 1 million koku and controlling the actual 2 prefectures, but most of them received less than 30,000 koku and their territories surpassed rarely one county.