Among the three shogunates in Japanese history (Kamakura, Muromachi, and Edo), the rule of the Edo shogunate is the most complete and stable. In addition to the shogunate's generals, the officials with the greatest power in the shogunate are the "big old" and "old middle". So what is the difference between the two?
Samurai under the rule of the Edo Shogunate is roughly divided into two systems: the shogunate and the feudal clan. The feudal clan system is mainly composed of the daimyo who owns the territory and his affiliated warriors, with the apex being the "Yu Sanjia" and "Yu Sanqing". Although the daimyo's nominal status is high, his power in the shogunate is actually very small.
The samurai of the shogunate system is the main part of the shogunate officials and standing officers. The samurai of the shogunate system is not high in name, and the territory is not large, but the real power in the shogunate is far greater than that of the feudal clan. The Edo Shogunate also maintained its rule by checking and balancing the two systems.
In addition to the shogun, the highest-ranking and most powerful samurai in the shogunate system are the "big old" and "old middle". "Elder" and "Laozhong" assist generals in handling state affairs and managing the shogunate army. The scope of powers of the two are basically the same, similar to ancient Chinese prime ministers or cabinet scholars.
However, "Big Lao" has only one person in the same period, and has the power of "under one person, above ten thousand". Because of this, the "Elder" is a very official position in the Edo Shogunate. In the nearly 300-year history of the Edo Shogunate, only the four genealogies of Ii, Sakai, Doi, and Horita have served as the shogunate elders.
Edo shogunate veteran-Doi Toisheng
The difference between the "old man" and the "old man" is that there are four to five in the same period, resulting in a single old man The power is much greater than that of big and small. Therefore, "Laozhong" became the highest permanent official position of the Edo shogunate, usually selected from the genealogical names whose territories were more than 25,000 shi, and served for a lifetime.
It can be said that "Da Lao" and "Lao Zhong" are both core officials of the Edo Shogunate similar to the prime minister, but "Da Lao" is more powerful because of its uniqueness. The general's threat is also greater. Therefore, the "old man" can not let the living people do it, while the "old middle" must have living people to do it.
