The End of the Hantei Wealth
Contents
Status[edit]
Status is a measure of social rank, and with Rokugan being a feudal society it is due mainly to birth. Rarely is there any way to move beyond the caste one was born into. Kuge will rule, Buke will serve and Peasants will toil. to break these limits is the stuff of which legends are made.
Kuge: Those Who Rule[edit]
- The Emperor
- Above all is the Son (sometimes daughter) of Heaven.
- Royal Samurai
- Emperor's family: The Empress and imperial children.
- Voice of the Emperor:
- Imperial Family Daimyo: The Champions of the Miya, Otomo and Seppun
- High-ranking Kuge Samurai
- High Imperial Officers: Emerage and Jade Champions, Chancellor, Adivisor and Shogun
- Great Clan Champions:
- Minor Clan Champions:
- Typical Kuge Samurai
- Low Imperial Officials: Herald, Treasurer
- Great Clan Family Daimyo
- Rikugunshokan (General of full army)
Buke: Those Who Serve[edit]
- High Officials
- Shireikan (Commander of multiple legions)
- Provincial Governor
- Hatamoto (Seneschal to a Daimyo)
- Important Officials
- Taisa (Commander of a single legion)
- City Governor
- Vassal Family Daimyo
- Minor Officals
- Chui (Commander of a company)
- Imperial Magistrate
- Revered Sensei
- Great Clan Magistrate
- Minor Clan or Family magistrate
- Notable Samurai
- Gunso (Commander of a squadron)
- Imperial Family Samurai
- Diplomat
- Estate manager (minor landed vassal)
- Nikutai (second in command to Gunso): The lowest true rank.
- Common Samurai
- Great Clan Samurai
- Minor Clan Samural
- Ji-Samurai
- Ronin
- Masterless Samurai are the lowest of the Samurai caste and are barely above peasants.
Peasants: Those who Toil[edit]
- Heimin
- Peasant Warriors
- Farmers
- Craftsmen
- Merchants
- Hinnin
- Geisha
- Other Hinnin
- Eta
- The very lowest rung of the Celestial Order.
Glory[edit]
Where Status is an accident of birth, Glory is the result of personal achievements. The lowest born Samurai can easily become a famous hero whose name resounds through the ages based on their deeds.
- 32000+: Legendary Samurai
- 16000+: Extraordinary Samurai
- 8000+: Famous Samurai
- 4000+: Notable Samurai
- 2000+: Experienced Samurai
- 1000+: Common Samurai
- <1000: Relatively Unknown
Wealth[edit]
Wealth derives mainly from station, and thus Status and Clan allegiance, but also from Glory as heroes command a greater stipend from their lords as a reward for their exceptional service and are often given gifts of land or allotments by other, greater lords.
Official[edit]
Stipend = 5+ for Minor Officials, 15+ for High Officials
Official appointments are both a great honor and a source of wealth as they always come with a stipend from the appointing lord. One can be either a Vassal or household Samurai and hold office as that distinction is based on governing land and not other titles.
Vassal Samurai[edit]
Stipend = (Value of Harvest + Glory/1000) koku
To be a vassal one must have been given stewardship over lands by their lord. This could be as little as a single village and as much as an entire province. All kuge and the most favored buke fit this classification.
Unless the vassal is also an officer they typically receive no stipend as their lands generate the wealth their lord would normally spend on their upkeep, though glorious vassals often acquire gifts or allotments based on their fame. Despite actual commerce being disdained by the samurai, stewardship is a valuable skill and a wise samurai can profit greatly from their lands.
A vassal who is rich enough may retain household samurai of their own though they must may their stipends themselves.
Household Samurai[edit]
Stipend = (Glory/1000 + 4) koku
The vast bulk of all samurai fall into this classification. They have no lands of their own and no vassals are sworn to them and their expenses are paid by their lords with little left over to improve their living standards.
Household Samurai are maintained by their lords at whatever lifestyle their lord deems suitable though most typically this is Ordinary as any less means the lord is unable to maintain their obligations to their vassals and is at risk of being stripped of title by their own lord due to the dishonor of it. Wealthy lords may maintain their favored vassals at a higher lifestyle but this is uncommon since glorious samurai are typically gifted lands of their own.
Peasant Warriors[edit]
Stipend = (Glory/1000 + 1) koku
Ashigaru and Budoka are not samurai and thus not true bushi but they are allowed to bear arms in their lord's service and thus are warriors. A peasant can never rise to the samurai caste except by the will of the Emperor but it is possible for an exceptionalt retainer to so please their lords that they are granted a samurai spouse and thus their children will be born ji-samurai.
Ronin[edit]
Stipend = Nothing
A wave man has no lord and thus no one to pay their expenses. They must sell their services to some lord or find other means of income, typically banditry. Should a ronin find a lord willing to maintain them they command a stipend similar to a Peasant Warrior and not a Household Samurai.
Such is the sad fate of these nobleborn warriors.
