<P> The Tokugawa government intentionally created a social order called the Four divisions of society ( shinōkōshō ) , that would stabilize the country . This system was based on the ideas of Confucianism that spread to Japan from China . By this system , society was composed of samurai ( 侍 shi ) , farming peasants ( 農 nō ) , artisans ( 工 kō ) and merchants ( 商 shō ) . Samurai were placed at the top of society because they started an order and set a high moral example for others to follow . The system was meant to reinforce their position of power in society by justifying their ruling status . Peasants came second because they produced the most important commodity , food . According to Confucian philosophy , society could not survive without agriculture . Third were artisans because they produced nonessential goods . </P>
what made up the three tiers of the japanese political system around 1600
samurai farming peasants artisans merchants