Emaki (horizontal picture scroll) of Hatamoto samurai with their retinue preparing for battle, 18th Century
A Hatamoto (旗本, "guardian of the banner") was a samurai serving under the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Edo Period. Literally translating as "origin of the flag" a Hatamoto served as a personal retainer for one of the "Upper vassals" for the Tokugawa, namely the Fudai Daimyō. Those serving under the "lower vassals" or Tozama Daimyō were referred to by the older terminology of Gokenin (御家人).
History[]
The term Hatamoto came into usage during the Sengoku Period, where it referred to the retainers of a lord: those who were grouped "around the flag" of their daimyō. However, during the Tokugawa Shogunate, the term was insitutionalized to encompass only those retainers serving clans that were close to the Tokugawa themselves. These clans could either be those that had served the Tokugawa since their days in Mikawa, or members of previously powerful families that had been defeated during the Sengoku Period. Examples of the latter include the Takeda, Imagawa and Hōjō. Another group of lords for whom their retainers would be named Hatamoto were heirs of powerful clans that had had their lands confiscated during the transferral of power under Tokugawa Ieyasu. Clans such as the Akamatsu, Asano, Mogami and Yamana were included in this group.
To become a Hatamoto was referred to as Bakushin toritate (幕臣取立て). During the Boshin War, Hatamoto became an important military element for both sides of the conflict. The differentiation between Hatamoto and Gokenin was not based upon economic factors, but rather by their political proximity to the Tokugawa. Only the Hatamoto were granted an audience with the shōgun, although they would have to have a high enough rank, being classed as a Ome-mie ijō. However, they were divided from the position of daimyō until they received a stipend of 10,000 koku.
Subdivisions[]
- Jikatatori - Hatamoto that owned fiefs across Japan.
- Kōtai-yoriai - Heads of Hatamoto families that were required to participate in Sankin-kōtai ("alternate attendance") essentially placing them one step below daimyō.
- Kuramaitori - Hatamoto that were paid directly from Tokugawa owned granaries.
- Ome-mie ijō - Hatamoto that were of high enough rank to request an audience with the shōgun.