Buke shohatto (buke shohatto,), in literary language, translated as"Several laws for military homes."

To be more precise, under this name is known "13 laws on military houses" - a collection of decrees issued by the Tokugawa Shogunate to regulate the life of the daimyo and other representatives of the samurai aristocracy. These laws formed the basis of the allotment system, which in turn was the basis of the entire Tokugawa regime.

The content of the decrees was considered as a code of conduct that described the behavior of the noble daimyo in General, and not only gave instructions to the laws that need to be strictly obeyed.

For the first time the decrees were read before the congregation retired daimyo by the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu(Tokugawa Ieyasu)in Fushimi castle in the seventh lunar month of 1615. The decrees were primarily aimed at limiting the powers of the daimyo and protecting the power of the Shogunate over the country. The decrees read generously used classical Chinese texts and earlier Japanese legislation.

At that time, the son of Ieyasu, Tokugawa Hidetada, who officially promulgated the decrees shortly after reading in Fushimi castle, and each subsequent shogun officially reissued them, increasing restrictions for daimyo and clutching in the hands of the Shogunate full power. It should also be noted that over time, the rules developed initially, have changed significantly and in this, in General, there is nothing surprising

The laws, published in 1615

1. Descendant of the samurai must devote himself to military the relevant arts, appropriately aristocracy – archery, swordsmanship, art of fighting on horseback and classical literature.

2. Entertainment and enjoyable activities should be conducted within reasonable limits and should not be overspent.

3. The feudal allotment (han) should not be a haven for fugitives and bandits.

4. From domains should be expelled rebels and murderers.

5. The daimyo should not engage in social interactions with people – not with the commoners or samurai from other domains.

6. The locks can be repaired, but this must be reported to the Shogunate. Structural innovation and expansion is prohibited.

7. The formation of a clique or a gang of conspirators in neighbouring areas should be reported to the Shogunate without delay, as well as the expansion of protective structures or the number of military forces.

8. Marriages between daimyo and persons in authority or position should not be arranged in private.

9. Daimyo are required to report to Edo for the shogun service.

10. Agreements regarding formal uniforms should be maintained.

11. Opposite-sex persons should not travel in a palanquin.

12. Samurai everywhere should practice thrift.

13. Daimyo must select capable people for the positions of administrators and officials.

The decrees of 1615 contain the core philosophy of the Shogunate regarding the samurai code of conduct. The same policy applied to commoners –these laws, in turn, were also repeatedly reissued and strengthened throughout the Edo period.

Some points concerning the need for frugality are Central to the Confucian concept of good governance. Other rules relate to costs and require people to appear in certain places, introduce themselves and register their dress, transportation methods and other points.

Buke shohatto (buke shohatto,), in literary language, translated as"Several laws for military homes."

Some decrees were included to counter the conclusion of alliances against the Shogunate, take here for example the item on social interactions between different domains or marriages between families daimyo. "Fudai daimyo" ("fudai daimyo", hereditary vassals Tokugawa, whose allotments could be inherited and located in strategically important areas. These families include, for example, family Itakura, Ogasawara, Mizuno, Honda, and others.) had less power, but the Shogunate trusted them more, although on occasion he could easily punish and abolish all privileges.

"Tozama daimyo" ("tozama daimyo") enjoyed less trust of the Shogunate, but was much more powerful fudai daimyo, so that the Shogunate could not impose its policy. Plots of these daimyo was farther from Edo, for which they are sometimes called External lords. The Shogunate could not impose its policy daimyo and, therefore, rightly feared their possible unions.

Provisions relating to the construction, expansion and repair of structures also served to prevent the build-up of military power that could be directed against the Shogunate. The same goal is served by the policy of "Sankin Kotai" ("sankin kotai", "alternate service"), according to which the daimyo had to spend part of the year in Edo in the service of the shogun.

The laws, published in 1635

The above decrees were republished in 1629 and again in 1635, the third Tokugawa shogun – Iemitsu (Iemitsu). Although many changes were made in this third reissue, most of the laws were essentially the same. The daimyo forbade strife, the formation of alliances and oaths to each other.

The Sankin Kotai system at this time was described more fully and more clearly enshrined in law. Rules on costs have also been developed.

This year has also been very important for the implementation of a number of policy measures that can be grouped under the General name "kaikin" ("kaikin", "Maritime prohibitions", also known as "Sakoku Edicts"). Although the 1635 edition says nothing about foreign travel, it is extremely meticulous about the rules concerning internal movements as well as religions.

Here are some of these new provisions:

1. Roads, ships, docks and bridges need to be maintained in order to be connected as soon as possible.

2. Private posts podorozhnyj for the collection of fees is prohibited, as is necessary to liquidate existing ferry routes.

3. It is forbidden to build ships with a displacement of more than 500 Coca.

4. The lands belonging to Shinto and Buddhist shrines are forbidden to be taken away.

5. Christianity is forbidden.

Later editions

As already noted, the decrees were reprinted by each subsequent shogun. The versions published by Tokugawa Ietsuna (Tokugawa Ietsuna), Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (Tokugawa Tsunayoshi), and Tokugawa Ienobu (Tokugawa Ienobu) in 1663, 1683, and 1710, respectively, contain a number of stylistic differences, but contain virtually no substantive amendments.

Among the new provisions were, in particular, the ban on "junzi" ("junshi",ritual suicide after the death of his master), the prohibitions on the abuse of power, bribery and suppression of public opinion, as well as the provisions concerning the proper succession among the daimyo within the clan or domain.

The following seven shoguns reissued the buke was segatto in form from 1683, adding only very minor stylistic changes. Although these laws were announced along with" CECI hatto "("shoshi hatto"," laws for samurai"), but they largely obsolete after 1683 year and gradually were absorbed more broad decrees and prohibitions Shogunate" kinray-Ko "("kinrei-ko").