Alt-Onin War - Samurai ranks

Taken from this FB post, this is close enough for our purposes.


SAMURAI RANKS

The hierarchy of the Samurai, from the top down, runs something like this:

Shogun (将軍)
The Generalissimo. The most powerful of the Daimyo, and the symbol of military rule over the nation. To become Shogun, one must have family lineage to the noble Minamoto family.

Daimyo (大名)
A high-ranking samurai landowner or clan leader with an income of over 10,000 koku. After the battle of Sekigahara, and during the Edo period, there were about 200 Daimyo, becoming about 170 by 1800. They were ranked according to their income, and categorized into Shinpan (those related to the Tokugawa), Fudai (having been vassals or allies), and the Tozama (those not traditionally allied to the Tokugawa, but not necessarily former enemies). The Fudai were allowed government positions, while Tozama were not.

Hatamoto (旗本)
Literally, Bannermen/leaders. Samurai in the direct service of the Shogun or Daimyo. The higher-ranked Hatamoto known as ome-mie ijo were allowed to seek audience with the Daimyo or Shogun. Hatamoto received a similar income to the slightly lower-ranked Go-kenin. There were two types of Hatamoto, the Kuramai-tori, whose stipend came direct from the shogun or Daimyo, and the Jikata-tori who had income from lands in various regions. By the mid-Edo period, circa 1722, there were about 5,000 Hatamoto in service. This number swelled to 17,000 with the inclusion of the Go-kenin.

Go-Kenin (御家人)
Vassals or housemen. A similar rank to the Hatamoto, the difference being, they could not seek an audience with the Shogun. In the Kamakura Period, Gokenin earned their title by participating in an initiation ceremony, taking an oath, and signing their loyalty in a special registry called the Myobu (名簿).

Taisho
Generals, high ranking and trusted samurai. In many cases, Hatamoto were also Taisho.

Monogashira
Captains. Usually put in charge of fighting units, such as spearmen, archers, gunners, and the like.

Bugyo (奉行)
A title assigned to a high-ranking samurai official, rather like a commissioner or magistrate, usually during the term of the office, or until a set task was completed. Below the Bugyo were Gundai, deputies, and Daikan, assistant deputies.

Kumi-Gashira
Lieutenants

Kishi
Horse mounted cavalry samurai

Kachi
Non-mounted samurai, including mushatai, fully armored and armed samurai ranks.

Ashigaru (足軽)
Low-ranked foot-soldiers. These ranks made the majority of fighting forces in battle. Although low ranked, they were highly trained in the use of spears and later matchlock guns.

Komono
Pages. Wore light munition armors like the ashigaru, and were fully armed and trained, ready for combat despite their lowly status.

Ronin (浪人)
Samurai made masterless due to the death or fall from grace of his lord, or from having been released from service. During times of battle, Ronin would align themselves with various Daimyo in the hopes of obtaining a position.

Ninja/Kusamono
In every samurai battalion, there were a few members trained in the art of information gathering and subterfuge. They would be the ones to sneak into the enemy camps and set fires, foul the food stores, release horses, and start rumors.