Yoroda 26: Zansha Rank, Income, and Authority (expanded from Book 5)

Although Zansha rank is traditionally described in terms of the lands and warriors under a lord's authority, in practice the most useful measure is koku: the assessed productive value of the lands, offices, stipends, and revenue rights supporting a warrior household. One koku represents approximately the amount of rice required to support one person for a year, but a holding's assessment is an accounting measure rather than a literal quantity of rice collected. Mines, fisheries, forests, tolls, workshops, and commercial rights may therefore contribute income beyond, or be converted into equivalents within, the formal assessment. Koku does not automatically determine rank. An ancient but impoverished family may retain greater status than its revenues suggest, while a wealthy newly elevated house may lack comparable prestige. Court office, lineage, marriage, military reputation, and direct service to a Great Lord or the Daizanate can all alter a warrior's standing. Nevertheless, assessed income indicates what a Zansha's household can maintain, the military service expected of him, and the privileges he can reasonably exercise.

Ranks

Byozan:  0–10 koku, Poverty  

A landless, stipended, or impoverished warrior, sometimes supported by a tiny farm or allotment. Normally possesses warrior status but little independent authority. Serves another Zansha as a soldier, guard, messenger, or minor official. 

Zansha:  10–200 koku 

The ordinary landed warrior. Typically holds a village, part of a village, or an equivalent stipend. May maintain a residence, bear the insignia of his house, employ servants, command several Byozan or commoner foot soldiers, collect assigned revenues, and exercise limited authority over his holding. 

Zansha Lord:  200–5,000 koku, Rich

A minor territorial lord controlling several villages or a small valley/district. May possess a fortified manor or small castle, maintain a permanent retinue, accept subordinate Zansha, hold court over local disputes, collect taxes and dues, maintain roads and defenses, and exercise delegated civil and military authority. 

Gunzan of the 3rd Rank:  5,000–50,000 koku, Rich, Aristocrat

A major district lord controlling a significant portion of a province. Commands numerous Zansha Lords and lesser retainers, maintains substantial castles and administrative staffs, raises significant field forces, negotiates with other major houses, and normally enjoys direct access to the provincial ruling house. 

Gunzan of the 2nd Rank:  50,000–200,000 koku, Rich, Aristocrat

One of the principal magnates of a province. Controls extensive territories and hundreds of warrior households. May maintain multiple castles, appoint subordinate officials, administer large districts, conduct major military operations, and wield considerable influence beyond his own lands. 

Gunzan of the 1st Rank:  200,000+ koku, High Aristocrat, Filthy Rich

Provincial ruler or equivalent great territorial magnate. Exercises broad governmental authority, commands thousands of warriors, maintains a major court and bureaucracy, and deals directly with the Daizanate, Imperial Courts, and other provincial rulers. 

Great Lord: Multiple provinces, High Aristocrat, Filthy Rich

Head of one of Yoroda's greatest houses; Ashima, Baisato, Hokome, Kaimitsu, Takamori, Yamachi, and Yuzan in the current era. Commands provincial rulers and enormous networks of vassals, controls major military and economic resources, conducts diplomacy at the highest level, and may possess sufficient power to determine or contest the succession of a Daizan. 

What rank actually gives you

The important distinction is that higher rank means jurisdiction as much as wealth. A 60-koku Zansha might collect the revenues of two hamlets but does not automatically possess the authority to execute criminals, impose new tolls, mobilize neighboring villages, or settle disputes between other Zansha. A Zansha Lord normally possesses some or all of those powers because his superior has delegated them to him. Likewise, rank carries increasingly significant social privileges: the right to maintain larger armed entourages, build fortified residences, display particular banners and insignia, receive other warriors formally, sponsor temples and shrines, issue orders under seal, hear petitions, confirm lesser rights and offices, and expect ceremonial precedence from lower-ranking warriors. At the upper levels, these privileges become effectively governmental powers—appointments, taxation, justice, fortification, military mobilization, diplomacy, and the confirmation of subordinate landholding.

The boundaries should deliberately overlap. A 4,500-koku Zansha Lord and a 6,000-koku Gunzan of the 3rd Rank may differ less economically than politically. The Gunzan might belong to an ancient provincial lineage with twenty subordinate houses and direct access to the provincial lord, while the wealthier Zansha Lord might simply control an unusually productive valley. Promotion in rank therefore normally requires recognition by superior authority, not merely acquiring another thousand koku.