Question

The daimyos were a class of nobles who owned large estates in Japan. Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu set up a system called sankin-kotai in which he required all daimyos to spend every other year in Edo serving the shogun. What was one result of the sankin-kotai system?
A.
The daimyos' power became absolute.
B.
The daimyos lost control of their land.
C.
The daimyos' power was reduced.
D.
The daimyos became the equals of the shogun.

Answer 1

C. The daimyos' power was reduced.

The sankin-kotai system effectively limited the daimyos' independence by requiring them to spend significant time in Edo, away from their domains. This weakened their local power and increased the authority of the shogunate.