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The burakumin (部落民, 'hamlet/village people') are the Japanese people commonly believed to be descended from members of the pre-Meiji feudal class who were associated with kegare (穢れ, 'defilement'), such as executioners, undertakers, slaughterhouse workers, butchers, and tanners. The term encompasses both the historical eta and hinin outcasts. During Japan's feudal era, these occupations acquired a hereditary status of oppression, and became an unofficial class of the Tokugawa class system during the Edo period. After the feudal system was abolished, the term burakumin came into use to refer to the former caste members and their descendants, who continue to experience stigmatization and discrimination.
On the other hand, in practice, both eta and hinin were recognized as owners of fields, some with very large incomes (koku) and some economic power. Their chief held the title of Danzaemon (ja:弾左衛門) and had the authority to issue orders to eta and hinin throughout the country, as well as jurisdiction within the eta and hinin.[1][2]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
uki300823was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ 弾座衛門. Kotobank (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.