旗本(はたもと)

はたもと
noun
hatamoto, direct retainer of the shogun
academicperson
1. hatamoto, direct vassal of the shogun
A samurai who served directly under the Tokugawa shogun during the Edo period (1603-1868), with a stipend below 10,000 koku of rice. They formed the backbone of the shogunate's administration and military force, ranking above common samurai but below daimyo.
旗本(はたもと)は将軍(しょうぐん)に直接(ちょくせつ)仕(つか)えた。
Hatamoto served directly under the shogun.
江戸(えど)には多(おお)くの旗本(はたもと)屋敷(やしき)が並(なら)んでいた。
In Edo, many hatamoto residences stood side by side.
旗本(はたもと)の中(なか)には町奉行(まちぶぎょう)などの要職(ようしょく)に就(つ)く者(もの)もいた。
Among the hatamoto, some held important positions such as town magistrate.

Etymology

During the Edo period, the Tokugawa shogunate's direct vassals were divided into two ranks: 大名(だいみょう) (daimyo, with domains of 10,000 石(こく) or more) and 旗本(はたもと) (hatamoto, with stipends under 10,000 石(こく)). Below the 旗本(はたもと) were the 御家人(ごけにん) (low-ranking direct retainers).

The word literally means "under the banner" (旗(はた) = banner, 本(もと) = base), referring to warriors who fought near the commander's war banner on the battlefield.

Usage

Appears frequently in period dramas (時代劇(じだいげき)), historical novels, and discussions of Edo-period history. The compound 旗本(はたもと)退屈男(たいくつおとこ) is a famous fictional character in Japanese period drama.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 大名(だいみょう) (feudal lord)
general
Added 2026.2.24 21:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13000/13453_hatamoto