領 主(りょうしゅ)

りょうしゅ

noun

feudal lord; lord of a domain

1. feudal lord; lord of a domain

A person who rules over a territory or domain, particularly in the context of feudal Japan or medieval Europe. The lord held authority over the land and its inhabitants.

この城(しろ)の領主(りょうしゅ)は武田氏(たけだし)だった。

The lord of this castle was from the Takeda clan.

領主(りょうしゅ)は農民(のうみん)から年貢(ねんぐ)を集(あつ)めた。

The feudal lord collected annual tribute from the farmers.

戦国時代(せんごくじだい)には、各地(かくち)の領主(りょうしゅ)が勢力(せいりょく)を争(あらそ)い、戦(いくさ)が絶(た)えなかった。

During the Warring States period, local lords competed for power and battles were constant.

Usage

領主(りょうしゅ) is primarily a historical term used when discussing feudal systems in Japan and Europe.

Similar words

大名(だいみょう) — a feudal lord of the Edo period, specifically a daimyo with land yielding at least 10,000 koku of rice
殿様(とのさま) — lord (respectful/familiar term, also used figuratively)
藩主(はんしゅ) — lord of a han (domain) in the Edo period
地主(じぬし) — landowner (modern, not feudal)

領主(りょうしゅ) is more general than 大名(だいみょう) and can refer to lords of any era or country.

Common collocations

領主(りょうしゅ)の館(やかた) (the lord's manor)
領主(りょうしゅ)が治(おさ)める (the lord governs)
領主(りょうしゅ)に仕(つか)える (serve a lord)

Related Words

Related: 領地(りょうち) (territory; domain)

Compare: 大名(だいみょう) (a feudal lord of the Edo period…)

Compare: 殿様(とのさま) (lord)

Compare: 藩主(はんしゅ) (lord of a han (domain) in the Edo period)

Compare: 地主(じぬし) (landowner)

general

Added 2026.3.4 13:36 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

14500/14859_ryoushu