A Brief Overview of the Hierarchy of the Imperial Nipponese Social Structure

The social strata of the Nipponese Empire is for the most part very rigid. However, as in any living system, there are methods available for both promotion and demotion. This paper will describe what the various divisions are, the various responsibilities within a division, and the perquisites that go with each.
==The Castes==
===Imperial Bloodline===
This caste is the highest caste. The rankings within it are based on the percentage of a member's ancestry that can be legitimately traced to the first Emperor of the current ruling house. 
Over time, the inbreeding that can be caused by this is offset by the frequency of successful usurpation. Historically, the Imperial Bloodline has either died out or been overthrown roughly every four hundred years. The duties expected from this caste are few, and, other than the Emperor himself, their duties are ceremonial. They are allowed to marry only with the Emperor's approval. However, there is no limit on how many spouses anyone may have. The limit is solely with the Emperor. In the more turbulent past, there have been times when the then Emperor allowed none of his relatives to marry and thus restricted the legitimate heirs to his progeny alone. Unless engaged in a duel of honor, it is illegal to strike any member of the Imperial blood. No one may promote themselves into this caste legally. Marriage into the family only assures that ones children will be considered of the "True Blood." The Emperor can, at his discretion, demote any person of the "True Blood" by declaring that they have become impure. This usually results in the offender's execution and his or her family's demotion to the lower nobility. The formal term used for people in this caste is either "insert their family name of the Blood True" or less formally, "True Blood personal name."
The current Imperial line has been in power for almost four hundred years, and is both the most successful and the most vigorous seen. This line is derived from the Great Unifier, Oda Nobunaga, who, after evading assasins in his youth, conquered all of his opponents in the Unification War. Impressed with him, the then Emperor strengthened his line by marrying his heirs to the sons and daughters of Nobunaga. Thus was born the current bloodline. Only a generation later, the Nobunaga Family essentially became the Imperial Line, and the expansion of a unified Japan really began. Within three generations, the power of the Shogunates was reabsorbed into the Emperor's hands. This is the pattern of rule that has continued through to the current day.
===High Nobles===
This is the class that contains the descendants of the pre-Imperial "Shogunate" nobility. From this group, all of the Imperial Councilors and "homeland" rulers are from. Additionally, the younger sons and daughters from these clans often make up the general staffs of the armed services. When the Empire was still expanding, many new clans were formed when the younger children of these houses were sent to become the governors of newly conquered lands. Again, a member of this strata may take as many spouses as they wish. Unlike those of the Imperial Blood, they do not need Imperial permission to wed. 
The members of this class are taught from birth that they are the ones responsible for the smooth running of the Empire and truly believe in Noblesse Oblige. A low noble may marry into this class. The marriage then bestows the title, privileges, and responsibilities of this social level. However, a divorce can only be initiated by the true "High Noble." If a spouse displeases his or her spouse enough to warrant a divorce, the offender is usually volunteered into the Imperial Service Corps. The members of this corps are considered the property of the Emperor and thus have no connections to anyone else. They serve the rest of their life at the Emperor's discretion. The formal term used for members of this caste is "Lord" or "Lady".
Recently, a trend has developed. This is the trend of the leaders of the various corporate empires marrying into the High Nobility. The older lines often sneer at them as the "Noveau Noblesse". However, the money and power brought together by these marriages are seen as very formidable. The Kashuoh family is such a family.
===Low Nobles=== 
This group was originally made up of the Samurai caste. As time went on, the power of the samurai waned as the power of the merchants and other professionals waxed. A shift occurred and there are now three distinct varieties of the lower nobility. The first is that of the "Blood of the Empire". These are the remnants of the Samurai. 
For the most part, they serve within the Imperial Army and the Security Service. They hold onto the concepts of honor and sacrifice more strongly than most. The second branch was added three hundred years ago in response to the pressure from the European Merchant Companies. These people make up the ownership of the corporate body of the Empire. They control the flow of goods within the Empire and their reach has become 
truly global. While maintaining control of their corporations, their younger children make up the majority of the Imperial Diplomatic Corps and also work in the Security Service. The last group of nobility was created a hundred and fifty years ago in response to the technological superiority that the European monarchies held over the people of Nippon. These are the Technologists. While they were the latest in gaining noble status, they get the most respect from the populace at large. They are the ones who are seen as having given the Empire its technological lead over the rest of the world. 
A Citizen may be raised at any time to the lower nobility. However, any children he or she has had prior to being raised are still considered to be Citizens, the children they have afterwards are considered to be of their parents new class. The wife of a raised Citizen is considered to still be a Citizen, whereas the husband automatically garners his wife's new status. Males of the lower nobility are encouraged to take many spouses and mistresses. It is considered paramount for the best minds and bodies of the Empire to have many offspring and thus strengthen the Empire that much more. Women of this social strata are allowed only one spouse and that spouse must be of their level or above. In most cases, the men and women of this level marry each other and stay in a monogamous relationship with each other. This is easily the easiest caste to be thrown out of. If by the graduation of High School, a male child is deemed unfit for any "noble" service to the Empire, he is forcibly enlisted into the Imperial Armed Services and serves as a Citizen within it. Upon the end of his term, he may settle anywhere outside the bounds of the home islands as a full Citizen. Women can only be demoted to Citizen upon proof of adultery with a Citizen or below. The formal designation for one of this caste would be "Sir" or "Lady."
There is a hidden class of low nobles. These are the ninja clans. Recognizing the worth of the ninja clans during the time of his rule. He was saved from assassination by one of the Kuonji clan, Nobunaga raised the leaders of the clans to the low nobility. Most of them live rustic lives, in order to maintain the strength of their 'shadow arts', but a few clans came into the capitol to play the 'Game of Empire'. Those clans have lost the ways of honor, something maintained by the other clans living their quiet lives and they have been infected by greed and a lust for power.
===Citizen===
The vast majority of the populace of the home islands are Citizens. There are also Citizens scattered throughout the rest of the Imperium. To become a Citizen, one either must be borne to a Citizen or raised as one. To become a Citizen, one must enlist and serve honorably within an Imperial service for either eight years, civilians and freemen only, or fifteen years. The services to which one may apply are any of the Armed Services, the Security (and Intelligence) Service, the Scientific Service, or the Diplomatic Service. There is one other way of gaining Citizenship. If one wins the Arena Championship, he or she will then be released from the Arena and granted full Citizenship. A male Citizen may marry one person, but he may take as many lovers as he wants to. However, only the children from the marriage are considered legitimate Citizens. A female Citizen can also take many lovers, but rarely does. The duty of a Citizen is to support the Empire and their duly appointed leaders. They may work in any occupation. A Citizen may lose their caste only by bankruptcy or by being convicted of a capital crime. Only a Citizen or above may actually own land. On a side note, there are several villages within both Korea and China that have large populations of Citizens descended from Arena Champions.The most proper form of address to one of this caste is "Citizen family name." Due to a slight relaxing of the forms of address in recent decades, even a low noble may be referenced in this way, for example, "Citizen Saotome."
===Civilian===
A civilian is a member of the class that are fully Nipponese, yet have lost their Citizenship in one way or another. These are encouraged to immigrate to one of the Protectorates of the Empire by the granting of Citizenship of any willing to go. These are the least educated and trained people on the home islands. They typically work as maids or servants to citizens or rarely the lower nobility. This is the lowest caste available for any who have ever been granted Citizenship or are Nipponese by descent.
===Freeman===
Sometimes called the "Noble Peasants." The euphemistic phrase used for those that are either half-Nipponese or their country is considered to be closely tied to Nippon. The Koreans fall into this category. They are afforded full travel rights within the Empire and are looked upon favorably by the Empire itself. They may become Citizens through eight years of service to a designated service. They may marry one other. Lastly, this caste is the lowest caste which may own weapons. Anyone found with a weapon that belongs to a lower caste can be summarily executed.
===Peasant===
Any of the conquered peoples of the Empire. They are given full educations and are encouraged to strive for Citizenship.
===Barbarian===
Anyone from any part of the world not under the enlightened rule of the Emperor. Depending upon which empire they come from, they are granted either Civilian or Freeman status while they journey within the empire. If they wish to settle, this status is usually confirmed.
===The Religious Orders===
These are persons who have become religious leaders in their chosen religion. By decree, all are treated as lower nobles and must remain celibate. If they leave their calling, for whatever purpose, their original caste is restored to them. Anyone can become a priest or nun, if accepted by a temple. However, the spaces are limited and usually only those of noble birth can gain entry.
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