How did Japanese feudalism differ from European feudalism?

Japanese feudalism is characterized by a distinct separation between the ceremonial authority of the emperor and the actual power wielded by military leaders, notably the shogun. In contrast to European feudalism, where kings held both symbolic and significant power with a more direct control over their vassals, Japan's system saw the emperor as a figurehead, often lacking real political power. The shogun, as the military governor, was the one who governed the land and held the true power, leading to a clear distinction between the roles of the ritual ruler and the military leader.

This differentiation in power structures was crucial in shaping Japanese society and governance, as it allowed for a military-bureaucratic system to emerge, where loyalty and power dynamics were centered around the shogun and the samurai class. This contrasted with Europe's often more integrated hierarchy of king and nobility, where vassals pledged loyalty directly to the monarch.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the characteristics of Japanese feudalism. Japan did not have a centrally controlled church like Europe did with Christianity, nor did the emperor exert full control over local lords as seen in some European monarchies. Additionally, while both systems had elements of social stratification, the specific