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The Bemin (部民) was a caste during the Yamato period of ancient Japan. Most of them were farmers, but some had special skills and were known as Shinabe. They paid tribute and performed labor for the powerful families, but unlike servants, they lived a family life.[1] The "bemin system" was a social system in Japan prior to the Taika Reforms. It divided the population into Clan People (部民, Bemin) and "Common People (heimin, 平民)", with the bemin being governed by the nobility and the heimin being governed directly by the central government. The bemin were divided into three categories: those governed by the nobility, those governed by the central government through professional organizations such as the "sea bureau" and "textile bureau", and those who were descendants of local leaders and responsible for the royal household's food and security.
This system existed during the Yamato period and the population was divided into bemin and heimin, with bemin being around half the population and mainly being made up of conquered people, Toraijin, and prisoners of war, while heimin were mainly made up of native commoners.[citation needed]Under this system, the Bemin were considered the private property of the imperial court and local lords, and individuals were divided into different social classes based on their roles and responsibilities.[2]
Although the Bemin were considered property of the lords, this was not chattel slavery and they were not allowed to be bought or sold or separated from their families.
One aspect of the Bemin system was the division of land into two categories: the "Miyake (屯倉)," or imperial land directly controlled by the imperial court, and the "Tadokoro (田荘)," or land controlled by local lords. The Miyake (屯倉) was primarily located in the Yamato region, where the imperial court was based, and included land acquired through expansion and development efforts in the 5th century. The Tadokoro (田荘) was land owned and controlled by local lords and included tools and buildings associated with farming.[2] Individuals within the Bemin system were also divided into different categories based on their role and responsibility. These included the "be" or general population who provided labor and production for the imperial court and local lords, as well as the shinabe who specialized in certain crafts and provided specialized production.[2]