Ethereum Papers book chapter
The Merchant
Feudal Japan had a class system based on a simple hierarchy. There were four classes: warriors called samurai at the top and merchants at the bottom. In the middle were farmers and artisans (craftsmen).
Samurai thought merchants added little to society. Their function as middlemen who brought things to where they were most needed, was not appreciated. The role was seen as parasitic; capable of playing both sides, extracting profit and information from a privileged position. They didn’t live by the type of honor held sacred by the samurai, but most importantly, they posed a threat to the ruling class.