Other forms: daimyos
In Japanese history, daimyo were feudal lords who controlled most of the country. The daimyo's power came from owning inherited land, which was often guarded by hired samurai.
In the feudal hierarchy, the daimyo were under the control of the shogun, Japan's military ruler. Along with the bands of warriors they led, the daimyo held power over the country's provinces for about 700 years, until the 19th century. In Japanese, daimyo means "big name," from the Chinese words dai, "great," and myo, "name."