What is Shōen system

The Shōen system was a land ownership and tax system in Japan during the Heian period (794-1185). In this system, large tracts of land were granted to aristocrats and powerful families by the emperor or other high-ranking officials. These landowners, called shōen, had the right to collect taxes from the peasants who lived and worked on their land. The shōen system was a significant factor in the development of feudalism in Japan, as it led to the accumulation of wealth and power by the landowning class and the exploitation of the lower classes.