Historical term for a lord who ruled over a territory in feudal Japan. Often used in historical contexts or fantasy settings.
この地域は江戸時代に有力な領主が治めていた。
This region was ruled by a powerful feudal lord during the Edo period.
The lord of this region strictly collected taxes from the peasants.
ゲームの中で、プレイヤーは小さな村の領主になる。
In the game, the player becomes the lord of a small village.
The farmers had no choice but to obey their feudal lord.
He governed this land as its feudal lord from a young age.
藩主 names the lord of a specific Edo-period han (domain), whereas 領主 is a more general term not tied to that administrative system.
城主 emphasizes lordship centered on a castle, while 領主 emphasizes rule over a territory more broadly.
領主 refers broadly to any ruler of a territory in any era or country, while 殿様 is specifically the Japanese, often Edo-period, term of address.
地主 is a modern term for a landowner who owns land as private property, while 領主 is a historical feudal ruler with political authority over a territory.
Compound of 領 (territory) and 主 (master, lord). The reading is on'yomi for both characters.