Historically, the samurai serving a daimyo, or feudal lord, would all wear similar armor, while here the mannequins sport different styles.

WSJ: Dressed to Kill in Peacetime | Samurai! | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston | By Lee Lawrence

"The ruling bodies of the gilds wielded an actual jurisdiction over their members, punishing them with the same punishments that a feudal lord imposed upon his serf, " writes historian Tom Girtin.

BBC: Lessons from history: Can royalty guarantee a free press?