immediate vassal (of the shogun; Kamakura and Muromachi periods)
low-ranking vassal (of the shogun; Edo period)
将軍に御家人として仕えた。
He served the shogun as a gokenin.
御家人は将軍から新たな所領を与えられた。
Gokenin were granted new territories by the shogun.
御家人の不満は、やがて幕府への反乱へと繋がった。
Gokenin dissatisfaction eventually led to rebellions against the shogunate.