In the Edo period, Buke shohatto (Laws for the Military Houses) initially prescribed that 'daimyo is an owner of a castle with a stipend of not less than 50,000 koku of rice' and 'shomyo is a regional government officer (jinya) with a stipend of under 50,000 koku.'
江戸時代になると、初期の武家諸法度に「5万石以上の石高の城主を大名」「5万石未満の陣屋クラスを小名」と分けた。