Maritime Guard Officer

Japanese: 海上警固役 - かいじょうけいごやく

In the Middle Ages, pirates were often employed to guard ships sailing at sea to prevent them from being attacked by other pirates. One example is the Iyo Murakami clan, who received a guard fee called shukouriyo (a fee for sake and food) from Toji Temple during the Sadawa era of the Northern and Southern Courts period. Pirates also escorted trade ships, and when the Muromachi Shogunate dispatched ships to Ming China, they were tasked with guarding the ships to protect them from pirate attacks. This is why pirates were called kegoshu.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中世には海賊は海上を航行する船がほかの海賊から襲撃されないように警固を目的に雇われることがしばしばあった。南北朝時代の貞和年間，伊予村上氏の一族が東寺から酒肴料（しゆこうりよう）と称する警固料をえていたのは，その一例である。また海賊衆は貿易船の護送にもあたったが，室町幕府が遣明船を派遣するとき，その船舶を海賊の被害から守るため海賊衆にたいして警固の役を課した。海賊衆を〈警固衆〉とよぶのはこのためである。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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