Station child - Ekishi

Japanese: 駅子 - えきし

〘 noun 〙 Laborers requisitioned from post towns to send messengers. One person escorted each post horse to the next station. On average, one station consisted of about 120 to 130 people. The burden was heavy, and later they also began to transport luggage, leading to many deserters. Postmaster (ekicho) (ekitei) . *Ryo Gikai (718) official text: "One postmaster. (An additional allowance of _two postmasters per person. That is, a postmaster and a horse would _ride in front of _each _other .)" [Iroha Jiruisho (Kamakura)] [Hokushi - Chronicles of the Three Monarchs, Vol. ₁ , Koso Chronicle]

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙駅使②を送るにあたって、駅戸から徴発された人夫。駅馬一頭につき一人が次の駅まで送った。一駅平均百二、三十人程度。その負担は苛酷であり、のちには荷物の運搬も行なうようになったので逃亡する者が多かった。駅丁(えきちょう)・(えきてい)。※令義解（718）公式「駅子一人。〈別給_二駅子一人_一。謂。駅子騎_レ馬為_二先行_一者〉」〔伊呂波字類抄（鎌倉）〕〔北史‐斉本紀上・高祖紀〕

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