Servant - Genin

Japanese: 下人 - げにん

〘noun〙① A person of lower rank. A person of low social status. ※Gonki, 2nd year of Choho (1000), September 28th " _Though this is _a minor _matter , _a _subordinate has _{filed a complaint} , and _{the matter} has been resupplied. _However , an _imperial _order has been _issued to _detain _him . What should be _done _? " ② _A person of low social status. A person of low class. A commoner. ※Shoku Nihongi, 4th year of Enryaku (785), June Kiyou "My minister Karita Maro and others have lost their royal _ancestors _and have _become commoners of _low class." ※Nurebotoke, 1671, Kana Zoushi, Vol. 1 "The number of people who have ruined their lives is countless, regardless of whether they are superior or subordinate." ③ A worthless person. A person of inferior character. ※Gyokuyo - December 30, 1185 (Bun'ichi Year) "I read the report _and _found that Gaken _{had been} appointed _councillor , _and at my grandfather's request, Tsunefusa had spoken out, which was quite strange. Tsunefusa was considered quite _a servant among the nobles at the time, and this _{had been the case} for _many years. _Therefore , I have seen through _this matter _and have come _{to understand it to} be _quite _a small matter, _but _I do _not really care." ④ Subjugated people from the Heian period onwards. Subjugated to the land steward, manorial official, headman or landowner of a manor, they were used for household chores, agriculture, military or other miscellaneous tasks for the lord, and were subject to sale, pawning or transfer as property, either together with the land or separately. Miscellaneous people. Servants. ※Newly added - 361, April 20, 1243 (Kangen 1) " _1. Personnel matters related to the crossing of Sakai. _{There are some} people who are unknown to the land stewards, and those who have been detained _by _order _{from the upper} _class will _not be _discussed _annually , and it is no longer _necessary to discuss _this issue. From now on, they will be _asked to return _{the matter} to _the _upper class. However, as for peasant _servants , _{_{they will not be}} mixed in with _{the land} _steward ." ⑤ In the Edo period, this referred to indentured servants. They had a strong sense of servitude to their masters, and were used for household chores and farm work as hereditary servants, and in the early days they were also subject to buying and pawning, but from the middle period they were called servant boys and maids, and gradually became indentured servants. ※Shingaku Gorinsho (1650) "Whether you serve your lord or your parents, you should keep your mind and be humble, even in the most important matters. You should also be humble when serving servants ."

Shimo-bito [Servant]

〘noun〙① A person of low rank. A person who is employed by others to do odd jobs. A servant. A manservant or a maid. ※Tonbo (c. 974), vol. 2 "Four men on horseback were sneaking around in a clean wicker wagon, and there were many other men of low rank." ② A person of low rank. A person of low rank. Also, a person of the underworld . ※Genji (c. 1001-14), Momiji-ga "Even when I was hiding under trees, hidden by rocks, or buried in the leaves of mountain trees , I could barely understand the feelings of these people, and tears welled up in my eyes."

Shimo-udo [Servant]

〘Noun〙 A variation of the word "shimobito (female servant)". ※Iroha Jiruisho (1177-81) "Shimofuto"

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

Japanese:

〘名〙① 目下の者。位階が下の者。※権記‐長保二年（1000）九月二八日「此事雖_レ在_二小事_一、依_レ有_二下人所_一レ申、已仰_下可_二補給_一之由_上、而別有_二勅命_一所_二抑留_一、為_二之如何_一」② 社会的身分の低い者。卑賤の者。しもじもの者。※続日本紀‐延暦四年（785）六月癸酉「臣苅田麻呂等、失_二先祖之王族_一、蒙_二下人之卑姓_一」※仮名草子・ぬれぼとけ（1671）上「身をほろぼせし人々は、上人・下人にゑらびなく、いくせんまんと数しらず」③ つまらない者。品性の劣っている者。※玉葉‐文治元年（1185）一二月三〇日「披_二見聞書_一之処、雅賢被_レ任_二参議_一、是祖父懇望之上、経房之唇吻云々、太異様事也、経房者、当時卿相之中、頗為_二下人_一之由、年来存_レ之、依_二此事_一頗見_二其心操_一了、雖_レ為_二少事_一顕_二心底_一者也」④ 平安時代以後の隷属民。荘園の地頭や荘官、名主や地主などに隷属して、家事、農業、軍事など主家の雑役につかわれ、財産として土地といっしょに、あるいは別々に売買質入や譲渡の対象となった。雑人。奉公人。※新編追加‐三六一・寛元元年（1243）四月二〇日「一、越堺下人事。地頭等有_二不知之子細_一、年来於_下令_二拘留_一之輩_上者、不_レ論_二年紀_一、今更非_二沙汰之限_一、自今以後、相互慥可_レ令_二糺返_一也。但至_二百姓下人_一者、不_レ可_レ混_二地頭之所従_一」⑤ 江戸時代、年季奉公人のこと。主家への隷属性が強く、譜代奉公人として家事や耕作労働に使役され、初期の頃は売買質入の対象ともなったが、中頃からは下男・下女と呼ばれ次第に年季奉公人化した。※心学五倫書（1650）「君につかふまつるも、おやにつかふまつるも、心をしめて、一大事にかけてつつしむなり。又下人(ゲニン)をつかふも、つつしむなり」

しも‐びと【下人】

〘名〙① しもざまの人。人につかわれて雑事に従事する者。召使い。下男や下女。※蜻蛉（974頃）下「しのびて、ただきよげなる網代車(あじろぐるま)に、馬にのりたる男どん四人、しも人はあまたあり」② 身分の卑しい者。下賤(げせん)の人。しもじも。また、地下(じげ)の人。※源氏（1001‐14頃）紅葉賀「もの、見知るまじきしも人などの、木のもと、岩がくれ、山の木(こ)の葉に埋もれたるさへ、少しものの心知るは、涙おとしけり」