Shukuji - Shukuji

Japanese: 宿次 - しゅくじ

Also written as "yukutsugi," it refers to the practice of sending mail by handing over horses and men between shiyuku (post stations, post towns). It is believed to have been a common term in the middle and late Heian period. After the Muromachi period, it was also called "shiyukuokuri." As a system, it began when the Kamakura Shogunate, modeled after the ancient station system that had already declined by the middle of the Heian period, established post stations at key points on the Tokaido road to facilitate communication with Kyoto, and kept horses and men on standby to ensure the safe delivery of messengers and official goods. The Kamakura Shogunate also appointed a temporary post of shiyukutsugi kashiyobugyo, and it was necessary to carry a kashisho (document) issued by the magistrate to use the facilities and horses and men of the post station.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

〈宿継〉とも書かれ，宿（しゆく）(宿駅，宿場)の間を順次，人馬を継ぎ立てながら逓送したことをいう。平安時代の中･末期には普及していた語と推察される。室町時代以降は〈宿送（しゆくおくり）〉とも称された。制度としては，平安時代なかばにはすでに衰退していた古代駅制にならって，鎌倉幕府が京都との連絡の便を目的として東海道の要所に宿駅を定め，使者や公物の確実な逓送のための人馬を常備したのにはじまる。鎌倉幕府はあわせて臨時職として宿次過書奉行（しゆくつぎかしよぶぎよう）を任命し，宿次の設備や人馬を利用するには奉行が発行する過所(書)を携行することが必要とされた。

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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