noun
dependency; vassal state
Historical term for a state or territory that is subordinate to a more powerful state, often in the context of pre-modern East Asian tributary systems. Rare in everyday conversation; mainly appears in historical or political texts.
その小国は大国の付庸として存続した。
The small country survived as a dependency of the great power.
歴史書には、周辺の付庸国についての記述がある。
The history book contains descriptions of the surrounding vassal states.
From Chinese 附庸 (fùyōng), meaning a small state attached to a larger one. The Japanese reading is ふよう, using the kanji 付 or 附 for 'attach' and 庸 for 'service' or 'tribute'.