also: しょにん
Historical or formal term for ordinary people without rank or title, similar to 庶民 but more classical. Often used in historical contexts or set phrases.
See also: 庶民
In the Edo period, commoners, unlike samurai, were not allowed to have a surname or wear a sword.
There is an old saying: 'Let the common people observe the three-year mourning period.'
Standard kanji form; reading しょじん is more common than しょにん.
Alternate reading; less common than しょじん.
From Chinese 庶人 (shùrén), meaning 'commoner' or 'ordinary person'. The reading しょじん is the more common Japanese adaptation; しょにん is a variant.