benevolent rule; debt moratorium
Historical term. In ancient China and early Japan, it referred to virtuous governance. In medieval Japan, it specifically meant a government-ordered cancellation or reduction of debts, often to relieve samurai or commoners.
In the Kamakura period, the shogunate often issued debt-cancellation edicts (tokuseirei) to wipe out debts.
The word 'tokusei' originally meant benevolent governance by a ruler.
uprising demanding debt cancellation orders
From 徳 (virtue, benevolence) + 政 (government, rule). The meaning 'debt moratorium' developed in medieval Japan from the idea of a virtuous ruler relieving the people's burdens.