noun
employment and marriage agency (Edo period); mediator; go-between
Historical term for an agency that arranged domestic servants and marriages during the Edo period. Also refers to the person acting as intermediary.
See also: 口入れ屋
江戸時代には、桂庵が奉公人の口入れや縁談の仲介を行った。
In the Edo period, keian agencies arranged employment for servants and mediated marriages.
noun
Rare, possibly archaic usage. Refers to insincere praise or a person who flatters.
古い文献では「桂庵」が追従やお世辞を言う人を指すことがある。
In old texts, 桂庵 can refer to a person who flatters or uses insincere praise.
noun
Keian era (1648–1652)
Only when written 慶安
Japanese era name spanning 1648 to 1652. Written exclusively with the kanji 慶安.
慶安年間に起きた慶安の変は、幕府にとって大きな事件だった。
The Keian Uprising, which occurred during the Keian era, was a major incident for the shogunate.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 桂庵 and 慶庵 are likely ateji or conventional spellings for the historical agency sense. 慶安 is a standard era name composed of auspicious characters.