百ひゃく姓せい

noun

the common people; the masses

Historical term referring to ordinary people, especially in pre-modern contexts. Not used in modern everyday speech; now mainly encountered in historical or literary settings.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、百ひゃく姓せいは重おもい年ねん貢ぐに苦くるしんだ。

  In the Edo period, the common people suffered under heavy land taxes.