also: へいじょう
Archaic term for weapons or an armed soldier, found in historical or military contexts. Not used in modern everyday Japanese.
In old documents, the expression 'to bear arms' can be found.
They were ordered to strengthen the preparation of arms.
Historical kanji compound; the reading ひょうじょう is the primary reading. The alternate reading へいじょう is also recorded.
Alternate reading of the same kanji form; less common than ひょうじょう.
Compound of 兵 (soldier, weapon) and 仗 (weapon, military equipment). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the word is now archaic.