imperial messenger to a shrine; envoy returning courtesies
Historical term for an imperial envoy sent to a shrine to present offerings (奉幣) or to return courtesies. Rare in modern usage; encountered mainly in historical or Shinto contexts.
In the Heian period, imperial messengers were dispatched to Ise Shrine.
The hōheishi was an important envoy from the imperial court to shrines.
Compound of 奉 (ほう, 'to present respectfully'), 幣 (へい, 'offering, especially paper or cloth strips used in Shinto'), and 使 (し, 'messenger'). The term is historically associated with imperial court rituals.