enfeoffment; grant of peerage
Historical term referring to the granting of a title of nobility, often accompanied by a court rank or government post. Used in contexts of pre-modern Japanese and Chinese history.
In the Edo period, enfeoffment was granted to daimyo who had rendered distinguished service.
From Middle Chinese 封爵 (pɨoŋ tsjak), meaning 'to enfeoff and grant a title of nobility'. The Japanese reading ほうしゃく is the on'yomi of the characters.