役えき身しん折せっ酬しゅう

noun

debt bondage; forced labor for debt

Historical term referring to a practice under the ritsuryō legal system where a debtor who could not repay was compelled to work off the debt through labor.

• 律りつ令りょう制せいでは、借しゃっ金きんを返かえせない者ものは役えき身しん折せっ酬しゅうによって強きょう制せい的てきに労ろう働どうさせられた。

  Under the ritsuryō system, those who could not repay their debts were forced to work through debt bondage.