employment and marriage agency (Edo period); mediator; go-between
Historical term for an agency that arranged domestic servants and marriages during the Edo period. Also refers to the person acting as intermediary.
See also: 口入れ屋
In the Edo period, keian agencies arranged employment for servants and mediated marriages.
Rare, possibly archaic usage. Refers to insincere praise or a person who flatters.
In old texts, 桂庵 can refer to a person who flatters or uses insincere praise.
Keian era (1648–1652)
Only when written 慶安
Japanese era name spanning 1648 to 1652. Written exclusively with the kanji 慶安.
The Keian Uprising, which occurred during the Keian era, was a major incident for the shogunate.
A more general term for an employment agency, not limited to the Edo period or marriage arrangements.
Modern term for a matchmaker or go-between in marriage, without the historical employment agency nuance.
Most common kanji form for the historical agency/mediator sense.
Used exclusively for the Keian era name.
Variant kanji form, less common.
The origin is uncertain. The kanji 桂庵 and 慶庵 are likely ateji or conventional spellings for the historical agency sense. 慶安 is a standard era name composed of auspicious characters.