礼れい奉ぼう公こう

noun

free service after apprenticeship

Historical term for a period of unpaid work a former apprentice performed for their master as a gesture of gratitude after completing training. Related to お礼奉公.

See also: お礼奉公

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、職しょく人にんの弟で子しが修しゅ行ぎょうを終おえた後あと、礼れい奉公ぼうこうとして何なん年ねんか無む償しょうで働はたらくことがあった。

  In the Edo period, after completing their training, artisan apprentices sometimes worked without pay for several years as reihōkō.