Under the Japanese ritsuryō system, station bells or post bells (駅鈴, ekirei) were bells of red copper issued by the central government or by local provincial government offices to travelling officials or messengers known as ekishi (駅使). Functioning as a proof of identity, they allowed them to procure horses and labour at post stations.
Under the Japanese ritsuryō system, station bells or post bells (駅鈴, ekirei) were bells of red copper issued by the central government or by local provincial government offices to travelling officials or messengers known as ekishi (駅使). Functioning as a proof of identity, they allowed them to procure horses and labour at post stations.
Source: Wikipedia "Station bell" · CC BY-SA 4.0
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