Meshikome (召籠)

Meshikome was one of the punishments given out to courtiers in the Heian Period.

Summary
If court staff or officers neglected their duties or made a mistake, they were held at the entrance of the court or guard offices.

Peeping during the Jimoku (ceremony for appointing officials), opening the Gosechi chodai and looking at the Gosechi princesses at the Gosechi no mai Dance (dance performance as part of a harvest festival), being late or absent from various chogi (ceremony at Imperial Court), or making mistakes when officially relaying documents were all activities that led to Meshikome.

Those who were under Meshikome were prohibited from visiting the emperor, eating or following and attending any official events.

[Original Japanese]