The reisen was originally a gift money presented from Shugo Daimyo (Japanese territorial lord as provincial constable), temples and shrines in celebrations such as the appointment of Seii Taishogun (literally, "great general who subdues the barbarians") at the Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun).
礼銭（れいせん）とは、本来は室町幕府において征夷大将軍の任命などの祝い事の際に守護大名や寺社などから献上された祝い金のこと。