Heihaku offered to the gods by order of the emperor are called hobei or hohei (presented offerings), and for that reason the messengers that the emperor sends to shrines are termed the "hoheishi" (messenger to present offerings; starting in the Meiji period, the name was changed to "heihaku gushinshi" or "messenger that gives heihaku as offerings").
天皇の命により幣帛を奉献することを奉幣（ほうべい、ほうへい）といい、そのために遣わされる者のことを奉幣使（明治以降は幣帛供進使）という。