In the Muromachi and Sengoku (warring states) periods, the Imperial Court and the Muromachi bakufu were in severe financial difficulties, and as a result, the reisen as a gratuity was expected to be presented as a condition for receiving the documents of awarding government posts and official positions as well as of the tsugime ando (receiving again the ando-jo, or document to authorize the ownership and control of the shoryo, or territory, in case of appointment of Shogun); before long, the logic was changed, and whether the documents were issued or not came to depend on the amount of the reisen presented.
室町時代・戦国時代(日本)の朝廷・室町幕府の財政基盤が大変弱かった事から、官職・役職への補任や継目安堵（将軍の就任に際して引き続き所領安堵の安堵状を得る事）の文書発給条件として謝礼としての礼銭の献上が期待されるようになり、いつしか論理がすり替わって礼銭の献上の多寡によって発給の是非が決定されるようになっていったのである。