Kengyo - Kengyo

It can also be written as Kenseki. The word means to check and revise scriptures, and in China it is used as the title of an official in charge of the compilation of Buddhist scriptures. In Japan, it was used as the title of a manor official in the Heian and Kamakura periods, as the official's role was to inspect and revise affairs. However, it is often used as the title of a priest, particularly one who supervises the affairs of temples and shrines. The first time it was used as a permanent position was in 896 (Kanpei 8) when Masushin of Toji Temple was appointed Kensetsu of Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine, and it was also the title of a position that oversaw an entire temple at Mount Koya, the Kumano Sanzan, Mudoji, and other temples. It is also used as the title of a person who presides over Buddhist ceremonies and repair and construction events. In the Middle Ages, the elders of the group of blind biwa hoshi (biwa monks) (the Todo za) were also called kengyo, and the first appearance of the term is said to be in the "Kakuichi Kengyo" entry in the 1363 entry of the Moromori-ki. In the Edo period, the Todo za was recognized by the shogunate, and under the Sokengyo there were official ranks such as Kengyo, Betsu-do, Koto, and Zato. In addition, the Soroku Kengyo was also established in Edo, which had jurisdiction over blind monks in the Kanto region. Those who were engaged in Heikyoku, Jiuta, Sokyoku, acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, etc. and who aimed for an official rank took an exam and paid a large sum of money to be granted the title.

[Rikiyama Ishikawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

検挍とも書く。点検典校の意から、中国では経籍(けいせき)をつかさどる官名などに用いる。日本では、事務を検知校量することから、平安・鎌倉時代の荘官(しょうかん)の職名に用いられた。しかし、とくに僧職の名として用いられる場合が多く、寺社の事務を監督する職掌をいう。常置の職としては、896年（寛平8）東寺の益信(やくしん)が石清水八幡宮(いわしみずはちまんぐう)検校に任ぜられたのが初出で、高野山(こうやさん)、熊野三山、無動寺などにおいても、一山を統領する職名であった。法会(ほうえ)や修理造営の行事を主宰する者の呼称としても用いられる。中世には盲目の琵琶法師(びわほうし)仲間（当道(とうどう)座）の長老も検校とよばれ、『師守(もろもり)記』貞治(じょうじ)2年（1363）条の「覚一(かくいち)検校」が初見とされる。江戸時代には当道座が幕府によって認められ、惣(そう)検校の下に検校・別当・勾当(こうとう)・座頭(ざとう)などの官位があった。また、江戸には関八州の盲僧を管轄する惣録(そうろく)検校も置かれた。平曲のほか地歌、箏曲(そうきょく)、鍼灸(しんきゅう)、按摩(あんま)などに従事する者で官位を目ざす者は試験を受け、多額の金子(きんす)を納めてこの職名が授けられた。

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