Temple Law - Jiinhatto

First, over a period of 15 years from 1601 (Keicho 6), the Edo Shogunate issued a series of laws addressed to the head temples and temples of the Tendai, Shingon, Zen, and Jodo sects, which had maintained a united sectial organization since the Middle Ages. The Shogunate guaranteed the status of the head temples and temples of each sect, and also granted them the authority to organize sects and branch temples and organize religious organizations. Many of these laws were drafted by Konchiin (Ishin) Suden. Later, they were extended to other sects such as Nichiren and Jodo Shinshu, and in 1665 (Kanbun 5), when the head and branch organizations of each sect were in place, the Shogunate issued the Temple Laws as general regulations that were a common control measure for all Buddhist temples and monks, regardless of sect. In the same year, the Laws on Shrine Priests and Priests was also issued, which can be understood as the period when the Shogunate established its control over religion. The specific contents of the laws include observance of the religious rites of each sect, the qualifications for temple abbots, observance of the system of head and sub-head monks, relations with temple parishioners, prohibitions on forming cliques, restrictions on the repair of temple pagodas, and other detailed matters such as monk's attire, Buddhist ceremonies, and the prohibition on women staying overnight on temple premises.

[Takano Toshihiko]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

まず1601年（慶長6）から15年間にわたって、中世以来の宗派組織のまとまりをもっていた天台・真言・禅・浄土宗などの本山・本寺にあてて次々に出された江戸幕府の法令。幕府は各宗派ごとの本山・本寺の地位を保証し、あわせて宗派・一山末寺の編成と教団組織化などの権限を与えた。多くは金地院(こんちいん)（以心(いしん)）崇伝(すうでん)の起草にかかる。その後、日蓮(にちれん)宗・浄土真宗などその他の宗派にも及び、各宗派の本末組織が整った1665年（寛文5）には、幕府は、宗派の違いを越えて、仏教寺院・僧侶(そうりょ)全体に共通の統制策である一般総則としての寺院法度を出した。同年には諸社禰宜神主法度(ねぎかんぬしはっと)も出され、幕府の宗教統制の確立時期と理解できる。法度の具体的内容は、各宗の法式を守ること、寺院住持の資格、本末の制を守ること、寺檀(じだん)関係、徒党の禁、寺塔修復制限、そのほか僧侶の服装、仏事の儀式、女人の寺中宿泊の禁止など細部にわたる。

［高埜利彦］

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