Shimotsuma clan

Japanese: 下間氏 - しもつまうじ

The family of officials of the Honganji temple. It began when Muneshige, a descendant of Minamoto no Yorimasa of the Seiwa Genji clan and a native of Shimotsuma, Hitachi Province, became a monk, took the name Ren'ibo, and followed Shinran. Since then, his descendants have served the Honganji temple, and during the time of the fifth head priest of the Honganji temple, Shakunyo (1350-93), they became the key-taker in charge of opening and closing the Eido hall where Shinran is enshrined, and also served as the Midoshu, who performed religious services in the hall, gradually coming to occupy important positions. The eldest son of the main family was in charge of temple affairs as a musician, but the family members became the Tonoharashu, a group of samurai, and many also served the Honganji family.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

本願寺坊官家。清和源氏源頼政の後裔で常陸国下妻出身の宗重が出家して蓮位坊と号し親鸞に随従したのを初めとする。以来子孫は本願寺に仕え，本願寺5世綽如時代(1350‐93)には，親鸞をまつる影堂の開閉をつかさどる鎰取役（かぎとりやく）となり，御堂の勤行を行う御堂衆も務め，しだいに重要な地位を占めるようになった。寺務は本家の嫡子が奏者となって統御したが，一族は侍衆である殿原衆となり，また本願寺一門に仕える者も多かった。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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