Head priest - Jyuji

The representative who controls the temple. The literal meaning is to make the law reside in reality and continue to maintain it. In the early Tang Dynasty in China, revolutionary claims arose in Buddhism, and as the new Zen sect was formed, Zen temples became independent from the traditional Vinaya temples, and furthermore, they established their own rules (Hyakujo Shingi). At that time, the highest-ranking person in charge of all matters, big and small, such as inheriting the spirit of Buddha, transmitting the light of the Dharma, holding lectures and educating the monks, was called abbot. Later, the term gradually spread to refer to the head of a Buddhist temple in general, and it is also called abbot.

[Kiyū Kosaka]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

寺を統率する代表者。字義は、法を現実に住(とど)まらしめ保持し続ける意。中国唐初の仏教に革新的主張がおこり、新たに禅宗が形成されていくなかで、従来の律寺に別して禅院が独立し、さらに独自の規範（百丈清規(ひゃくじょうしんぎ)）を創設するに至って、禅院で仏の精神を継ぎ法燈(ほうとう)を伝え持ち、法演を開き衆僧を教化するなど、大小の事いっさいを統率する最高責任者を住持とよんだことに始まる。そののちしだいに普及して仏寺一般の主人の呼称となり、住職ともよばれる。

［小坂機融］

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