Priest - Sojo

Japanese: 僧正 - そうじょう

〘Noun〙① The highest rank of the priests. Also, the person. At first, there was only one in the Suiko Chronicle, but later it was divided into three ranks, Daisojo, Sojo, and Gonsojo, and the number increased to more than ten. Daisojo was equated with Dainagon, Sojo with Chunagon, and Gonsojo with Sangi. Furthermore, in later generations, these titles came to be used as the ranks of priests in each sect. ※Shoki (720), Suiko 32nd year, April (Iwasaki Honin) "Therefore, from now on, Sojo (reading with a flat tone, reading aloud) and Sozu (reading with a high tone ) should be appointed to inspect the monks and nuns." ※Genji (around 1001-14), Hashihime "The Sozu Sojo, who has a daunting virtuous past, is in a position where he has no free time in the world." ② A translation of "bishop①". ※The Wandering Jew (1917) by Ryunosuke Akutagawa: “A man named Paul von Eitzen, bishop of Schleswig.”

Source: The Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary About the Selected Edition of the Japanese Language Dictionary Information

Japanese:

〘名〙① 僧官僧綱の最上位。また、その人。はじめは推古紀に見えて一人であったが、のちに大僧正・僧正・権僧正の三階級に分かれ、人数も一〇余人にふえた。大僧正は二位大納言に、僧正は二位中納言に、権僧正は三位参議に准ぜられた。さらに後世は、各宗派の僧階としてこの称を用いるようになった。※書紀（720）推古三二年四月（岩崎本訓）「故今より已後、僧正〈去、平声点。音読〉僧都〈去、上声点〉を任(め)して仍て僧尼を校検すべし」※源氏（1001‐14頃）橋姫「気遠げなる宿徳(しうとく)の僧都そう正のきはは、世に、暇なくきすぐにて」② 「ビショップ①」の訳語。※さまよへる猶太人（1917）〈芥川龍之介〉「シュレスウイッヒの僧正パウル・フォン・アイツェンと云ふ男が」

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