Ichimonshu - One family

Japanese: 一門衆 - いちもんしゅう

The direct descendants of the Hongan-ji sect's head during the Warring States period. Originally, the word "ichimon" meant people who inherited the same teachings. In Hongan-ji, which has a lineage of succession, the illegitimate children of each successive head were collectively called "itsukeshuu," and only some of these who were related by marriage to the 8th head, Rennyo, and the 9th head, Jitsunyo, during the Warring States period were called "ichimonshuu." The purpose of establishing the ichimonshuu was to form a centralized religious organization centered on the head, his illegitimate children, and his relatives. Those who lived in Hongan-ji assisted the head, and those in the provinces governed the other sub-sects. Temple samurai (Shimoma clan) sent by the head supported them administratively, and sub-sects in various regions who were ordered to serve as yoriki supported them financially.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

戦国期の本願寺宗主の直系庶子。一門とは本来同一の法門を継承する人々の意味。血脈相承の本願寺では，歴代宗主ごとに繁出する庶子群を一家衆（いつけしゆう）と総称し，そのうち戦国期の8代蓮如，9代実如と姻戚関係にある一部の一家衆に限り一門衆と称した。一門衆を設けた意図は，宗主とその庶子･親族団を中心にした集権的教団の形成にあった。本願寺在住の者は宗主を補佐し，地方の者はその他の門末を統轄した。宗主より遣わされた寺侍(下間氏)が事務面で，また与力を命ぜられた各地の門末が経済面で彼らをささえた。

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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