Nagatokoshu - Nagatokoshu

Japanese: 長床衆 - ながとこしゅう

In the Middle Ages, Shugenja were originally absent from one place, traveling from mountain to mountain and temple to shrine on their training, and were also called guest monks. Nagadako was a place for these traveling monks to stay and pray temporarily, and shrine worship halls and long, narrow prayer halls were used. Among these, those who stayed for long periods were called Nagadakoshu. Shugenja were at the core of this group, and they participated in prayers and ceremonies at temples and shrines. The name Nagadakoshu was first used in Kumano, and later spread to other areas through the Tendai-affiliated Honzan school of Shugen. [Suzuki Masataka]

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中世の修験者は，一所不在を本義とし，山から山，寺社から寺社へと修行の旅を続け，客僧とも呼ばれた。これら回国の修行者の，一時の止宿，参籠に供する場が長床で，神社の拝殿や細長い礼殿があてられた。そのうちで長期にわたって滞留する人々を長床衆と称した。その中核は修験者で，寺社の祈禱や法会に参加した。長床衆の名称は，熊野で使用され，以後天台系の本山派修験を通じて各地に広まっていった。【鈴木正崇】

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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