Honmatsuseido - Main branch system

This was a system by the Edo Shogunate to organize and control Buddhist temples (branch temples) throughout the country into head temples and main temples for each sect. Since 1601 (Keicho 6), the Shogunate has issued the Temple Head Temple Law to the head temples and main temples of various sects, guaranteeing their status as head temples and giving them the authority to organize sect temples. In parallel with this, it prohibited branch temples from existing without the permission of the head temples and main temples, and from building new temples, so that they could only exist under the head temples and main temples. With such favorable policies from the Shogunate, the head temples and main temples began to organize religious organizations. By the Middle Ages, hierarchical relationships among temples had already existed, such as people-to-people teacher-student relationships through religious lineages, or regionally powerful temples controlling weaker temples in the area, forming a certain degree of regional organization. The early modern organization of hon-shu relationships was gradually promoted while improving existing relationships, for example by fixing fluid relationships between people into head-temple-temple relationships, or by using the shogunate's assurance of temple land to force the most influential temples in the regions to obey. The shogunate further ordered the creation and submission of registers of branch temples of various sects in 1632-33 (Kan'ei 9-10). During the Kan'ei period, not all sects were included in the registers, and there was a regional bias, but later, registers of head-temple and branch temples were included in all sects, and the head-temple-branch relationships of each sect's temples were determined and fixed, forming the pillars of religious organization.

Although the names of the religious organizations were different for each sect, the structure of religious organizations based on the relationship between head temple and branch temples was commonly divided into several levels of temple status, and the seating position and dress were determined according to the temple status, which organized the hierarchy within the religious organization. In addition, beyond the religious organizations, the priest rank and official position, which had existed since the Ritsuryo system, were also appointed according to the temple status. This priest rank and permission to grant temple and institute names are the most basic appointment to secure the status of a temple priest. Appointment fees were required for all appointments, and in addition, branch temples were obligated to pay regular and special tributes (branch temple duties) to the head temple and main temple, which, depending on the sect, put pressure on the management of branch temples. Branch temples passed on most of the branch temple duties and other costs to the parishioners (parishioner duties), but the religious organization of the head temple and main temple was based on the financial source of the branch temple and parishioners as a whole. It can be said that the shogunate was able to control Buddhist temples and monks throughout the country through this main branch system and religious organization via head temples and main temples.

[Takano Toshihiko]

"History of Japanese Buddhism" by Zennosuke Tsuji (1953, Iwanami Shoten)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸幕府が、全国の仏教諸寺院（末寺）を、宗派ごとに本山・本寺によって組織化させ、統制するための制度である。幕府は、1601年（慶長6）以来、諸宗派の本山・本寺に寺院本山法度(はっと)を発布して、本山・本寺である地位を保障し、同時に宗派寺院編成の権限を与えた。これと併行して、末端の寺院が本山・本寺の許可なく存在したり、新たに寺院を建立することを禁じて、本山・本寺の下に従属しなければ存在できないようにした。このような幕府による有利な政策を受けて、本山・本寺は教団編成に取り組んだ。すでに中世期までに、法脈を介した人と人との師弟関係が結ばれていたり、あるいは地域的に有力な寺院が周辺の弱小寺院を従え、ある程度の地域組織がつくられているなどの、寺院の上下関係が存在していた。それら既存の関係を、たとえば人と人との流動的な関係を寺院と寺院との本末関係に固定したり、あるいは地方のおもだった有力寺院には幕府による寺領安堵(あんど)をてこに従わせるなど、整備しつつ、近世本末関係の編成は徐々に進められていった。幕府はさらに、1632～33年（寛永9～10）に諸宗末寺帳を作成提出させた。この寛永(かんえい)期段階の末寺帳は提出が全宗派に及ばなかったり、地域的な偏りがあったが、その後、本末帳は全宗派に及び、各宗派の寺院本末関係が決定・固定され教団組織の柱ができあがった。

　本末関係を軸にした教団組織の構造は、各宗派で名称こそ異なるが、共通に寺格が幾階層にも分かれ、寺格に応じた座位や装束が定められて教団内の序列を秩序づけていた。また教団を越えて、律令(りつりょう)制以来存続した僧位僧官も寺格に応じて補任(ぶにん)された。この僧官位と寺号・院号の許可は寺院僧侶(そうりょ)の身分を確保するうえでもっとも基本的な補任である。諸補任すべてに補任料が必要であり、そのうえに末寺は本山・本寺に定例や臨時の上納金を納める義務（末寺役）を負ったため、宗派によっては末寺院の経営を圧迫することになった。末寺は末寺役などの大部分を檀家(だんか)負担（檀家役）に転嫁させたのだが、この末寺院―檀家を一体として財源の基礎に据えて本山・本寺による教団編成が成り立っていた。幕府は、全国の仏教寺院・僧侶の統制を、本山・本寺を通したこの本末制度・教団組織によって可能にしたといえる。

［高埜利彦］

『辻善之助著『日本仏教史』（1953・岩波書店）』

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