Mr. Mera

Japanese: 米良氏 - めらうじ

This powerful clan prospered as Shinto priests and shrine priests of Mount Nachi in Kumano, and for generations they based their headquarters at Nachi Jitsuhoin (Jitsuhoin). Its founder is said to be Fujiwara no Sanekata Chujo, and since his son, the monk Taikyu, they have belonged to the Kumano betto family, with Hokyo Noriaki as their ancestor. They inherited the position of Oshi, who provides lodging for pilgrims on pilgrimages to Kumano, offers prayers and guides for the pilgrimage, and with many Kumano guides under their command, they expanded their mentor-parishioner relationships throughout the country, becoming the most influential clan within the mountain. After the fourth head priest Doken, many of them became executive officers of Kumano Nachi, and were called Ichiro of Mount Nachi.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

熊野那智山の神職社僧として栄えた豪族で，代々那智実報院(実方院)を本拠とした。その祖は藤原実方中将といわれ，その子，僧泰救以来の熊野別当家の一門に属し，法橋範永を氏の祖とする。熊野参詣の道者を宿泊させ祈禱，参拝の導師を務める御師（おし）の職を世襲し，多数の熊野先達を配下において全国に師檀関係を広げ，山内で最も勢力のある院家となった。4代目の法印道賢以後，熊野那智の執行（しぎよう）となる者が多く，那智山の一﨟（いちろう）といわれた。

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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