Priest - Osho

In Buddhism, it refers to a master who educates his disciples. It is a transcription of the corrupted pronunciation of the Sanskrit word upādhyāya. In Zen and Jodo sects, it is called "osho", but in Hosso, Shingon, and Ritsu sects, it is called "wajo", and in Tendai sect, it is called "kasho". It is also written as wajo. While the relationship between an ajari (master) and a disciple is that of a teacher and a student, the relationship between an osho and a disciple is that of a parent and child. An osho is someone who gives precepts to a disciple, makes them a monk, educates them, and makes them into a full-fledged monk; he is also called a kai osho. In Japan, it is one of the official titles of a monk, and during the Nara period, Ganjin was appointed as Daiwajo. Since the Middle Ages, monks of high virtue have been called osho, and this title has also been used to refer to monks of the chief priest or higher rank, and is also used simply as a title of respect.

[Akira Hirakawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

仏教で、弟子を教育する師匠をいう。サンスクリット語ウパードヤーヤupādhyāyaの訛(なま)った音を写したもの。禅宗、浄土宗では「おしょう」とよぶが、法相(ほっそう)宗、真言宗、律宗などでは「わじょう」、天台宗では「かしょう」ともいう。和上(わじょう)とも書く。阿闍梨(あじゃり)（師）と弟子が教師と学生の関係にあるのに対し、和尚と弟子との関係は親子の間柄にある。和尚は弟子に戒(かい)を授けて僧とし、これを教育して一人前の僧にしてやる人であり、戒和尚ともいう。日本では僧侶(そうりょ)の官名の一つとなり、奈良時代に鑑真(がんじん)は大和尚(だいわじょう)に任ぜられている。中世以降は、高徳の僧を和尚といい、住職以上の僧をもこの称でよんだほか、単なる敬称としても用いられる。

［平川　彰］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例