Paper short abstract:

This presentation focuses on the system of administrative temples in Early Modern Japanese Buddhist institutions. It discusses the system's regional foundations and its connections with feudal lords and confirms the importance of the system to the management of Buddhist institutions.

Paper long abstract:

This research report presents examples of the system of administrative temples furegashira seido 触頭制度 in Early Modern Japanese Buddhist institutions kyōdan 教団. It discusses the system's regional foundations and its connections with Edo period feudal lords. Research thus far has discussed Buddhist institutions largely in terms of the head temple-branch temple system honmatsu seido 本末制度 and temple-parishioner system jidan seido 寺檀制度, emphasizing the overall control exercised by the shogunate. In recent years, however, research on the various systems and frameworks within Buddhist institutions themselves and on sectarian and regional diversity has highlighted the need to reexamine the temples policy of the Edo period regime. With that research direction in mind, this presentation focuses on the system of administrative temples in Buddhist institutions. These administrative temples were established in the various regions by head temples honzan 本山 and feudal lords. They would pass on communiques such as new laws and regulations from head temples and feudal lords to their subordinate temples fureshita 触下. Administrative temples were also responsible for receiving official petitions and suchlike from the temples under them.

　The system of administrative temples organized temples by region, and there were cases of subordinate temples forming associations kumiai 組合 within these regions. Many matters were dealt with via this head temple-administrative temple-subordinate temples structure in addition to the transmission of instructions to subordinates and reports to superiors. Ties between local confraternities kō 講 and the temples in their neighboring areas also developed.

　The system of administrative temples was an important factor contributing to the management of Buddhist institutions under the authority of the Edo period regime. Bringing local foundations of that system such as associations and confraternities into proper perspective makes clear the ways in which Buddhist institutions operated and organized themselves. It also opens the way for a reassessment of the relationship between Buddhist institutions and the feudal overlords of the Edo period.