Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
(66)TwoshopsforBuddhistsupplies.Theoneontheright,Nakura-ya,seemstospecialize
in rosaries, while Abura-ya sells rosaries and, on the shelves on the left, funerary tablets.
The priests in Abura-ya are wearing their
kesa
.
Another factor that had an influence was that under the laws against Christianity every
inhabitant had to register his religion, and must inscribe himself on the parish roll of a
Buddhist temple. The number of temples tended to increase, many new ones being built in
villages.
AlthoughmarriagewasallowedtosomeofthePureLandsubsects,thegreatermajority
of the priesthood practiced celibacy; they had a vegetarian diet, and eschewed
sake
and
strong-smelling herbs. The priesthood had its grades, which were reached by a system of
training in the great temples, which had an important role as seminaries. There was no ter-
ritorial system in the way that the Christian Church has bishoprics, with a bishop in charge
ofthepriestsinhisdiocese.Apriestlookedforguidancetotheseminarywhichhadtrained
him, and of which his temple might be a dependency. Under the Tokugawas, at least in the
earlier part of their rule, it was the Zen priests who held most of the temples (
67
)
.
It must
not be thought that they spent all their time in meditation and consideration of irresolvable
riddles, for they were kept busy with administering their temples and with looking after
their flocks; in particular they were called upon to officiate at the death of a parishioner.
The Buddhist priesthood had always been concerned with death. This world was, after
all, just a stage in the succession of existences, and the leaving of it was naturally accom-
