noun
supporting family of a temple; parishioner family
Refers to a household that is formally affiliated with a Buddhist temple and provides financial support, often in exchange for memorial services. The term is specific to Japanese Buddhist parish systems.
この寺には約二百軒の檀家がある。
This temple has about two hundred supporting families.
檀家の集まりでお寺の修繕費を話し合った。
At the parishioners' meeting, they discussed the repair costs for the temple.
Irregular kanji usage; 檀家 is the correct form.
氏子 refers to a parishioner of a Shinto shrine, while 檀家 is specifically for a Buddhist temple.
From 檀 (だん, 'sandalwood'; by extension, 'Buddhist temple') and 家 (か, 'house, family'). The reading だんけ is a less common variant.