社しゃ僧そう

noun

shrine priest; priest attached to a shrine

Historical term for a Buddhist priest who served at a Shinto shrine, especially during the syncretic shinbutsu-shūgō period. Not used for modern Shinto priests (神主 or 宮司).

• 江え戸ど時じ代だいには、多おおくの神じん社じゃで社しゃ僧そうが祭さい祀しを執とり行おこなっていた。

  During the Edo period, shrine priests conducted rituals at many shrines.