noun
imperial protector monk
Historical Buddhist term for a monk who performed rituals for the wellbeing of the imperial household.
護持僧は、天皇の健康を祈る儀式を執り行った。
The imperial protector monk performed rituals to pray for the emperor's health.
Compound of 護持 (goji, 'protection, safeguard') and 僧 (sō, 'monk'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the term refers to a specific role in the imperial court.