also: ぞくせい
secular surname (of a priest)
Refers to the family name a Buddhist priest used before ordination, as opposed to their religious name. Used in historical or religious contexts.
This monk's secular surname is Tanaka.
The old document records the monks' secular surnames.
Standard kanji spelling. The reading ぞくしょう is the most common.
Alternate reading, less common. May be encountered in older or specialized texts.
Compound of 俗 (secular, worldly) and 姓 (surname). The term is used specifically in Buddhist contexts to distinguish a priest's family name from their religious name.