宗しゅう門もん改あらため

noun

religious inquisition; Edo-period census of religious affiliation

Historical term for the Tokugawa shogunate's system of investigating and registering the religious affiliation of the populace, primarily to root out Christians. Often translated as 'religious inquisition' or 'sectarian investigation'.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、幕ばく府ふは宗しゅう門もん改あらためを通つうじてキリシタンを取とり締しまった。

  During the Edo period, the shogunate suppressed Christians through the religious inquisition.

• 宗しゅう門もん改あらためは、寺てら請うけ制せい度どと結むすびついて行おこなわれた。

  The religious census was carried out in conjunction with the temple certification system.