temple certification of affiliation; temple-issued certificate proving Buddhist sect membership
Historical term from the Edo period. Under the danka system, every household was required to register with a Buddhist temple, and this certificate served as proof of affiliation and, indirectly, that the holder was not Christian.
In the Edo period, the temple certification served as a form of family registry.
The temple certification system was closely tied to the prohibition of Christianity.
terauke system; temple registration system
Standard kanji spelling for the historical certification system.
Variant spelling with okurigana; also seen in historical texts.
Compound of 寺 (temple) and 請 (certification, guarantee). The term arose from the Edo-period practice of requiring temple certification to prove religious affiliation.