supporting family of a temple; parishioner family
Refers to a household that is formally affiliated with a Buddhist temple and provides financial support, often in exchange for memorial services. The term is specific to Japanese Buddhist parish systems.
この寺には約二百軒の檀家がある。
This temple has about two hundred supporting families.
檀
At the parishioners' meeting, they discussed the repair costs for the temple.
Standard kanji spelling.
Irregular kanji usage; 檀家 is the correct form.
From 檀 (だん, 'sandalwood'; by extension, 'Buddhist temple') and 家 (か, 'house, family'). The reading だんけ is a less common variant.