How to Use for Genealogy Research
Japanese Buddhist temples maintained “kakochō” (death registers) under the Edo-period terauke (danka) system, recording births, deaths, and marriages for each affiliated household. Kakochō are the most important genealogical sources predating the koseki system, often containing ancestor information from the mid-Edo period (17th–19th centuries).
Key genealogy uses:
- Identify the sect and location of the danna-dera (family temple) to which ancestors were affiliated
- Request access to or copies of the kakochō (at the temple’s discretion)
- Estimate an ancestor’s era and status from their kaimyō (posthumous Buddhist name)
Structure of a typical kaimyō (posthumous name):
- In-gō (〜院): Prestigious title given to high-status individuals
- Dōgō (2 characters): Reflects relationship with the teacher/sect
- Kaimyō proper (2 characters): Core posthumous name
- I-gō (〜koji/daishi/shinji/shinnyo, etc.): Indicates gender and social status
Sect Overview
Jōdo Shū was founded by Hōnen Shonin. The head temple is Chion-in in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. Approximately 7,000 temples nationwide, particularly strong in Kanto and Tohoku regions. Also associated with Tokugawa Ieyasu’s family temple.
Kaimyō Features
Format: (In-gō) + Yo-gō (〜yo, a distinctive element of Jōdo Shū kaimyō) + Kaimyō proper + I-gō. The “yo” (誉) element is a distinctive marker of Jōdo Shū posthumous names.
Head Temple Location
400 Rinkashita-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto
