This paper examines the status, duties, and evolution of the temple office known as koban (Fire Watchman's Office) based upon study of historical documents related to the Rinzai Zen monastery Myoshinji. From 1842 onward, however, the title of office changed to tenzoryo (Monastery Cook's Office) and was filled on a yearly basis by two monks jointly appointed to the Office of the Chief Seat (shuso) within the monastery's Western Rank (seiban ; the branch of monastic bureaucracy which oversaw the spiritual growth of the monastery).
