The Uchi-Kakochō 内過去帳 by Nichijun 日順 Kept in the Nishiyama-Honmonji 西山本門寺

Abstract

This paper focuses on the Uchi-Kakochō 内過去帳 (Internal Family Register of Deaths) stored in the Nishiyama-Honmonji 西山本門寺, compiled by its 18th chief priest Nichijun 日順, and examines its composition and content.

The Uchi-Kakochō was compiled in the early modern period and is an old example of a family death register handed down in the Nichiren sect, and an example of the early stage when the standardized modern family register of deaths appeared with the establishment of the Jidan 寺檀 system, namely the system in which commoners must register with their temple.