Danka-System

In the Danka System (檀 家 制度, danka seido ), also known as Jidan system (寺 檀 制度jidan seido ), supported households ( the danka ) in Japan the local Buddhist temple financially. In exchange for the respective temples support provided in spiritual terms.

Although this system had been known since the Heian period, it was used only during the Tokugawa regime in the Edo period completely its repressive side. During this period, the registration of every household at a Buddhist temple was mandatory. Comparable to a registration office served this as one of the control of the population, on the other, should thus a spread of Christianity in Japan are prevented. Almost as a certificate for the registry were called Terauke (寺 请 制度, seido terauke ) issued, which thus also served as proof that the citizen in question was not a Christian. For this reason, this method is also called Terauke system because the temple ( tera ) exhibited the certificate ( uke ).

This mandatory system was abolished after the end of World War II, but it was on a voluntary basis exists today and is an important part of financial security for the respective temple dar.