Jisha bugyo

• Japanese: 寺社奉行 (jisha bugyou)

The jisha bugyô, or Temples & Shrines Magistrates, were Tokugawa shogunate officials who oversaw matters pertaining to Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. The post was established and maintained beginning in 1635. Five daimyô shared the post at any given time; many of them served previously or afterward in positions such as Kyoto shoshidai, Osaka jôdai, or rôjû.

Along with the Edo machi bugyô (Edo Town Magistrates) and kanjô bugyô (Finance Magistrates), they were known as part of the Sanbugyô (Three Magistrates), one group of the most powerful officials in Edo; the Jisha bugyô were the highest-ranking of these three, with the most privileged seating position in formal audience ceremonies held within Edo castle. They were also members of the hyôjôsho (judicial council), along with these bugyô and others.

Though the jisha bugyô were initially responsible for overseeing the merchant and artisan districts of Edo, this responsibility was taken over by the Edo machi bugyô beginning in 1746.

Select List of Jisha Bugyô

• Honda Tadaharu (1702-1713)
• Matsudaira Chikayoshi (c. 1710s)
• Takebe Masataka (1714-?)
• Hotta Masasuke
• Hotta Masanari
• Manabe Akikatsu
• Hotta Masayoshi
• Wakisaka Yasuori (?-1851/12/21)
• Matsudaira Chikayoshi (1864-?)
• Matsudaira Chikayoshi (?-1867)