Doho shu

• Japanese:　同朋衆 (douhou shuu)

The dôhôshû were monks or lay monks, mostly of the Jishû sect, who served the Ashikaga shogunate, chiefly as cultural advisors and organizers of artistic events. Most took monastic names ending in -ami or -a.

Given their association with the Jishû sect, and with the liminal spaces of performance arts, the dôhôshû were considered kugai mono, a certain type of marginal person. In addition to performing various tasks within the shogun's household, they also organized, led, or performed various artistic activities at banquets and parties, including tea ceremony and poetry competitions, and arranging the decorations for the meeting room.

References

• Eiko Ikegami, Bonds of Civility, Cambridge University Press (2005), 111.