Monshu

The Monshu (門主 or 門首), or keeper of the gate is a term used to Jōdo Shinshū Buddhism that refers to the spiritual leader of either the Nishi Hongan-ji branch, or the Higashi Hongan-ji branch, both direct descendants of its founder Shinran. However, different kanji are used: 門主 by Nishi Honganji, and 門首 by Higashi Honganji. The pronunciation is the same. In the related Jōdo Shū sect, the head of Chion-in temple is also called 門主, but it is pronounced monsu instead. The term is derived from an earlier term, monzeki (門跡) still in use by some other sects.

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