I have a question about people who work at temples

Hello.

I think the circumstances of this question vary from denomination to denomination.
I'm from the Jodo Shinshu area.

1. A story about monks being hereditary
This is most common in our denomination.
In the case of women, of course, they go to an ordinary household to get married, but they may also get married to another temple (called a monk) or become a female chief priest. “Shrine maidens” are probably mainly from shrines.

2. About banknotes
In our denomination, there are no bills or amulets at all.
This is because devotion to Amida Nyorai comes first.
Also, things similar to rokuyō, such as “Butsumetsu,” which are not found in sutras, are not guidelines for action.

Just for your reference.

My name is Yoshida Toshihide from the Soto sect. I will respond to the extent that I have seen and heard.

1. Even in the case of the Soto sect, I think there are many so-called hereditary temples. I was born in a temple in Iwate Prefecture. My older brother is the chief priest at my parents' temple. My biological father who passed away (born in Taisho 14) was not born in a temple. When I was in elementary school, I became a temple boy and became a monk. Until before the war, it seems that children were often given away at an early age to be feudal servants of merchant houses or monks in temples.
Even in the Soto sect, depending on the temple, there are temples where the son of the chief priest cannot be the successor. It is a temple that has a long history and is said to be prestigious. There are also cases where they are dispatched from Motoyama. Also, there are cases where they are selected from the temple's Hoshukai (related persons related to mentor/disciple) or selected from the branch temple association (branch temple group).

2. It is common to call the wife of the chief priest of a temple a temple family, a temple garden, or a monk. As a common name, they are also sometimes called “Okuri-san” or “Daikoku-san.” As already answered, shrine maiden (miko) generally refers to a female employee at a shrine.

Furthermore, historically, it seems that there are many cases where it is understood as a “shrine maiden = shaman.” In other words, a female religious person who performs acts such as “performing prayers and conveying oracles” or “possessing the spirits of ancestors and deceased people and making promises” is called a shrine maiden. In the fields of religious studies and folklore studies, in such cases, shrine maidens are called “fujo.”

Hello. This is the Soto sect.

1. A story about monks being hereditary
It is common for children in temples to become monks. On the other hand, there are people who don't become monks even though they are children of the temple, and there are also people who become monks even though they are not temple children, but they are in the minority. My impression is that many believers want the children of the family temple to inherit the temple.
In ancient times, a “shrine maiden” was like a shaman who obtained oracles and made suggestions, etc., but now it seems that they are positions that assist Shinto priests. There's no such thing as a temple daughter not being allowed to do such an occupation, so I think there are options. Not only women, but I think it's an option for people born as temple children to become Shinto priests no matter what gender they are.

2. About banknotes
There are no fixed dates in particular. “Rokuyō,” such as Butsumetsu, is a type of fortune telling, and it has no meaning in Buddhism.
In the Soto sect, banknotes with the words “Rishun Daikichi” and “Shinfukuten” written on them are affixed, but I write this bill on the day of the first day of spring and replace them.
In addition to banknotes, there are many things written by brush in temples, such as Gotopo and red seals, but at my temple, a monk (me) writes everything. There are also things that have manners, such as calligraphy, etc., so I think it's something that monks should write after all.

Well, in the Nichiren sect...
① If the other person answered, it's almost the same.
Shrine maidens are also related to shrines. However, my sister officially worked at a nearby shrine for a few years after high school graduation.
② Since we pray, we always make money. There are also amulets. Since it was Setsubun Festival the other day, it was given after praying to those who visited the pilgrimage and prayed, regardless of the religious denomination. We do everything from the belly band before birth, first visit, 753, unlucky year, groundbreaking festival, wedding, etc. This is a major premise for living people. Funerals and memorial services are an extension of that.
Incidentally, there are dealers that specialize in banknotes, etc., but they are only living banknotes with prayers added. It's up to us to pray.
There is also a calendar, but the Shingon sect and Nichiren sect are the same, but the content is different from the general Takashima calendar.
The rokuyō is like the current seven days.

1: The Jodo Shinshu
Since marriage has been approved by the founder, Shinran Shonin,
Since then, he has been a hereditary chief priest.
The head priest (head priest) of both East and West Honganji Temple is a descendant of Shinran Shonin.
Temples that only have daughters
Will that woman become the chief priest
She adopted a son and her husband became the chief priest.

Other religious denominations are
Marriages have been officially recognized since the Meiji period,
Prior to that, it wasn't officially hereditary.

People from home like me
There are times when I enter a temple with no heirs.