Clergy (TCG)

Clergy was the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. The clergy of Rokugan occupied a special place in the Celestial Order, they were higher than the heimin class, but most were considered lower than the buke and kuge. The exception were shugenja, who were samurai by right of birth. The highest-ranking member was the Emperor himself as the head of the Shintao, and therefore all, religion. Beneath the Emperor were the shugenja, who were in turn followed by the priests. At the bottom of the caste were the shrine keepers, who served as religious assistants and protectors. Monks were also technically clergy, but they were not a part of the Celestial Order.