Interestingly, Hongan-ji Temple is counted among the warlords because it gained power equivalent to that of a warlord with the expansion of Ikko-ikki during the Sengoku period (Japan), and sometimes "Kennyo HONGANJI" or "Kosa HONGANJI" is used for Homyo (the Jodo Shinshu sect) of the monshu (chief priest) or for Imina with "Honganji" being prefixed; however, it is used simply for the convenience of naming, as the family line of the monshu, the chief priest of Hongan-ji Temple, never used Honganji as a last name or surname and there was no clan called Honganji.
本願寺は戦国時代(日本)には一向一揆の広がりのもとで戦国大名に伍する勢力をもったことから、戦国大名のひとつに数えられ、また門主の法名(浄土真宗)や諱に本願寺を冠して「本願寺顕如」、「本願寺光佐」というように呼ぶことがしばしばあるがあくまで呼称の便宜上であり、本願寺門主の家系が本願寺を家の名字・姓としたわけでも、本願寺氏という氏が存在したわけでもない。