Temples made up Shumon ninbetsu cho (religious census register), which is today's family register, and the public needed to obtain a deed called Terauke shomon (certificate of a Buddhist temple) when they set out on their travels or changed to different residences.
寺院では現在の戸籍に当たる宗門人別帳が作成され、旅行や住居の移動の際にはその証文（寺請証文）が必要とされた。