In Japan, it was a symbol of Hokkyo-shonin (a title of honor given to Buddhist sculptors, painters, poets, etc.), which was one of the ranks for monks in 864; later, however, the monks who traveled around and put their efforts into teaching people were referred to as Shonin (上人) or Shonin (聖人) by ordinary people.
日本では、貞観_(日本)6年（864年）に僧位の一つとして置かれた法橋上人の略号であったが、後に民間においても諸国を回って民衆教化にあたった僧に対して「上人」あるいは「聖人」と呼ぶようになった。