Generally it was regarded as being lower than Gakuryo (studying monk) but higher than Gyonin (practitioner of austerities in mountains) and was put in charge of practical business, including the security and administrative operation of the temple.
一般的に学侶よりも下位、行人_(仏教)よりも上位とされ、寺院内の警備や管理運営などの実務なども扱った。