Sōkan

This is an article on Buddhist rankings. For the artist, see Yamazaki Sōkan. Sōkan (僧官) is the Japanese system of rankings for clergy in Buddhism in Japan. There are three ranks, collectively known as Sōgō (僧綱), comprising ten categories or levels, followed by a series of titles known collectively as sōi (僧位). There is an abridged form for each of the three ranks; monastics or priests are often referred to by their rank rather than title.