Pick the format of the book you have and how you tend to receive goshuin.
You get the accessories that fit, and the measurements to take before buying.
Describe your book
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Where the size mismatch actually happens
A cover that will not slide on, or a pouch that will not close, almost always comes down to one of three things. Height and width matched, and the thickness did not is by far the most common.
- Mixed-up dimensions: sellers label goods "large-format compatible" or "fits 16 x 11 cm" with no shared baseline. Convert everything to centimetres before comparing
- Thickness overlooked: a new concertina book is 1.5 to 2 cm thick. Mount a run of loose sheets into it and it passes 2.5 to 3 cm. Covers and hard cases fail here
- Double-page sheets forgotten: a sheet received across a double page is roughly twice as wide. Choose a file by the sheet size, not the book size
So there are only three numbers to take: height, width, and current thickness. Note those before you buy and size-related mistakes mostly disappear.
Common sizes, as a guide
| Name | Height x width | What tends to fit |
|---|---|---|
| Standard (chuban) | approx. 16 x 11 cm | Most covers, pouches and cases sold |
| Large (oban) | approx. 18 x 12 cm | Only items stated as large-format |
| Small or irregular | varies | Measure and check item by item |
| Loose sheet, single | approx. 16 x 11 cm | A5 clear files, dedicated holders |
| Loose sheet, double page | approx. 16 x 22 cm | A4 landscape, double-page holders |
These are orientation figures. Books differ by a few millimetres between one place and another, so the measurement you take from your own book is the one that decides. Hundred-yen-shop covers are usually cut to B6 or A6, which covers the standard size and falls short of the large format.
What to note down before buying
- With the book closed, measure the height, top edge of the cover to bottom edge
- Measure the width, spine side to fore-edge
- Measure the thickness. If sheets are already mounted, measure at the fattest point
- If more sheets are coming, shop against that thickness plus 5 mm to 1 cm
Choosing between cover types is covered in choosing a cover, carrying in pouches, cases and carrying, and holding loose sheets in filing without glue.
Read next
Practice around goshuin and the books that hold them differs between shrines, temples and Buddhist schools. What follows is general orientation, not a rule. Notices posted on site and the guidance of the office there always take precedence. Nichiren-shu temples inscribe a goshuimon, and some will not write it into a book that already holds entries from elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
How many sizes of goshuin book are there?
In practice two: standard, around 16 x 11 cm, and large, around 18 x 12 cm. Small and irregular formats exist but circulate far less. Accessories on the market assume the standard size, so with a large book you are looking specifically for items stated as large-format.
My cover does not fit. How should I choose again?
Measure the thickness, not only height and width. A book with sheets mounted into it runs close to a centimetre thicker than when new, and that is usually where it fails. A stretchy vinyl cover, or one that states a thickness, will take it.
Can I use a hundred-yen-shop cover?
For a standard-size book, usually yes. B6 and A6 book covers are close in size, and a clear one still shows the design of the cover underneath. They rarely reach the large format, so hold the book against one before buying.
Do I choose a file for loose sheets by the size of the book?
No, by the size of the sheet. A single-page sheet is about 16 x 11 cm and goes into an A5 clear file. A sheet received across a double page is about 22 cm wide and will not, so you need a double-page holder or A4 landscape.
Pouch or hard case?
A pouch if you carry the book in a bag, a case if you also want the corners protected. A rigid case is the least forgiving on thickness, though, so it suits a book that keeps taking mounted sheets least of all. The pouches and cases page goes through this.