Modern system of ranked Shinto shrines
The modern system of ranked Shinto shrines (近代社格制度, Kindai Shakaku Seido, sometimes called simply shakaku (社格)) was an organizational aspect of the establishment of Japanese State Shinto. This system classified Shinto shrines as either official government shrines or "other" shrines. The official shrines were divided into
- Imperial shrines (kampeisha), which are parsed into minor, medium, or major sub-categories; and
- National shrines (kokuheisha), which are similarly categorized as minor, medium, or major.[1]
Some shrines are the "first shrines" called ichinomiya that have the highest rank in their respective provinces of Japan.
The Ise Grand Shrine stood at the top of all shrines and thus was outside the classification.[2][3]
History
On the fourteenth day of the fifth month of 1871, by decree of the Dajō-kan, the fundamental elements of the modern shrine system were established: a hierarchic ranking of Shinto shrines, with specification of the grades of priest who could officiate at the various levels of shrine.[4] These rankings were set aside in 1946, when such rankings were deemed "State Shinto" by the Occupation Shinto Directive. The Jinja Honcho currently has a slightly different List of Special Shrines (別表神社, beppyo jinja).
Kan-sha
The Kan-sha (官社) or "official government shrines" had two subdivisions, Kanpei-sha or "government shrines" and Kokuhei-sha or "national shrines".[4]
Kanpei-sha
In 1871, the Kanpei-sha (官幣社) identified the hierarchy of government-supported shrines most closely associated with the imperial family.[5] The kampeisha were shrines venerated by the imperial family. This category encompasses those sanctuaries enshrining emperors, imperial family members, or meritorious retainers of the Imperial family.[1]
Imperial shrines, 1st rank
The most highly ranked Imperial shrines or Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社) encompassed 67 sanctuaries.[5]
Imperial shrines, 2nd rank
The mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or Kanpei-chūsha (官幣中社) included 23 sanctuaries.[9]
name | location | notes |
---|---|---|
Shiramine jingū[25] | Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto | Emperor Junnin; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940 |
Akama jingū[20] | Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi | Emperor Antoku; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940 |
Minase jinja[25] | Shimamoto, Osaka | Emperor Go-Toba, Emperor Tsuchimikado and Emperor Juntoku; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940 |
Kamakura-gū[20] | Kamakura, Kanagawa[26] | Morinaga-shinnō |
Iinoya-gū[20] | Kita-ku, Hamamatsu[27] | Munenaga-shinnō |
Yatsushiro-no-miya[20] | Yatsushiro, Kumamoto[28] | Kanenaga-shinnō, Nganari--shinnō |
Umenomiya jinja.[20] | Ukyō-ku, Kyoto[29] | Sakatoke-no-kami, Ōwakako-no-kami, Satatokeko-no-kami |
Kifune jinja.[20] | Sakyō-ku, Kyoto | Kuraokami-no-kami |
Ōharano jinja.[20] | Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto.[20] | Take-mikazuchi-no-mitoko, Iwainushi-no-mitoko, Hime-kami |
Yoshida jinja.[20] | Sakyō-ku, Kyoto | Take-mikazuchi-no-mitoko, Iwainushi-no-mitoko, Hime-kami |
Kitano Tenmangū.[20] | Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto | Sugawara no Michizane |
Tsukiyomi jinja.[20] | Unzen | Tsukiomi-no-mitoko |
Kanasana jinja.[20] | Kamikawa, Saitama[30] | Amaterasu Ōmikami, Susanoo-no-mikoto |
Ikasuri jinja | Chūō-ku, Osaka | ichinomiya of Settsu Province[6] |
Hikosan jingū | Soeda, Fukuoka | |
Yatsushiro-gū | Yatsushiro, Kumamoto | |
Kanegasaki-gū[31] | Tsuruga, Fukui[32] | Takanaga Shinnō, Tsunenaga shinnō |
Dazaifu Tenmangū.[31] | Dazaifu, Fukuoka | Sugawara no Michizane |
Ikuta jinja[31] | Chūō-ku, Kobe | Waka-hirume-no-mikoto |
Nagata jinja.[31] | Nagata-ku, Kobe[33] | Kotohshironushi-no-mikoto |
Watatsumi jinja (Tarumi jinja).[31] | Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Harima | Waka-hirume-no-mikoto |
Ehikoyama jinja.[31] | Hikozan, Buzen | Ame no Oshihone-no-mikoto (Ame-n-oshiho-mimi-no-mitoko) |
Sumiyoshi jinja[31] | Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi[34] | the aramitama of the Sun Goddess, Tsuki-sasaki-itsu no mitama-amasakaru-muka-tsu-hime-no- mitoko; ichinomiya of Nagato Province[13] |
Kibitsu jinja[31] | Okayama, Okayama | Ōkibitsu-hiko-no-mikoto, son of Emperor Korei; ichinomiya of Bitchū Province[13] |
Kumano Nachi Taisha[31] | Nachikatsuura, Wakayama[35] | Ketsumiko, Kumano Hayatama-no-kami, Kumano Fusumi-no-kami |
Itakeso jinja[31] | Wakayama, Wakayama[36] | Ōya-hiko-no-mikoto |
Mikami jinja[31] | Yasu, Shiga[37] | Ame-no-mikage-no-mikoto |
Tainan jinja.[31] | Tainan, Taiwan | now extinct; Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa-no-mikoto |
Imperial shrines, 3rd rank
The lowest ranked among the Imperial shrines or Kanpei-shōsha (官幣小社) were five sanctuaries.[31]
name | location | notes |
---|---|---|
Ōkunitama jinja.[31] | Fuchū, Tokyo[38] | Musashi no Ōkuni-tama-no-kami |
Shigaumi jinja.[31] | Higashi-ku, Fukuoka[39] | Uwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Kakatsutsunoo-no-mitoko, Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto |
Sumiyoshi Jinja.[31] | Hakata-ku, Fukuoka[40] | Uwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Kakatsutsunoo-no-mitoko, Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Chikuzen Province[13] |
Kamado-jinja.[31] | Dazaifu, Fukuoka[41] | Tamayori-hime |
Naminoue jinja.[31] | Naha, Okinawa[42] | Hayatama-no-o, Izanami, Kotosaka-no-o-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Ryūkyū[43] |
Other Imperial shrines
In addition to the officially ranked Imperial shrines, a further grouping of Bekkaku kanpeisha (別格官幣社), special shrines that fell outside this ranking system, was created at a later date.[44]
Kokuhei-sha
The Kokuhei-sha (国幣社) identified the hierarchy of government-supported shrines with national significance. The kokuheisha enshrined kami considered beneficial to more local areas.[1]
National shrines, 1st rank
The most highly ranked, nationally significant shrines or Kokuhei Taisha (国幣大社) were six sanctuaries.
name | location | notes |
---|---|---|
Keta Shrine | Hakui, Ishikawa | ichinomiya of Noto Province[14] |
Nangū Taisha | Tarui, Gifu | ichinomiya of Mino Province[6] |
Tado Shrine | Kuwana, Mie | |
Kumano Shrine (Matsue) | Matsue, Shimane | ichinomiya of Izumo Province[14] |
Ōyamazumi jinja | Imabari, Ehime | ichinomiya of Iyo Province[13] |
Kōra taisha | Kurume, Fukuoka | ichinomiya of Chikugo Province[13] |
National shrines, 2nd rank
The mid-range of ranked, nationally significant shrines or Kokuhei Chūsha (国幣中社) encompassed 47 sanctuaries.
name | location | notes |
---|---|---|
Hakodate Hachiman Shrine | Hakodate, Hokkaidō | |
Shiogama jinja | Shiogama, Miyagi | ichinomiya of Mutsu Province[14] |
Chōkaisan Ōmonoimi jinja | Yuza, Yamagata | ichinomiya of Dewa Province |
Tsutsukowake jinja | Tanagura, Fukushima | ichinomiya of Mutsu Province[14] |
Isasumi jinja | Aizumisato, Fukushima | ichinomiya of Iwashiro Province |
Nikkō Futarasan jinja | Nikkō, Tochigi | ichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province[14] |
Utsunomiya Futarasan jinja | Utsunomiya, Tochigi | ichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province[14] |
Ichinomiya Nukisaki jinja | Tomioka, Gunma | ichinomiya of Kōzuke Province[14] |
Ōarai Isozaki jinja | Ōarai, Ibaraki | |
Sakatsura Isozaki jinja | Hitachinaka, Ibaraki | |
Tamasaki jinja | Ichinomiya, Chiba | ichinomiya of Kazusa Province[6] |
Samukawa jinja | Samukawa, Kanagawa | ichinomiya of Sagami Province[6] |
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū | Kamakura, Kanagawa | |
Ichinomiya Asama jinja | Fuefuki, Yamanashi | ichinomiya of Kai Province[6] |
Ikushima Tarushima jinja | Ueda, Nagano | |
Yahiko jinja | Yahiko, Niigata | ichinomiya of Echigo Province[14] |
Imizu Jinja | Takaoka, Toyama | ichinomiya of Etchū Province |
Shirayamahime jinja | Hakusan, Ishikawa | ichinomiya of Kaga Province[14] |
Wakasahiko Shrine | Obama, Fukui | ichinomiya of Wakasa Province[14] |
Masumida jinja | Ichinomiya, Aichi | ichinomiya of Owari Province[6] |
Ōagata jinja | Inuyama, Aichi | |
Aekuni jinja | Ueno, Iga | ichinomiya of Iga Province[6] |
Izumo daijingu | Kameoka, Kyoto | ichinomiya of Tanba Province[14] |
Komori jinja | Miyazu, Kyoto | ichinomiya of Tango Province[14] |
Izushi jinja | Toyooka, Hyōgo | ichinomiya of Tajima Province[14] |
Iwa jinja | Shisō, Hyōgo | ichinomiya of Harima Province[13] |
Nakayama Shrine | Tsuyama, Okayama | ichinomiya of Mimasaka Province[13] |
Ani jinja | Okayama, Okayama | ichinomiya of Bizen Province[13] |
Hayatani jinja | Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima | |
Ube jinja | Tottori, Tottori | ichinomiya of Inaba Province[13] |
Mizuwakasu jinja | Okinoshima, Shimane | ichinomiya of Oki Province[14] |
Miho jinja | Matsue, Shimane | |
Tamanooya jinja | Hōfu, Yamaguchi | ichinomiya of Suō Province[13] |
Tamura jinja | Takamatsu, Kagawa | ichinomiya of Sanuki Province[13] |
Kotohira-gu | Kotohira, Kagawa | |
Isono jinja | Saijō, Ehime | |
Inbe jinja | Tokushima, Tokushima | |
Ōasahiko jinja | Naruto, Tokushima | ichinomiya of Awa Province[13] |
Tosa jinja | Kōchi, Kōchi | ichinomiya of Tosa Province[13] |
Sashimuta jinja | Ōita, Ōita | ichinomiya of Bungo Province[13] |
Tajima jinja | Karatsu, Saga | |
Sumiyoshi jinja | Iki, Nagasaki | |
Watasumi jinja | Tsushima, Nagasaki | ichinomiya of Tsushima Province |
Chinzei Taisha Suwa jinja | Nagasaki, Nagasaki | |
Nitta jinja | Satsumasendai, Kagoshima | ichinomiya of Satsuma Province[13] |
National shrines, 3rd rank
The lowest ranked, nationally significant shrines or Kokuhei Shōsha (国幣小社) includes 50 sanctuaries.
name | location | notes |
---|---|---|
Iwakiyama jinja | Hirosaki, Aomori | ichinomiya of Mutsu Province |
Koshiō jinja | Akita, Akita | |
Komagata jinja | Ōshū, Iwate | ichinomiya of Rikuchū Province |
Dewa jinja | Tsuruoka, Yamagata | one of the Dewa Sanzan |
Yudonosan jinja | Tsuruoka, Yamagata | one of the Dewa Sanzan |
Chichibu jinja | Chichibu, Saitama | |
Hakone jinja | Hakone, Kanagawa | |
Oguni jinja | Mori, Shizuoka | ichinomiya of Tōtōmi Province[6] |
Shizuoka Sengen jinja | Aoi-ku, Shizuoka | |
Izusan jinja | Atami, Shizuoka | |
Togakushi jinja | Nagano, Nagano | |
Hotaka jinja | Azumino, Nagano | |
Watatsu jinja | Sado, Niigata | ichinomiya of Sado Province[14] |
Takase jinja | Nanto, Toyama | ichinomiya of Etchū Province[14] |
Oyama jinja | Tateyama, Toyama | ichinomiya of Etchū Province[14] |
Sugōisobe Jinja | Kaga, Ishikawa | |
Tsurugi jinja | Echizen, Fukui | |
Minashi Jinja | Takayama, Gifu | ichinomiya of Hida Province[14] |
Inaba jinja | Gifu, Gifu | |
Toga jinja | Toyokawa, Aichi | ichinomiya of Mikawa Province[6] |
Tsushima jinja | Tsushima, Aichi | |
Owari Ōkunitama jinja | Inazawa, Aichi | |
Kibitsuhiko jinja | Okayama, Okayama | ichinomiya of Bizen Province[13] |
Kibitsu jinja | Fukuyama, Hiroshima | ichinomiya of Bingo Province[13] |
Nunakuma jinja | Fukuyama, Hiroshima | |
Ōgamiyama jinja | Yonago, Tottori | |
Shitori jinja | Yurihama, Tottori | ichinomiya of Hōki Province[14] |
Hinomisaki jinja | Izumo, Shimane | |
Mononobe jinja | Ōda, Shimane | ichinomiya of Iwami Province[14] |
Susa jinja | Izumo, Shimane | |
Sada jinja | Matsue, Shimane | |
Iminomiya jinja | Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi | |
Chiriku Hachiman Shrine | Miyaki, Saga | ichinomiya of Buzen Province |
Yusuhara Hachimangū | Oita, Oita | ichinomiya of Bungo Province[13] |
Fujisaki Hachiman jinja | Kumamoto, Kumamoto | |
Tsuno jinja | Tsuno, Miyazaki | ichinomiya of Hyūga Province[13] |
Hirasaki-jinja | Ibusuki, Kagoshima | ichinomiya of Satsuma Province[13] |
Keijo Jinja | Seoul, Korea | extinct |
Ryūtōzan Jinja | Busan, Korea | extinct |
Taikyu Jinja | Daegu, Korea | extinct |
Heijō Jinja | Pyongyang, Korea | extinct |
Kōshū Jinja | Gwangju, Korea | extinct |
Kōgen Jinja | Chuncheon, Korea | extinct |
Zenshū Jinja | Jeonju, Korea | extinct |
Kankō Jinja | Hamhung, Korea | extinct |
Shinchiku Jinja | Hsinchu, Taiwan | extinct |
Taichu Jinja | Taichung, Taiwan | extinct |
Kagi Jinja | Chiayi, Taiwan | extinct |
"Min-sha"
The Sho-sha (諸社) or various smaller shrines ranking below these two levels of Kan-sha ("official government shrines") are commonly, though unofficially, referred to as "people's shrines" or Min-sha (民社). These lower-ranking shrines were initially subdivided by the proclamation of the fourteenth day of the fifth month of 1871 into four main ranks, "Metropolitan", "Clan" or "Domain", "Prefectural", and "District" shrines.[4] By far the largest number of shrines fell below the rank of District shrine. Their status was clarified by the District Shrine Law (郷社定則, Gōsha Teisoku) of the fourth day of the seventh month of 1871, in accordance with which "Village shrines" ranked below their respective "District shrines", while the smaller local shrines or Hokora ranked beneath the "Village shrines".[4]
Metropolitan shrines
"Metropolitan shrines" were known as Fu-sha (府社).[4] At a later date, the "Prefectural shrines" were classed together with the "Metropolitan shrines" as "Metropolitan and Prefectural Shrines" or Fuken-sha (府県社).[4]
Clan or Domain shrines
"Clan shrines" or "Domain shrines" were known as Han-sha (藩社).[4] Due to the abolition of the han system, no shrines were ever placed in this category.[44]
Prefectural shrines
"Prefectural shrines" were known as Ken-sha (県社).[4] At a later date, the "Prefectural shrines" were classed together with the "Metropolitan shrines" as "Metropolitan and Prefectural Shrines" or Fuken-sha (府県社).[4]
District shrine
"District shrines" were known as Gō-sha (郷社).[4]
Village shrines
"Village shrines" were known as Son-sha (村社) and ranked below their respective "District shrines", in accordance with the District Shrine Law of 4 July 1871.[4]
Statistics
New shrines were established and existing shrines promoted to higher ranks at various dates, but a 1903 snapshot of the 193,297 shrines in existence at that time saw the following:[4]
- Kan-sha
- Imperial shrines: 95
- National shrines: 75
- "Min-sha"
- Metropolitan and prefectural shrines: 571
- District shrines: 3,476
- Village shrines: 52,133
- Ungraded shrines: 136,947
Notes
- Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics, Kokugakuin University: Glossary of Shinto Names and Terms, Kampei Taisha.
- Holtom, D.C. (2012-11-12) [First published 1965]. The National Faith Of Japan. A Study in Modern Shinto. Routledge. p. 12. ISBN 9781136165573.
- Bocking, Brian (1997). A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. Curzon Press. p. 120. ISBN 9780700710515.
- Fridell, Wilbur M (1975). "The Establishment of Shrine Shinto in Meiji Japan". Japanese Journal of Religious Studies. Nanzan Institute for Religion and Culture. 2 (2–3): 137–168. doi:10.18874/jjrs.2.2-3.1975.137-168.
- Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 124.
- "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 1; retrieved 2013-1-28.
- Nara National Museum: No. 31, Map of the Precincts of Kanpei Taisha Isonokami Shrine Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
- National Diet Library (NDL): Kanpei Taisha Kasuga Jinja
- Ponsonby-Fane. Imperial, p. 125.
- Sawada, Janine Anderson. (2004). Practical pursuits: religion, politics, and personal cultivation in nineteenth-century Japan, p. 312 n15.
- Chiba prefectural government: Chiba, Katori Shrine
- Encyclopedia of Shinto: Atsuta Shinkō
- "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3; retrieved 2013-1-28.
- "Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2; retrieved 2013-1-28.
- Asama Shrine: Fujinomiya, Shizuoka = Ōmiya in Suruga province
- Takebe Taisha: Ōtsu, Shiga = Seta in Ōmi province
- Ponsonby-Fane, (1963). The Vicissitudes of Shinto, p. 328.
- 北海道神宮 ... Hokkaido Jingu Shrine at Nippon-Kichi.jp; retrieved 2012-1-29.
- NDL: Kanpei Taisha Yoshino Jingu
- Ponsonby-Fane. Imperial, p. 126.
- Breen, John et al. (2000). Shinto in History: ways of the Kami, p. 276.
- Bernstein, Andrew. "Whose Fuji?: Religion, Region, and State in the Fight for a National Symbol," Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 63, No. 1, Spring 2008, pp. 51-99; Ponsonby-Fane, (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 125.
- Peattie, Mark R. (1988). Nanʻyō: the rise and fall of the Japanese in Micronesia, 1885-1945, pp. 225-229; n.b., construction completed in 1941
- Peattie, p. 339 n61.
- Ponsonby-Fane. Imperial, p. 126; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940
- Kamakura-gū: Kamakura, Kanagawa = Kamakura in Sagami province
- Iinoya-gū:Kita-ku, Hamamatsu = Iya in Tōtōmi province.
- Yatsushiro Shrine: Yatsushiro, Kumamoto = Yatsushiro in Higo province
- Umenomiya Shrine: Ukyō-ku, Kyoto = Umetsu in Yamashiro province
- Kanasana Shrine: Kamikawa, Saitama = Aoyagi in Musashi province.
- Ponsonby-Fane. Imperial, p. 127.
- Kanegazaki Shrine: Tsuruga, Fukui = Tsuruga in Echizen province
- Nagata Shrine: Nagata-ku, Kobe = Kobe in Settsu province.
- Sumiyoshi Shrine: Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi = Katsuyama in Nagato province
- Kumano Nachi Taisha: Nachikatsuura, Wakayama = Nachi in Kii province; n.b., Kii Province (紀伊国, Kii no Kuni) = Kishū (紀州), was a province of Honshū in Wakayama Prefecture and Mie Prefecture.
- Itakeso Shrine: Wakayama, Wakayama = Nishiyama Higashimura in Kii province; n.b., Kii Province (紀伊国, Kii no Kuni) = Kishū (紀州)
- Mikami Shrine: Yasu, Shiga = Mikamimura in Ōmi province
- Ōkunitama jinja at Fuchū, Tokyo = Fuchū in Musashi province
- Shigaumi Shrine: Higashi-ku, Fukuoka = Fukuoka, Chikuzen province
- Sumiyoshi Shrine: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka = Fukuoka in Chikuzen province
- Kamado Shrine: Dazaifu, Fukuoka = Fukuoka in Chikuzen province
- Naminoe Shrine: Naha, Okinawa = Wakasa on Okinawa Island in the Ryukyu Kingdom
- Kerr, George H. (1953). Ryukyu Kingdom and Province before 1945, p. 203.
- "Modern Shrine Ranking System". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Kokugakuin University. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
References
- Breen, John and Mark Teeuwen. (2000). Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-2363-4
- Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 194887
- _______________. (1962). Studies in Shinto and Shrines. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 399449
- _______________. (1963). The Viciissitudes of Shinto. Kyoto: Ponsonby Memorial Society. OCLC 186605327