''Shinkai'' (神階, "divine rank") is a system of ranking
kami in
Shinto.
Higher rank meant more lands were given to the shrine and it became wealthier and more powerful.
History
The Shinkai system was linked to the
Myōjin and ranked deity shrine systems. The Myojin system ranked deities and the Kanpei
kokuhei-sha system ranked shrines. Its goal was to control important shrines for the state.
At first, the state shrine system did not work well. It was meant for festivals for
Japan's deities. At that time only a few state shrines existed. Their numbers started to grow in the mid-eighth century. This was because of changes in local governance. These changes were part of the
Ritsuryo system.
The first mention of ''shinkai'' is in the ''Tôdaiji yôroku''. This document is from around 1134. It says that in 746,
Hachiman
In Japanese religion, ''Yahata'' (八幡神, ancient Shinto pronunciation) formerly in Shinto and later commonly known as Hachiman (八幡神, Japanese Buddhist pronunciation) is the syncretic divinity of archery and war, incorporating elements f ...
Taisha
Taisha may refer to:
* Japanese topics:
** Cultural features:
*** Taisha-zukuri, type of Shinto shrine
*** Taisha joseki, joseki maneuver in game of Go
** Japanese geography:
*** Taisha, Shimane, town in the Hikawa District of Shimane
*** Taisha L ...
got the third rank. This was to help an ill emperor.
The earlier Hanpei system was about giving festival materials (''heihaku'') to shrines. The system got stricter. Shinto priests who did not collect ''heihaku'' faced penalties, but this did not work well.
The system changed a lot in the late eighth century under the
Ritsuryo system. Many thought the
Department of Divinities
The , also known as the Department of Shinto Affairs, Department of Rites, Department of Worship, as well as Council of Divinities, was a Japanese Imperial bureaucracy established in the 8th century, as part of the ''ritsuryō'' reforms. It was fi ...
was losing power. But the number of state-supported shrines grew.
During the
Enryaku era, the
Department of Divinities
The , also known as the Department of Shinto Affairs, Department of Rites, Department of Worship, as well as Council of Divinities, was a Japanese Imperial bureaucracy established in the 8th century, as part of the ''ritsuryō'' reforms. It was fi ...
made two important changes:
* Specially Designated Shrines and Deities: This system managed some shrines (Kanpei-kokuhei-sha) and deities (Myojin). The Bureau managed them directly in the Kinai region. Provincial governors (Kokushi) managed them in other regions.
* Increased Control: Provincial governors tried to get more control. They applied for recognition from the Bureau. They also asked for Heihaku.
By the late eighth century, it was common to give status and rankings to shrines. This created a clear hierarchy. Governors and local leaders supported this.
Governors liked it for control. Local leaders liked it for political status.
For example In history every time
Mount Chokai
Mount is often used as part of the name of specific mountains, e.g. Mount Everest.
Mount or Mounts may also refer to:
Places
* Mount, Cornwall, a village in Warleggan parish, England
* Mount, Perranzabuloe, a hamlet in Perranzabuloe parish, C ...
erupted, the of
Omonoimi no Kami the kami of
Chōkaisan Ōmonoimi Shrine
Chōkaisan Ōmonoimi Shrine ( ja, 鳥海山大物忌神社), also known as Chokaisan Ōmonoimi-jinja, is a Shinto shrine on Mount Chokai in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. The shrine has three parts on different parts of the mountain: Fukura-kuchino ...
was increased.
is known to have received the rank of Shōichii in the reign of
Emperor Yōmei.
At first, shrines got land based on rank. Higher ranks meant more land.
Governors gradually got more control over shrine ranking. Ranking gods became mainly a provincial matter. The central government was little involved.
Later, the practice changed. It became more ceremonial and less practical.
The system ended in the Meiji period.
See also
*
Modern system of ranked Shinto shrines
References
{{Shinto shrines
Shinto kami
Shinto