The ''Shake'' (社家) was a
Japanese
Japanese may refer to:
* Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia
* Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan
* Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture
** Japanese diaspor ...
social class and the name for families that dominated
Shinto shrines
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
through hereditary government offices and priestly positions. Officially abolished in 1871 with 14 ''shake'' families granted hereditary
nobility
Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy (class), aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below Royal family, royalty. Nobility has often been an Estates of the realm, estate of the realm with many e ...
(''
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan, which existed between 1869 and 1947. They succeeded the feudal lords () and court nobles (), but were abolished with the 1947 constitution.
Kazoku ( 華族) should not be confused with ' ...
''), most shrines were however unaffected and at many shrines hereditary succession of former ''shake'' families continues to this day. Prominent ''shake'' families include the
Nakatomi family and the
Suwa family.
History
In ancient times, shrine rituals were performed by political leaders and clan heads, whereas in some rural areas villagers took turns serving the village shrine. Eventually, when it became necessary for a priest to work full-time, professional priests were born, and the positions became hereditary.
Since ancient times, the ''shake'' families worshipped their ancestral god of the clan.
For this reason, most ''shake'' families serving ancient shrines were originally ''
Kuni-no-miyatsuko'' clans.
The ''shake'' as an official social class was abolished from the political ideology that a shrine should not belong to one family as part of the
Daijō-kan
The , also known as the Great Council of State, was (i) (''Daijō-kan'') the highest organ of Japan's premodern Imperial government under the Ritsuryō legal system during and after the Nara period or (ii) (''Dajō-kan'') the highest organ of Jap ...
decree in 1871. However, in reality this only applied to ''
Kokuhei-sha-''ranked shrines and the hereditary succession of former ''shake'' families at rural shrines continued. In addition, 14 ''shake'' families were appointed ''
Kazoku
The was the hereditary peerage of the Empire of Japan, which existed between 1869 and 1947. They succeeded the feudal lords () and court nobles (), but were abolished with the 1947 constitution.
Kazoku ( 華族) should not be confused with ' ...
'' hereditary
peerage
A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted noble ranks.
Peerages include:
Australia
* Australian peers
Belgium
* Belgi ...
.
''Shake'' families
Some of the most well-known shake families include:
*
Nakatomi family of
Kasuga Grand Shrine
is a Shinto shrine in Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. It is the shrine of the Fujiwara family, established in 768 CE and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The interior is famous for its many bronze lanterns, as well as the many stone lan ...
,
Katori Shrine
The is a Shintō shrine in the city of Katori in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the ''ichinomiya'' of former Shimōsa Province, and is the head shrine of the approximately 400 Katori shrines around the country (located primarily in the Kantō re ...
, and
Kashima Shrine
is a Shinto shrine located in Kashima, Ibaraki in the northern Kantō region of Japan. It is dedicated to , one of the patron deities of martial arts. Various dōjō of '' kenjutsu'' and '' kendō'' often display a hanging scroll emblazoned ...
*
Suwa family of
Suwa Grand Shrine
, historically also known as Suwa Shrine (諏訪神社 ''Suwa-jinja'') or , is a group of Shinto shrines in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. The shrine complex is the ''ichinomiya'' of former Shinano Province and is considered to be one of the oldest sh ...
* Arakida and Watarai families of
Ise Grand Shrine
The , located in Ise, Mie Prefecture of Japan, is a Shinto shrine dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is a shrine complex composed of many Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and .
The Inner ...
* Senge and Kitajima families of
Izumo Taisha
, officially Izumo Ōyashiro, is one of the most ancient and important Shinto shrines in Japan. No record gives the date of establishment. Located in Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, it is home to two major festivals. It is dedicated to the god , ...
* Urabe family of
Yoshida Shrine
is a Shinto shrine located in Sakyō-ku in Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in 859 by the Fujiwara clan.
History
The shrine became the object of Imperial patronage during the early Heian period. In 965, Emperor Murakami ordered that Imperial ...
See also
*
Shinkan (official)
''Shinkan'' (神官) were government officials serving at ''shakaku''-ranked Shinto shrines in Japan. Commonly, ''shinkan'' were officially appointed ''kannushi''.
Terminology
According to the 1884 Daijō-kan decree, ''shinkan'' is an official ...
*
Shinto shrine
A is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more ''kami'', the deities of the Shinto religion.
Overview
Structurally, a Shinto shrine typically comprises several buildings.
The '' honden''Also called (本殿, meani ...
References
{{Reflist
Shinto shrines in Japan
Japanese Shintoists