The term refers to the unification of ritual and politics. ritual in ritual-politics means "ritual" and religion. The word "politics" means "ritual" and politics. 、In Japan, the

Oracle An oracle is a person or agency considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. As such, it is a form of divination. Description The word '' ...

of miko can be traced back to the ancient theocracy, including the Yamato Kingship, where the Oracle of Wu had political authority, as well as the Ryukyu Kingdom, a system of government that was based on the Ryukyu Kingdom. Shinto is an animistic religion, and one of its characteristics is the unity of ritual and government. Although not necessarily restricted to Shinto in Japanese, rites and ceremonies are used in English as Saisei itchi as a term for Shinto. Keiichi Yanagawa defined ritual government as different from theocracy, in which a professional clergyman directly governs.Between Unity and Separation: Religion and Politics in Japan, 1965-1977 Yanagawa Keiichi and David Reid, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 6/4 December 1979. p.502 Ritual and political unity has been referred to primarily in the context of the ancient emperor system.

Ritual and Political Unity in Japan

On March 13, 1868, the Meiji Restoration announced the Restoration of the Monarchy and the reestablishment of the Department of Divinities in a "Dajokanbudan". Also used on January 3, 1870, in the "Declaration of the Great Teachings" (Dai-kyo Sengen). Later in the

Meiji era The is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization b ...

, the theory came to be replaced with

Secular Shrine Theory Secular Shrine Theory or was a religious policy and political theory that arose in Japan during the 19th and early 20th centuries due to the separation of church and state of the Meiji Government. It was the idea that Shinto Shrines were secular ...

, the idea that Shinto Shrines were secular in their nature rather than religious.

References

Bibliography

* 世界大百科事典&マイペディア第2版 D-ROM��ISBN 978-4816981838 * 広辞苑第六版 DVD-ROM版，ISBN 978-4001301618 * 安丸良夫・宮地正人編『日本近代思想大系5　宗教と国家』岩波書店，1988，ISBN 978-4002300054 * * * * * * {{State Shinto Religion and politics Political history Pages with unreviewed translations Japanese imperial history Japanese Imperial Rituals

Ritual and Political Unity in Japan

See also

References

Bibliography