Modern system of ranked Shinto shrines

The 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.Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics, Kokugakuin University
Glossary of Shinto Names and Terms, ''Kampei Taisha.''
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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.

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. 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 or "official government shrines" had two subdivisions, ''Kanpei-sha'' or "government shrines" and ''Kokuhei-sha'' or "national shrines".

Kanpei-sha

In 1871, the identified the hierarchy of government-supported shrines most closely associated with the imperial family. Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). ''The Imperial House of Japan,'' p. 124. These shrines venerated by the imperial family. This category encompasses those sanctuaries enshrining emperors, imperial family members, or meritorious retainers of the Imperial family.

Imperial shrines, 1st rank

The most highly ranked Imperial shrines or encompassed 67 sanctuaries.

Imperial shrines, 2nd rank

The mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or included 23 sanctuaries.Ponsonby-Fane. ''Imperial,'' p. 125.

Imperial shrines, 3rd rank

The lowest ranked among the Imperial shrines or were five sanctuaries.

Other Imperial shrines

In addition to the officially ranked Imperial shrines, a further grouping of , special shrines that fell outside this ranking system, was created at a later date.

Kokuhei-sha

The identified the hierarchy of government-supported shrines with national significance. The ''kokuheisha'' enshrined ''kami'' considered beneficial to more local areas.

National shrines, 1st rank

The most highly ranked, nationally significant shrines or were six sanctuaries.

National shrines, 2nd rank

The mid-range of ranked, nationally significant shrines or encompassed 47 sanctuaries.

National shrines, 3rd rank

The lowest ranked, nationally significant shrines or includes 50 sanctuaries.

"Min-sha"

The 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 . 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. By far the largest number of shrines fell below the rank of District shrine. Their status was clarified by the 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".

Metropolitan shrines

"Metropolitan shrines" were known as . At a later date, the "Prefectural shrines" were classed together with the "Metropolitan shrines" as "Metropolitan and Prefectural Shrines" or .

Clan or Domain shrines

"Clan shrines" or "Domain shrines" were known as . Due to the abolition of the han system, no shrines were ever placed in this category.

Prefectural shrines

"Prefectural shrines" were known as . At a later date, the "Prefectural shrines" were classed together with the "Metropolitan shrines" as "Metropolitan and Prefectural Shrines" or .

District shrine

"District shrines" were known as .

Village shrines

"Village shrines" were known as and ranked below their respective "District shrines", in accordance with the District Shrine Law of 4 July 1871.

Hokora or Ungraded shrines

Small local shrines known as are ranked beneath the village shrines, in accordance with the District Shrine Law of 4 July 1871. At a later date, shrines beneath the rank of "Village shrines" were classed as "Ungraded shrines" or .

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:

*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

See also

* List of Shinto shrines
* Twenty-Two Shrines
* Setsumatsusha

Notes

References

* Breen, John and Mark Teeuwen. (2000)
''Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami.''
Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
* 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.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Modern system of ranked Shinto shrines
1871 establishments in Japan
Empire of Japan
1945 disestablishments in Japan
Shinto shrines in Japan
Modern system of ranked Shinto shrines