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
JapaneseState 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]
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).
In 1871, the Japanese government established the Kanpei-sha (官幣社) system to classify Shinto shrines based on their level of association with the imperial family. The highest category included shrines that venerated the imperial family members, emperors, or meritorious retainers of the Imperial family. These shrines were considered to be the most closely associated with the imperial family and received government support.[1]
Imperial shrines, 1st rank
The Kanpei-taisha were the most highly ranked shrines in Japan that were officially designated by the government. There were 67 shrines that held this status, which were closely associated with the imperial family. These shrines were considered to be of great historical and cultural significance, and were often visited by members of the imperial family as well as the general public.[5]
The mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or
Kanpei Chūsha (官幣中社) included 23 sanctuaries. These shrines were considered to be of intermediate rank among the government-supported shrines and were given lesser financial support compared to the Kanpei-taisha.[8]
Uwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Kakatsutsunoo-no-mitoko, Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of
Chikuzen Province[12]
Other Imperial shrines
After the establishment of the officially ranked Imperial shrines, another group of special shrines known as Bekkaku kanpeisha (別格官幣社) was created. These shrines were not included in the ranking system of the Imperial shrines, but were still imperial.[45]
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.
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]
Here is a non-exhaustive list of shrines under each categorization. This list only includes ones now listed as
Beppyo shrines unless otherwise specified.
Metropolitan and Prefectural Shrines
"Metropolitan shrines" were known as Fu-sha (府社).[4] "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]
Was proposed to be the highest shrine in Taiwan[47]: 108
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.[45]
"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]
Small local shrines known as Hokora (祠) are ranked beneath the village shrines, in accordance with the District Shrine Law of 4 July 1871.[4] At a later date, shrines beneath the rank of "Village shrines" were classed as "Ungraded shrines" or Mukaku-sha (無格社).[4]
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]
^Miyazaki Gokoku Shrine [
ja] and
Kumamoto Gokoku Shrine [
ja] were completed after World War II, when the war ended and the Ministry of Home Affairs was abolished, so they were not designated by the Minister of Home Affairs and are actually correctly designated as "equivalent to designated Gokoku-jinja Shrine".
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
JapaneseState 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]
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).
In 1871, the Japanese government established the Kanpei-sha (官幣社) system to classify Shinto shrines based on their level of association with the imperial family. The highest category included shrines that venerated the imperial family members, emperors, or meritorious retainers of the Imperial family. These shrines were considered to be the most closely associated with the imperial family and received government support.[1]
Imperial shrines, 1st rank
The Kanpei-taisha were the most highly ranked shrines in Japan that were officially designated by the government. There were 67 shrines that held this status, which were closely associated with the imperial family. These shrines were considered to be of great historical and cultural significance, and were often visited by members of the imperial family as well as the general public.[5]
The mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or
Kanpei Chūsha (官幣中社) included 23 sanctuaries. These shrines were considered to be of intermediate rank among the government-supported shrines and were given lesser financial support compared to the Kanpei-taisha.[8]
Uwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Kakatsutsunoo-no-mitoko, Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of
Chikuzen Province[12]
Other Imperial shrines
After the establishment of the officially ranked Imperial shrines, another group of special shrines known as Bekkaku kanpeisha (別格官幣社) was created. These shrines were not included in the ranking system of the Imperial shrines, but were still imperial.[45]
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.
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]
Here is a non-exhaustive list of shrines under each categorization. This list only includes ones now listed as
Beppyo shrines unless otherwise specified.
Metropolitan and Prefectural Shrines
"Metropolitan shrines" were known as Fu-sha (府社).[4] "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]
Was proposed to be the highest shrine in Taiwan[47]: 108
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.[45]
"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]
Small local shrines known as Hokora (祠) are ranked beneath the village shrines, in accordance with the District Shrine Law of 4 July 1871.[4] At a later date, shrines beneath the rank of "Village shrines" were classed as "Ungraded shrines" or Mukaku-sha (無格社).[4]
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]
^Miyazaki Gokoku Shrine [
ja] and
Kumamoto Gokoku Shrine [
ja] were completed after World War II, when the war ended and the Ministry of Home Affairs was abolished, so they were not designated by the Minister of Home Affairs and are actually correctly designated as "equivalent to designated Gokoku-jinja Shrine".