Shrine Shinto is a form of the Shinto religion. It has two main varieties: State Shinto , a pre-World War II variant, and another centered on Shinto shrines after World War II, in which ritual rites are the center of belief, conducted by an organization of clergy.
41-604: Today, the term Shinto usually refers to Shrine Shinto. Shrines throughout Japan serve as places of worship. Until 1945 all Shinto shrines were under the jurisdiction of the Institute of Divinities , an external department of the Home Ministry . The Shinto Directive issued by the GHQ in December 1945 abolished the Institute of Divinities , which was reorganized as one religious corporation ,
82-746: A full-scale movement was launched to restore the Shinto priesthood by returning the teaching positions of the so-called " Minsha ( 民社 ) priests" below the rank of prefectures and shrines. This movement was somewhat successful, and on April 26, 1899, the Shrine Division, which was only a division of the Bureau of Shrines and Temples of the Ministry of Home Affairs, was upgraded to the Bureau of Shrines . The Bureau of Religions also being split off to deal with other religions such as Sect Shinto . On June 13, 1913,
123-541: A religion") and declared that Secular Shrine Theory . As a result "religions" such as denominational Shinto and Buddhism and Shrine Shinto separated, and declared that Shinto was a national, not religious, ritual. Although the Religion Bill of 1899 did not include Shinto or Christianity , denominational Shinto began to be referred to as national Shinto toward the end of the Meiji period. Shinto shrines were included in
164-504: A social or political issue that could move public opinion, because it was a debate within the realm of universities and academia, and never developed into a political movement. That said, there are modern objections to this, and P. Burger, in The Sacred Canopy. The Meiji Constitution said that subjects will have freedom of religion as long as it does not inferfere with their duties as subjects, this has been interpreted as making
205-488: Is a religion since its introduction. In Japan, there was a deep-rooted sense of caution against foreign religions , and problems arose accordingly. Christian missionary activity , which began at the beginning of the Meiji era, was also divided into different denominations, and problems arose as a result. It is believed that the Shinto side adopted the Secular Shrine Theory in part because they argued that Shinto
246-620: Is a condition for membership, small shrines that do not have a juridical character are not eligible and are not allowed to belong to the Honcho. Fewer than half of juridical shrines, such as in Higashiosaka City are not members of the Association. Several Shinto shrines throughout Japan, such as Kamakura-gū , Yasukuni Shrine , Fushimi Inari-taisha , Keta Shrine , Nikko Toshogu , Tomioka Hachiman Shrine , and Hinokuma Jingu are not members of
287-556: Is derived from religare , as re- ("again") + ligare ("bind; connect"), which was made prominent by Augustine of Hippo , following the interpretation of Lactantius in Divinae institutiones , IV, 28. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. The word shūkyō ( 宗教 ) comes from Buddhism, according to Buddhist scholar Hajime Nakamura . In Buddhism, it means "the teaching of
328-463: Is different from Buddhism and Christianity , that is, it is unique to Japan. On the contrary, from the Buddhist and Christian sides, the argument was that Shinto is a religion because it has an object of veneration. Of course, during that time, the religious and non-religious nature of Shinto shrines was debated not as a legal issue but purely as a matter of religious studies. However, it never became
369-412: Is thought to have been based on their concern about the situation in which Shinto was becoming divided due to ritual god disputes, etc., which resembled "religious theological disputes" in the new terminology of the time, and the fact that Shinto could not maintain its national status without stopping such divisions. According to Yoshio Keino of Keio University , the government did not originally present
410-645: The Association of Shinto Shrines , but still considered as Shrine Shinto rather than Sect Shinto . 80,000 Shinto shrines were under the jurisdiction of Institute of Divinities , consisting of 7,800 managed by the Association of Shinto Shrines and others that became standalone shrines. Outside the Association, 91 shrines belong to Seishin Meiseikai, 78 to Jinja Honkyo, 72 to Jinja Sandonkyo, 60 to Hokkaido Shrine Association [ ja ] , 23 to Japan Jingu Honcho, and 15 to Japan Shrine Kyodan. The term Shrine Shinto
451-557: The Association of Shinto Shrines . Shinto shrines and Shinto rituals are performed in accordance with sacred texts such as Kojiki and Nihon Shoki . The Kannushi are in charge of the rituals, holding positions such as priests, priests-in-charge, and administer the rituals. The miko of Shinto shrines are not included in the priesthood. A Kagura dancer may participate in Shinto rituals, but may not preside over or perform Shinto rituals. Two universities and seven technical/vocational schools exclusively offer training programs for
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#1732875917625492-487: The Bureau of Religions which was run under the Home Ministry , which had jurisdiction over religions other than Shinto shrines, was transferred to the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture . The debate was whether Shinto shrines are "non-religious" or "religious". In particular, if shrines were religious, the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture has jurisdiction over it, and if they were secular
533-827: The Bureau of Shinto Affairs in order to proselytize and founded the Izumo Taisha-kyo . After the Satsuma Rebellion , the Satsuma Domain and other Shizoku began to focus on the management of Shinto shrines dedicated to their Ujigami . And with that, the Priests emerged as the Freedom and People's Rights Movement . In June 1887 , Shinto priests in Kyushu organized the Saikai Rengo-kai, which appealed to Shintoists throughout
574-612: The Home Ministry Bureau of Shrines around 1930, it was stated that: Originally, the Meiji government was aiming for a politics of " Unity of ritual and government " due to the " Proclamation of the Great Doctrine ", but due to the conflict between the "Buddhist side" and the "Shinto side" over the teaching profession , "the joint mission of God and Buddha was prohibited". It begins with the transfer of each religious administration to
615-537: The Home Ministry would have had jurisdiction over them. Some have also arisen as a result of policies taken by the government to bring religious organizations under the rule of law. Meiji Shrine priest and general Ichinohe Hyoe advocated categorizing Shinto as a religion As the wartime atmosphere became more intense through the February 26 Incident , May 15 Incident , etc., discussions on secular shrine theory were silenced. After discussion and deliberation by
656-518: The Imperial Cult separate. On January 24, 1882, a Home Ministry notice stated that shrines were not religious (Secular Shrine Theory). However, Shinto funeral rites under Prefectural shrines were allowed, and the priests of the great shrines were not considered clergy. It was argued that In the "On the Relationship between Religious Bills and Shrines", which appears to have been prepared by
697-574: The National Spiritual Mobilization Movement , they were separated from Shinto shrines in 1940, becoming independent. Institute of Divinities The Institute of Divinities ( 神祇院 , Jingi-in ) is one of the former state agencies of Japan. Ministry of the Interior 's foreign bureau. Its purpose was to increase the prestige of Shintoism among the people and it was the core of shrine administration and Shintoism until
738-667: The Shinto Directive was terminated on January 31, 1946. It was abolished on January 31, 1946. In accordance with the Government Regulations of the Institute of Shinto Religion (Imperial Ordinance No. 736 of 1940), the Bureau of Shrines of the Home Ministry was elevated to a higher rank and established as an external bureau of the Ministry on November 9, 1940. It is located at 1-2, Kasumigaseki , Kojimachi-ku, Tokyo (Ministry of Home Affairs Office Building). The president
779-494: 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 in their nature rather than religious, and that Shinto was not a religion, but rather a secular set of Japanese national traditions. This was linked to State Shinto and the idea that the state controlling and enforcing Shinto was not a violation of freedom of religion . It
820-542: The Abolition of Kobu" (SCAPIN-448), which resulted in the abolition of the Institute of Divinities. The Institute of Divinities was abolished on January 31, 1946, in accordance with the Imperial Ordinance No. 59 of 1946, which concerned the revision of government regulations for administrative reorganization. Except for some of the former government-owned shrines that do not have an encompassing relationship , most of
861-523: The Jingu shrine, matters related to shrines under the government and national government, matters related to priests and priesthood, and matters related to the spread of reverence for the Shinto religion. On December 15, 1945, GHQ issued a memorandum to the government, "Regarding the Abolition of the Government's Guarantee, Support, Preservation, Supervision, and Supervision of National Shinto and Shinto Shrines and
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#1732875917625902-494: The Ministry of Interior. The following is a description of the situation that led to the "separation of religious and political affairs" from the "Shinto controversy". The separation of religious and political affairs is said to have been proposed by the Shinto side, and was led by Maruyama Sakura [ ja ] and others. Following the dissolution of the Great Teaching Institute , the Bureau of Shinto Affairs
943-601: The Religious System Research Committee established by the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture , a report was submitted to the legislature on the enactment of the Religious Organizations Law , with the aim of bringing religious organizations under the legal system and having them observe the rules that they have voluntarily established. However, it was repeatedly rejected by the majority. However, through persistent persuasion, with
984-641: The Shinto religion, but did not have the same teachings and precepts as Buddhism. They were protected by the government until the end of World War II. In 1917, the Japanese Christian Church rejected Secular Shrine Theory on the grounds that students were forced to worship at shrines. A further complaint was filed that the coercion violated the freedom of religion specified in the Meiji Constitution . State Shinto and Shrine Shinto were named in 1924. Before World War II, Shrine Shinto referred to
1025-543: The country, arousing strong sympathy and emerging as a nationwide organized movement of Shinto priests . On November 17, 1887, representatives from each prefecture met at the Imperial Classic Research Institute, and each committee member formed an association of priests, and the movement to revive the Shinto priests was launched nationwide. Also, in March 1890, rumors circulated in Shinto circles that Shinto
1066-571: The end of WWII. Showa 's early Divinities revival movement and movement to establish special divine offices In response to the 1940 , it was established on the occasion of the commemoration of the 2600th anniversary of the accession of Jimmu in 1940. After the defeat of Japan in World War II , the Shinto Directive was issued by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ), and
1107-411: The government to cooperate. It was the successor to Shimaji Mokurai [ ja ] 's theory that Shinto is not a religion, and the political powers that be were forced to confirm it, and to forbid all religious speech, teaching, and religious acts (such as funeral rites) by priests involved in state ceremonies. This would have completely blocked the way for "Shinto as a religious belief" to become
1148-505: The jurisdiction over shrines was transferred to the religious corporation Association of Shinto Shrines established on February 3 by the Office of Japanese Classics Research , National Association of Shinto Priests and Jingu-kyo . Secular Shrine Theory Secular Shrine Theory or Jinja hishūkyōron ( 神社非宗教論 ) was a religious policy and political theory that arose in Japan during
1189-861: The national religion". Also, in the Penal Code of the time, the Peace Preservation Law and Lèse-majesté to the Emperor of Japan and Jingu , especially the Special Higher Police suppression of other religions existed. With this shift secular shrine theory came to be replaced by a more authoritarian form of State Shinto 葦津珍彦 (2006-11-01). 新版 国家神道とは何だったのか (in Japanese). 神社新報社. ISBN 9784915265105 . The following materials have been quoted, processed, and verified. Other materials have been quoted, processed, and verified from
1230-493: The national religion. It is not clear who the primary proponents on the Shinto side were. Originally, the word " Shūkyō ( 宗教 ) " was a translation of the English word " religion ", and there is no clear definition of the concept. The Shinto side referred to Shinto as the "national religion" or "main religion", but there was no such theory that Shinto was a part of a religion. The non-religious theory of Maruyama Sakura and others
1271-417: The passage of the Religious Organizations Law by Law No. 77 of April 8, 1939, the legislature legally abandoned the 'Secular Shrine Theory'. Because Sect Shinto was now required by law to be designated and approved. On November 9, 1940, the Ministry of the Interior reorganized its Bureau of Religions and established the Institute of Divinities , which was able to maintain "Secular Shrine Theory as
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1312-508: The priesthood. The length of study ranges from one to four years. These educational institutions accept students from standalone shrines and from shrines belonging to Sect Shinto . These two universities are Kokugakuin University , and Kogakkan University . After World War II, the Jinja Honcho supervised the largest number of shrines. But since technically the religious corporation status
1353-448: The rituals, ideology, and organization of shrines, which in modern times have been subject to government control. Shinto was once to be administered by the Bureau of Shinto Affairs , but was eventually separated from Shrine Shinto as Sect Shinto , and the Bureau itself made a sect called Shinto Taikyo . The Shinto shrines were then administered by the Home Ministry . Under the influence of
1394-461: The sect", that is, the "teaching" of the "sect", which means the ultimate principle or truth, and religion existed as a subordinate concept of Buddhism . Christian theologians have traditionally held that the meaning and wording of the word religion has been continued in its original meaning from Latin , which is the way it is used today. The Christian position in Japan has always been that Shinto
1435-508: The theory of non-religious shrines, but it was actively promoted by the Buddhist side. This is because the situation at the time was that the definition of religion was "proselytizing and conducting funerals. Among them, Yamada Akiyoshi , the Minister of the Interior, adopted the theory of non-religious shrines presented by the Shinto side, including Maruyama Sakura. Later, Senge Takatomi left
1476-417: Was also included as a religion in order to restore it to its original state. And behind the nationwide movement in the 1890s to revive the Shinto priesthood was a sense of "crisis" among Shinto priests and those involved in the Shinto religion against a government that was promoting a skeletonization of the "state's suzerainty" of Shinto shrines. When rumors of the religious ordinances began to circulate,
1517-595: Was appointed by the Minister of Home Affairs, and Eiji Yasui, Minister of Home Affairs, was appointed as the first president. The Vice President was Ichisho Inuma , Director General of the Bureau of Shrines , who served in this position until the abolition of the JCG. The President's Secretariat, the General Affairs Bureau, and the Political Affairs Bureau were established to take charge of matters related to
1558-743: Was created to distinguish it from denominational Shinto after the Meiji era. In 1868, the Restoration Government established the Department of Divinities to centralize administration. However, the State Shinto policy was unsuccessful, so the Ministry of Divinities was established and a campaign to proclaim the Great Doctrine began. On January 24, 1882, the Ministry of the Interior issued Ministerial Instruction No. B7, "Jikko-kamikami ha kyōdōshi ni kyōdōshi ni kyōsoku wo kyōsoku wo kyōdōshi no kanryūmono mono to sasaru mono" ("Shinto Priests are not
1599-623: Was established, and in 1881 , the Shinto priests of the Ise sect, Yoritsune Tanaka [ ja ] and others, and the priest of the Izumo sect, Senge Takatomi , argued over the ritual deity This led to an imperial request to Emperor Meiji . The Jōdo Shinshū side did not stand idly by and watch this chaotic situation, and following Shimaji Mokurai [ ja ] , Atsumi Kaien [ ja ] , Akamatsu Renjo [ ja ] and other theoreticians went out one after another to advise
1640-534: Was not included in the translation of "religion". In the Taishō era (1912–1926), the origin of the word "religion" was traced back to Latin , which came from Christian studies . The classical etymology of the word, traced to Cicero himself, derives it from relegere : prefix re- ("again") + lego ("read"), where lego is in the sense of "go over", "choose", or "consider carefully". Modern scholars such as Tom Harpur and Joseph Campbell have argued that religio
1681-711: Was subject to immense debate over this time and ultimately declined and disappeared during the Shōwa era . Translating the word " religion " into Japanese has been controversial from the beginning, with some scholars arguing it was a Christian concept that did not apply to Shinto. Kozaki Hiromichi first translated the English word "religion" as shūkyō ( 宗教 ) Before that, Yukichi Fukuzawa translated it as shūmon ( 宗門 ) and shūshi ( 宗旨 ) , and Masanao Nakamura translated it as hōkyō ( 法教 ) According to Genchi Kato: In other words, Shinto