Divine rank
Divine rank (神階, Shinkai) is a system of ranking kami in Shinto. [1][2][3]Higher rank meant more lands were given to the shrine and it became wealthier and more powerful.[1]
Origins[edit]
The first mention of shinkai is in the Tôdaiji yôroku. This document is from around 1134. It says that in 746, Hachiman Taisha got the third rank. This was to help an ill emperor.[1]
The practice started in the late Nara period. Shrines got ranks during important events. These included moving the capital and coronations.[1]
For example In history every time Mount Chokai erupted, the rank of Omonoimi no Kami the kami of Chōkaisan Ōmonoimi Shrine[4] was increased.[5] Omonoimi no Kami is known to have received the rank of Shōichii in the reign of Emperor Yōmei..[6]
At first, shrines got land based on rank. Higher ranks meant more land.[1]
Overview[edit]
The Shinkai system changed a lot in the late eighth century. This happened under the Ritsuryo system. Many thought the Shinto Bureau (Jingikan) was losing power. But the number of state-supported shrines was actually growing.[2]
Development[edit]
At first, the state shrine system did not work well. It was meant for festivals for Japan's deities. There were only a few state shrines. But their numbers started to grow in the mid-eighth century. This was because of changes in local governance. These changes were part of the Ritsuryo system.[2]
Hanpei System[edit]
The Hanpei system was about giving festival materials (Heihaku) to shrines. The system got stricter. Shinto priests who did not collect Heihaku faced penalties. But this did not work very well.[2]
Enryaku Era Changes[edit]
During the Enryaku era, the Shinto Bureau made two important changes:[2]
- Specially Designated Shrines and Deities: This system managed some shrines (Kanpei-kokuhei-sha) and deities (Myojin). The Bureau managed them directly in the Kinai region. Provincial governors (Kokushi) managed them in other regions.[2]
- Increased Control: Provincial governors tried to get more control. They applied for recognition from the Bureau. They also asked for Heihaku.[2]
Shinto Shrine Ranking (Shinkai)[edit]
The Shinkai system was linked to the Myojin and ranked deity shrine systems. The Myojin system started with the Kanpei-kokuhei-sha system. Its goal was to control important shrines for the state.[2]
Governors gave special status and rankings to shrines. This led to the ranked deity shrine system. This system became popular. It created a clear order among shrines. Governors liked it for control. Local leaders liked it for political status.[2]
Popularity and Hierarchy[edit]
By the late eighth century, it was common to give status and rankings to shrines. This made a clear hierarchy. Governors and local leaders supported this. It helped them in different ways.[2]
Provincial Control of Deity Ranking[edit]
Governors got more control over shrine ranking. Ranking gods became mainly a provincial matter. The central government did not get involved much.[2]
Later development[edit]
Later, the practice changed. It became more about rank. It was less about giving land.[1]
The system ended in the Meiji period. [1]
See Also[edit]
 |
Look up 神階 in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Basic Terms of Shinto: Shinkai". www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2023-11-11.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 慈司, 小倉 (1994). "八・九世紀における地方神社行政の展開". 史学雑誌. 103 (3): 390–415, 476–47. doi:10.24471/shigaku.103.3_390.
- ↑ "SHIGAKU ZASSHI". www.jstage.jst.go.jp. Retrieved 2023-11-27.
- ↑ "chokaizan omonoimi shrine（warabioka kuchi no miya） - shrine-heritager". shrineheritager.com. Archived from the original on 2023-11-11. Retrieved 2023-04-25. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Fukada, Kyūya (2014-12-31). One Hundred Mountains of Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8248-4785-2. Search this book on
- ↑ Fukada, Kyūya (2014-12-31). One Hundred Mountains of Japan. University of Hawaii Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8248-4785-2. Search this book on
This article "Divine rank" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Divine rank. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
