Modern system of ranked Shinto shrines


The modern system of ranked Shinto shrines 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
  1. Imperial shrines, which are parsed into minor, medium, or major sub-categories; and
  2. National shrines, which are similarly categorized as minor, medium, or major.
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.

Kan-sha

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

Kanpei-sha

In 1871, the Kanpei-sha identified the hierarchy of government-supported shrines most closely associated with the imperial family. The kampeisha were 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 Kanpei-taisha encompassed 67 sanctuaries.
namelocationnotes
Kamo-wakeikazuchi jinjaKita-ku, Kyotoone of the Twenty-two Shrines; Wake-ikazuchi-no-kami; ichinomiya of Yamashiro Province
Kamo-mioya jinjaSakyō-ku, Kyotoone of the Twenty-two Shrines; Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto; Kamo Taeketsunumi-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Yamashiro Province
Iwashimizu HachimangūYawata, Kyotoone of the Twenty-two Shrines; Homuda-wakeno-mikoto ; Okinaga-tarashi-hime-no-mikoto
Matsunoo taishaUkyō-ku, Kyotoone of the Twenty-two Shrines; Oyamagui-no-mikoto; Nakatsushima-hime-no-mikoto
Hirano jinjaKita-ku, Kyotoone of the Twenty-two Shrines; Imaki-no-kami, Kudo-no-kami; Furuaki-no-kami, Hime-kami
Fushimi Inari-taishaFushimi-ku, Kyotoone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Ōmiwa jinjaSakurai, Naraone of the Twenty-two Shrines; ichinomiya of Yamato Province
Ōyamato jinjaTenri, Naraone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Isonokami jingūTenri, Naraone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Kasuga taishaNara, Naraone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Hirose taishaKawai, Naraone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Tatsuta taishaSangō, Naraone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Nibu-kawakami jinjaHigashiyoshino, Naraone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Hiraoka ShrineHigashiosaka, Osakaichinomiya of Kawachi Province
Ōtori taishaSakai, Osakaichinomiya of Izumi Province
Sumiyoshi taishaSumiyoshi-ku, Osakaone of the Twenty-two Shrines; ichinomiya of Settsu Province
Ikukunitama jinjaTennōji-ku, Osaka
Hirota jinjaNishinomiya, Hyōgoone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Hikawa ShrineSaitama, Saitamaichinomiya of Musashi Province
Awa jinjaTateyama, Chibaichinomiya of Awa Province
Katori jingūKatori, Chibaichinomiya of Shimōsa Province
Kashima jingūKashima, Ibarakiichinomiya of Hitachi Province
Mishima TaishaMishima, Shizuokaichinomiya of Izu Province
Atsuta jingūAtsuta-ku, Nagoya
Hinokuma ShrineWakayama, Wakayamaichinomiya of Kii Province
Kunikakasu ShrineWakayama, Wakayamaichinomiya of Kii Province
Izumo taishaIzumo, Shimaneichinomiya of Izumo Province
Usa jingūUsa, Ōitaichinomiya of Buzen Province
Izanagi ShrineAwaji, Hyōgoichinomiya of Awaji Province
Kashii-gūHigashi-ku, Fukuoka
Miyazaki jingūMiyazaki, Miyazaki
Kashihara jinjūKashihara, Nara
Heian jingūSakyō-ku, Kyoto
Kehi ShrineTsuruga, Fukuiichinomiya of Echizen Province
Kagoshima jingūKirishima, Kagoshimaichinomiya of Ōsumi Province
Udo jingūNichinan, Miyazaki
Asama jinjaFujinomiya, ShizuokaKonohana-sakuya-hime-no-mitoko
Takebe jinjaŌtsu, ShigaYamato-takeru-no-mitoko; ichinomiya of Ōmi Province
Hokkaidō jingūSapporo, Hokkaidōichinomiya of Ezo Province
Munakata TaishaMunakata, Fukuoka
Yoshino ShrineYoshino, Nara
Taiwan jingūTaipei, Taiwannow extinct
Karafuto jinjaToyohara, Karafutoremoved from Sakhalyn
Yasaka jinjaHigashiyama-ku, Kyotoone of the Twenty-two Shrines
Itsukushima jinjaHatsukaichi, Hiroshimaichinomiya of Aki Province
Hie jinjaChiyoda, TokyoOyamagui-no-kami
Suwa TaishaSuwa, Naganoichinomiya of Shinano Province
Kamayama ShrineWakayama, Wakayama
Hakozaki-gūHigashi-ku, Fukuokaichinomiya of Chikuzen Province
Aso jinjaAso, Kumamotoichinomiya of Higo Province
Taga taishaTaga, Shiga
Kirishima jingūKirishima, Kagoshima
Chōsen JingūSeoul, Koreanow extinct
Omi ShrineŌtsu, Shiga
Gassan ShrineTsuruoka, Yamagataone of the Three Mountains of Dewa
Meiji jingūShibuya, Tokyo
Fujisan Hongū Sengen TaishaFujinomiya, Shizuokaichinomiya of Suruga Province
Hiyoshi taishaŌtsu, Shigaone of the Twenty-Two Shrines
Takebe taishaŌtsu, Shigaichinomiya of Ōmi Province
Kumano Hongū TaishaTanabe, Wakayama
Kumano Hayatama TaishaShingū, Wakayama
Niutsuhime jinjaKatsuragi, Wakayama
Fuyo jinjaBuyeo County, Koreanow extinct
Kantō jingūRyōjun, Kwantung Leased Territorynow extinct
Nan'yō jinjaKoror, PalauAmaterasu Ōmikami. holy relics and kami were evacuated by submarine in 1944

Imperial shrines, 2nd rank

The mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or Kanpei-chūsha included 23 sanctuaries.
namelocationnotes
Shiramine jingūKamigyō-ku, KyotoEmperor Junnin; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940
Akama jingūShimonoseki, YamaguchiEmperor Antoku; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940
Minase jinjaShimamoto, OsakaEmperor Go-Toba, Emperor Tsuchimikado and Emperor Juntoku; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940
Kamakura-gūKamakura, KanagawaMorinaga-shinnō
Iinoya-gūKita-ku, HamamatsuMunenaga-shinnō
Yatsushiro-no-miyaYatsushiro, KumamotoKanenaga-shinnō, Nganari--shinnō
Umenomiya jinja.Ukyō-ku, KyotoSakatoke-no-kami, Ōwakako-no-kami, Satatokeko-no-kami
Kifune jinja.Sakyō-ku, KyotoKuraokami-no-kami
Ōharano jinja.Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto.Take-mikazuchi-no-mitoko, Iwainushi-no-mitoko, Hime-kami
Yoshida jinja.Sakyō-ku, KyotoTake-mikazuchi-no-mitoko, Iwainushi-no-mitoko, Hime-kami
Kitano Tenmangū.Kamigyō-ku, KyotoSugawara no Michizane
Tsukiyomi jinja.UnzenTsukiomi-no-mitoko
Kanasana jinja.Kamikawa, SaitamaAmaterasu Ōmikami, Susanoo-no-mikoto
Ikasuri jinjaChūō-ku, Osakaichinomiya of Settsu Province
Hikosan jingūSoeda, Fukuoka
Yatsushiro-gūYatsushiro, Kumamoto
Kanegasaki-gūTsuruga, FukuiTakanaga Shinnō, Tsunenaga shinnō
Dazaifu Tenmangū.Dazaifu, FukuokaSugawara no Michizane
Ikuta jinjaChūō-ku, KobeWaka-hirume-no-mikoto
Nagata jinja.Nagata-ku, KobeKotohshironushi-no-mikoto
Watatsumi jinja.Tarumi-ku, Kobe, HarimaWaka-hirume-no-mikoto
Ehikoyama jinja.Hikozan, BuzenAme no Oshihone-no-mikoto
Sumiyoshi jinjaShimonoseki, Yamaguchithe aramitama of the Sun Goddess, Tsuki-sasaki-itsu no mitama-amasakaru-muka-tsu-hime-no- mitoko; ichinomiya of Nagato Province
Kibitsu jinjaOkayama, OkayamaŌkibitsu-hiko-no-mikoto, son of Emperor Korei; ichinomiya of Bitchū Province
Kumano Nachi TaishaNachikatsuura, WakayamaKetsumiko, Kumano Hayatama-no-kami, Kumano Fusumi-no-kami
Itakeso jinjaWakayama, WakayamaŌya-hiko-no-mikoto
Mikami jinjaYasu, ShigaAme-no-mikage-no-mikoto
Tainan jinja.Tainan, Taiwannow extinct; Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa-no-mikoto

Imperial shrines, 3rd rank

The lowest ranked among the Imperial shrines or Kanpei-shōsha were five sanctuaries.
namelocationnotes
Ōkunitama jinja.Fuchū, TokyoMusashi no Ōkuni-tama-no-kami
Shigaumi jinja.Higashi-ku, FukuokaUwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Kakatsutsunoo-no-mitoko, Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto
Sumiyoshi Jinja.Hakata-ku, FukuokaUwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Kakatsutsunoo-no-mitoko, Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Chikuzen Province
Kamado-jinja.Dazaifu, FukuokaTamayori-hime
Naminoue jinja.Naha, OkinawaHayatama-no-o, Izanami, Kotosaka-no-o-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Ryūkyū

Other Imperial shrines

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

Kokuhei-sha

The Kokuhei-sha 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 Kokuhei Taisha were six sanctuaries.
namelocationnotes
Keta ShrineHakui, Ishikawaichinomiya of Noto Province
Nangū TaishaTarui, Gifuichinomiya of Mino Province
Tado ShrineKuwana, Mie
Kumano Shrine Matsue, Shimaneichinomiya of Izumo Province
Ōyamazumi jinjaImabari, Ehimeichinomiya of Iyo Province
Kōra taishaKurume, Fukuokaichinomiya of Chikugo Province

National shrines, 2nd rank

The mid-range of ranked, nationally significant shrines or Kokuhei Chūsha encompassed 47 sanctuaries.
namelocationnotes
Hakodate Hachiman ShrineHakodate, Hokkaidō
Shiogama jinjaShiogama, Miyagiichinomiya of Mutsu Province
Chōkaisan Ōmonoimi jinjaYuza, Yamagataichinomiya of Dewa Province
Tsutsukowake jinjaTanagura, Fukushimaichinomiya of Mutsu Province
Isasumi jinjaAizumisato, Fukushimaichinomiya of Iwashiro Province
Nikkō Futarasan jinjaNikkō, Tochigiichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province
Utsunomiya Futarasan jinjaUtsunomiya, Tochigiichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province
Ichinomiya Nukisaki jinjaTomioka, Gunmaichinomiya of Kōzuke Province
Ōarai Isozaki jinjaŌarai, Ibaraki
Sakatsura Isozaki jinjaHitachinaka, Ibaraki
Tamasaki jinjaIchinomiya, Chibaichinomiya of Kazusa Province
Samukawa jinjaSamukawa, Kanagawaichinomiya of Sagami Province
Tsurugaoka HachimangūKamakura, Kanagawa
Ichinomiya Asama jinjaFuefuki, Yamanashiichinomiya of Kai Province
Ikushima Tarushima jinjaUeda, Nagano
Yahiko jinjaYahiko, Niigataichinomiya of Echigo Province
Imizu JinjaTakaoka, Toyamaichinomiya of Etchū Province
Shirayamahime jinjaHakusan, Ishikawaichinomiya of Kaga Province
Wakasahiko ShrineObama, Fukuiichinomiya of Wakasa Province
Masumida jinjaIchinomiya, Aichiichinomiya of Owari Province
Ōagata jinjaInuyama, Aichi
Aekuni jinjaUeno, Igaichinomiya of Iga Province
Izumo daijinguKameoka, Kyotoichinomiya of Tanba Province
Komori jinjaMiyazu, Kyotoichinomiya of Tango Province
Izushi jinjaToyooka, Hyōgoichinomiya of Tajima Province
Iwa jinjaShisō, Hyōgoichinomiya of Harima Province
Nakayama ShrineTsuyama, Okayamaichinomiya of Mimasaka Province
Ani jinjaOkayama, Okayamaichinomiya of Bizen Province
Hayatani jinjaHatsukaichi, Hiroshima
Ube jinjaTottori, Tottoriichinomiya of Inaba Province
Mizuwakasu jinjaOkinoshima, Shimaneichinomiya of Oki Province
Miho jinjaMatsue, Shimane
Tamanooya jinjaHōfu, Yamaguchiichinomiya of Suō Province
Tamura jinjaTakamatsu, Kagawaichinomiya of Sanuki Province
Kotohira-guKotohira, Kagawa
Isono jinjaSaijō, Ehime
Inbe jinjaTokushima, Tokushima
Ōasahiko jinjaNaruto, Tokushimaichinomiya of Awa Province
Tosa jinjaKōchi, Kōchiichinomiya of Tosa Province
Sashimuta jinjaŌita, Ōitaichinomiya of Bungo Province
Tajima jinjaKaratsu, Saga
Sumiyoshi jinjaIki, Nagasaki
Watasumi jinjaTsushima, Nagasakiichinomiya of Tsushima Province
Chinzei Taisha Suwa jinjaNagasaki, Nagasaki
Nitta jinjaSatsumasendai, Kagoshimaichinomiya of Satsuma Province

National shrines, 3rd rank

The lowest ranked, nationally significant shrines or Kokuhei Shōsha includes 50 sanctuaries.
namelocationnotes
Iwakiyama jinjaHirosaki, Aomoriichinomiya of Mutsu Province
Koshiō jinjaAkita, Akita
Komagata jinjaŌshū, Iwateichinomiya of Rikuchū Province
Dewa jinjaTsuruoka, Yamagataone of the Dewa Sanzan
Yudonosan jinjaTsuruoka, Yamagataone of the Dewa Sanzan
Chichibu jinjaChichibu, Saitama
Hakone jinjaHakone, Kanagawa
Oguni jinjaMori, Shizuokaichinomiya of Tōtōmi Province
Shizuoka Sengen jinjaAoi-ku, Shizuoka
Izusan jinjaAtami, Shizuoka
Togakushi jinjaNagano, Nagano
Hotaka jinjaAzumino, Nagano
Watatsu jinjaSado, Niigataichinomiya of Sado Province
Takase jinjaNanto, Toyamaichinomiya of Etchū Province
Oyama jinjaTateyama, Toyamaichinomiya of Etchū Province
Sugōisobe JinjaKaga, Ishikawa
Tsurugi jinjaEchizen, Fukui
Minashi JinjaTakayama, Gifuichinomiya of Hida Province
Inaba jinjaGifu, Gifu
Toga jinjaToyokawa, Aichiichinomiya of Mikawa Province
Tsushima jinjaTsushima, Aichi
Owari Ōkunitama jinjaInazawa, Aichi
Kibitsuhiko jinjaOkayama, Okayamaichinomiya of Bizen Province
Kibitsu jinjaFukuyama, Hiroshimaichinomiya of Bingo Province
Nunakuma jinjaFukuyama, Hiroshima
Ōgamiyama jinjaYonago, Tottori
Shitori jinjaYurihama, Tottoriichinomiya of Hōki Province
Hinomisaki jinjaIzumo, Shimane
Mononobe jinjaŌda, Shimaneichinomiya of Iwami Province
Susa jinjaIzumo, Shimane
Sada jinjaMatsue, Shimane
Iminomiya jinjaShimonoseki, Yamaguchi
Chiriku Hachiman ShrineMiyaki, Sagaichinomiya of Buzen Province
Yusuhara HachimangūOita, Oitaichinomiya of Bungo Province
Fujisaki Hachiman jinjaKumamoto, Kumamoto
Tsuno jinjaTsuno, Miyazakiichinomiya of Hyūga Province
Hirasaki-jinjaIbusuki, Kagoshimaichinomiya of Satsuma Province
Keijo JinjaSeoul, Koreaextinct
Ryūtōzan JinjaBusan, Koreaextinct
Taikyu JinjaDaegu, Koreaextinct
Heijō JinjaPyongyang, Koreaextinct
Kōshū JinjaGwangju, Koreaextinct
Kōgen JinjaChuncheon, Koreaextinct
Zenshū JinjaJeonju, Koreaextinct
Kankō JinjaHamhung, Koreaextinct
Shinchiku JinjaHsinchu, Taiwanextinct
Taichu JinjaTaichung, Taiwanextinct
Kagi JinjaChiayi, Taiwanextinct

"Min-sha"

The Sho-sha or various smaller shrines ranking below these two levels of Kan-sha are commonly, though unofficially, referred to as "people's shrines" or Min-sha. 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 District Shrine Law 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 Fu-sha. At a later date, the "Prefectural shrines" were classed together with the "Metropolitan shrines" as "Metropolitan and Prefectural Shrines" or Fuken-sha.

Clan or Domain shrines

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

Prefectural shrines

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

District shrine

"District shrines" were known as Gō-sha.

Village shrines

"Village shrines" were known as Son-sha 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 Hokora 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 Mukaku-sha.

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: