1878 engraving by
Yōshū Chikanobu (1838–1912). The figures represented in these three panels are: *
Centre: Front.
Emperor Meiji in a Western chair with his wife,
Empress Shōken, seated in the foreground. The Imperial couple are accompanied behind and in the flanking panels with an array of Shinto
kami and historical figures from Japan's past.
Rear. The
kami Izanami,
Kunitokotatchi and
Izanagi. *
Right: Front.
Emperor Kōmei (seated in foreground),
Empress Go-Sakuramachi (here presented as a man with a false goatee), and
Emperor Jinmu (carrying a rough bow and perched eagle.
Rear. The
kami Amaterasu (standing and holding the
three Sacred Treasures of Japan) and
Ninigi-no-Mikoto (who first brought to earth the Imperial regalia—the sword,
Kusanagi, the mirror,
Yata no Kagami, and the jewel,
Yasakani no magatama). *
Left: Front:
Emperor Go-Momozono (clothed in red),
Emperor Kōkaku (clothed in black) and
Emperor Ninkō (clothed in green).
Rear. The
kami Hiko-hohodemi (clothed in white) and
Ugayafukiaezu (clothed in yellow).
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 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.[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]
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.[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).
Kan-sha
The Kan-sha (官社) or "official government shrines" had two subdivisions, Kanpei-sha or "government shrines" and Kokuhei-sha or "national shrines".[4]
Kanpei-sha
In 1871, the Kanpei-sha (官幣社) identified the hierarchy of government-supported shrines most closely associated with the imperial family.[5] These shrines venerated by the imperial family. This category encompasses those sanctuaries enshrining emperors, imperial family members, or meritorious retainers of the Imperial family.[1]
Imperial shrines, 1st rank
The most highly ranked Imperial shrines or Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社) encompassed 67 sanctuaries.[5]
name
|
location
|
notes
|
Kamo-wakeikazuchi jinja[5]
|
Kita-ku, Kyoto
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines; Wake-ikazuchi-no-kami; ichinomiya of Yamashiro Province[6]
|
Kamo-mioya jinja[5]
|
Sakyō-ku, Kyoto
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines; Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto; Kamo Taeketsunumi-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Yamashiro Province[6]
|
Iwashimizu Hachimangū[5]
|
Yawata, Kyoto
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines; Homuda-wakeno-mikoto (Emperor Ōjin); Okinaga-tarashi-hime-no-mikoto (Empress Jingū)
|
Matsunoo taisha[5]
|
Ukyō-ku, Kyoto
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines; Oyamagui-no-mikoto; Nakatsushima-hime-no-mikoto
|
Hirano jinja[5]
|
Kita-ku, Kyoto
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines; Imaki-no-kami, Kudo-no-kami; Furuaki-no-kami, Hime-kami
|
Fushimi Inari-taisha[5]
|
Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Ōmiwa jinja[5]
|
Sakurai, Nara
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines; ichinomiya of Yamato Province[6]
|
Ōyamato jinja[5]
|
Tenri, Nara
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Isonokami jingū[7]
|
Tenri, Nara
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Kasuga taisha[8]
|
Nara, Nara
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Hirose taisha[5]
|
Kawai, Nara
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Tatsuta taisha[5]
|
Sangō, Nara
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Nibu-kawakami jinja[5]
|
Higashiyoshino, Nara
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Hiraoka Shrine[5]
|
Higashiosaka, Osaka
|
ichinomiya of Kawachi Province[6]
|
Ōtori taisha[9]
|
Sakai, Osaka
|
ichinomiya of Izumi Province[6]
|
Sumiyoshi taisha[9]
|
Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines; ichinomiya of Settsu Province[6]
|
Ikukunitama jinja[9]
|
Tennōji-ku, Osaka
|
|
Hirota jinja[9]
|
Nishinomiya, Hyōgo
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Hikawa Shrine[10]
|
Saitama, Saitama
|
ichinomiya of Musashi Province[6]
|
Awa jinja[9]
|
Tateyama, Chiba
|
ichinomiya of Awa Province[6]
|
Katori jingū[11]
|
Katori, Chiba
|
ichinomiya of Shimōsa Province[6]
|
Kashima jingū[9]
|
Kashima, Ibaraki
|
ichinomiya of Hitachi Province[6]
|
Mishima Taisha[9]
|
Mishima, Shizuoka
|
ichinomiya of Izu Province[6]
|
Atsuta jingū[12]
|
Atsuta-ku, Nagoya
|
|
Hinokuma Shrine[9]
|
Wakayama, Wakayama
|
ichinomiya of Kii Province[13]
|
Kunikakasu Shrine[9]
|
Wakayama, Wakayama
|
ichinomiya of Kii Province[13]
|
Izumo taisha[9]
|
Izumo, Shimane
|
ichinomiya of Izumo Province[14]
|
Usa jingū[9]
|
Usa, Ōita
|
ichinomiya of Buzen Province[13]
|
Izanagi Shrine[9]
|
Awaji, Hyōgo
|
ichinomiya of Awaji Province[13]
|
Kashii-gū[9]
|
Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
|
|
Miyazaki jingū[9]
|
Miyazaki, Miyazaki
|
|
Kashihara jinjū[9]
|
Kashihara, Nara
|
|
Heian jingū[9]
|
Sakyō-ku, Kyoto
|
|
Kehi Shrine[9]
|
Tsuruga, Fukui
|
ichinomiya of Echizen Province[14]
|
Kagoshima jingū[9]
|
Kirishima, Kagoshima
|
ichinomiya of Ōsumi Province[13]
|
Udo jingū[9]
|
Nichinan, Miyazaki
|
|
Asama jinja[9]
|
Fujinomiya, Shizuoka[15]
|
Konohana-sakuya-hime-no-mitoko
|
Takebe jinja[9]
|
Ōtsu, Shiga[16]
|
Yamato-takeru-no-mitoko; ichinomiya of Ōmi Province[6]
|
Hokkaidō jingū[17]
|
Sapporo, Hokkaidō
|
ichinomiya of Ezo Province[18]
|
Munakata Taisha[9]
|
Munakata, Fukuoka
|
|
Yoshino Shrine[19]
|
Yoshino, Nara
|
|
Taiwan jingū[20]
|
Taipei, Taiwan
|
now extinct
|
Karafuto jinja[20]
|
Toyohara, Karafuto
|
removed from Sakhalin
|
Yasaka jinja[20]
|
Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto
|
one of the Twenty-two Shrines
|
Itsukushima jinja[20]
|
Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima
|
ichinomiya of Aki Province[13]
|
Hie jinja[10]
|
Chiyoda, Tokyo
|
Ōyamakui-no-kami
|
Suwa Taisha[20]
|
Suwa, Nagano
|
ichinomiya of Shinano Province[14]
|
Kamayama Shrine[20]
|
Wakayama, Wakayama
|
|
Hakozaki-gū[20]
|
Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
|
ichinomiya of Chikuzen Province[13]
|
Aso jinja[20]
|
Aso, Kumamoto
|
ichinomiya of Higo Province[13]
|
Taga taisha[20]
|
Taga, Shiga
|
|
Kirishima jingū[20]
|
Kirishima, Kagoshima
|
|
Chōsen Jingū[20]
|
Seoul, Korea
|
now extinct
|
Omi Shrine[20]
|
Ōtsu, Shiga
|
|
Gassan Shrine
|
Tsuruoka, Yamagata
|
one of the Three Mountains of Dewa
|
Meiji jingū[21]
|
Shibuya, Tokyo
|
|
Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha[22]
|
Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
|
ichinomiya of Suruga Province[6]
|
Hiyoshi taisha[5]
|
Ōtsu, Shiga
|
one of the Twenty-Two Shrines
|
Takebe taisha
|
Ōtsu, Shiga
|
ichinomiya of Ōmi Province[14]
|
Kumano Hongū Taisha
|
Tanabe, Wakayama
|
|
Kumano Hayatama Taisha
|
Shingū, Wakayama
|
|
Niutsuhime jinja
|
Katsuragi, Wakayama
|
|
Fuyo jinja
|
Buyeo County, Korea
|
now extinct
|
Kantō jingū
|
Ryōjun, Kwantung Leased Territory
|
now extinct
|
Nan'yō jinja[23]
|
Koror, Palau
|
Amaterasu Ōmikami. holy relics and kami were evacuated by submarine in 1944[24]
|
Imperial shrines, 2nd rank
The mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or Kanpei-chūsha (官幣中社) included 23 sanctuaries.[9]
name
|
location
|
notes
|
Shiramine jingū[25]
|
Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto
|
Emperor Junnin; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940
|
Akama jingū[20]
|
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
|
Emperor Antoku; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940
|
Minase jinja[25]
|
Shimamoto, Osaka
|
Emperor Go-Toba, Emperor Tsuchimikado and Emperor Juntoku; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940
|
Kamakura-gū[20]
|
Kamakura, Kanagawa[26]
|
Morinaga-shinnō
|
Iinoya-gū[20]
|
Kita-ku, Hamamatsu[27]
|
Munenaga-shinnō
|
Yatsushiro Shrine[20]
|
Yatsushiro, Kumamoto[28]
|
Kanenaga-shinnō, Nganari--shinnō
|
Umenomiya jinja.[20]
|
Ukyō-ku, Kyoto[29]
|
Sakatoke-no-kami, Ōwakako-no-kami, Satatokeko-no-kami
|
Kifune jinja.[20]
|
Sakyō-ku, Kyoto
|
Kuraokami-no-kami
|
Ōharano jinja.[20]
|
Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto.[20]
|
Take-mikazuchi-no-mitoko, Iwainushi-no-mitoko, Hime-kami
|
Yoshida jinja.[20]
|
Sakyō-ku, Kyoto
|
Take-mikazuchi-no-mitoko, Iwainushi-no-mitoko, Hime-kami
|
Kitano Tenmangū.[20]
|
Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto
|
Sugawara no Michizane
|
Tsukiyomi jinja.[20]
|
Unzen
|
Tsukiomi-no-mitoko
|
Kanasana jinja.[20]
|
Kamikawa, Saitama[30]
|
Amaterasu Ōmikami, Susanoo-no-mikoto
|
Ikasuri Shrine
|
Chūō-ku, Osaka
|
ichinomiya of Settsu Province[6]
|
Hikosan Jingū
|
Soeda, Fukuoka
|
|
Yatsushiro-gū
|
Yatsushiro, Kumamoto
|
|
Kanegasaki-gū[31]
|
Tsuruga, Fukui[32]
|
Takanaga Shinnō, Tsunenaga shinnō
|
Dazaifu Tenmangū.[31]
|
Dazaifu, Fukuoka
|
Sugawara no Michizane
|
Ikuta jinja[31]
|
Chūō-ku, Kobe
|
Waka-hirume-no-mikoto
|
Nagata jinja.[31]
|
Nagata-ku, Kobe[33]
|
Kotohshironushi-no-mikoto
|
Watatsumi jinja (Tarumi jinja).[31]
|
Tarumi-ku, Kobe, Harima
|
Waka-hirume-no-mikoto
|
Ehikoyama jinja.[31]
|
Hikozan, Buzen
|
Ame no Oshihone-no-mikoto (Ame-no-shiho-mimi-no-mitoko)
|
Sumiyoshi jinja[31]
|
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi[34]
|
the aramitama of the Sun Goddess, Tsuki-sasaki-itsu no mitama-amasakaru-muka-tsu-hime-no- mitoko; ichinomiya of Nagato Province[13]
|
Kibitsu jinja[31]
|
Okayama, Okayama
|
Ōkibitsu-hiko-no-mikoto, son of Emperor Korei; ichinomiya of Bitchū Province[13]
|
Kumano Nachi Taisha[31]
|
Nachikatsuura, Wakayama[35]
|
Ketsumiko, Kumano Hayatama-no-kami, Kumano Fusumi-no-kami
|
Itakiso Shrine[31]
|
Wakayama, Wakayama[36]
|
Ōya-hiko-no-mikoto
|
Mikami jinja[31]
|
Yasu, Shiga[37]
|
Ame-no-mikage-no-mikoto
|
Tainan jinja.[31]
|
Tainan, Taiwan
|
now extinct; Prince Kitashirakawa Yoshihisa-no-mikoto
|
Imperial shrines, 3rd rank
The lowest ranked among the Imperial shrines or Kanpei-shōsha (官幣小社) were five sanctuaries.[31]
name
|
location
|
notes
|
Ōkunitama jinja.[31]
|
Fuchū, Tokyo[38]
|
Musashi no Ōkuni-tama-no-kami
|
Shigaumi jinja.[31]
|
Higashi-ku, Fukuoka[39]
|
Uwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Kakatsutsunoo-no-mitoko, Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto
|
Sumiyoshi Jinja.[31]
|
Hakata-ku, Fukuoka[40]
|
Uwatsutsunoo-no-mikoto, Kakatsutsunoo-no-mitoko, Sokotsutsunoo-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Chikuzen Province[13]
|
Kamado-jinja.[31]
|
Dazaifu, Fukuoka[41]
|
Tamayori-hime
|
Naminoue jinja.[31]
|
Naha, Okinawa[42]
|
Hayatama-no-o, Izanami, Kotosaka-no-o-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Ryūkyū[43]
|
Other Imperial shrines
In addition to the officially ranked Imperial shrines, a further grouping of Bekkaku kanpeisha (別格官幣社), special shrines that fell outside this ranking system, was created at a later date.[44]
Kokuhei-sha
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.
National shrines, 2nd rank
The mid-range of ranked, nationally significant shrines or Kokuhei Chūsha (国幣中社) encompassed 47 sanctuaries.
name
|
location
|
notes
|
Hakodate Hachiman Shrine
|
Hakodate, Hokkaidō
|
|
Shiogama jinja
|
Shiogama, Miyagi
|
ichinomiya of Mutsu Province[14]
|
Chōkaisan Ōmonoimi jinja
|
Yuza, Yamagata
|
ichinomiya of Dewa Province
|
Tsutsukowake jinja
|
Tanagura, Fukushima
|
ichinomiya of Mutsu Province[14]
|
Isasumi jinja
|
Aizumisato, Fukushima
|
ichinomiya of Iwashiro Province
|
Nikkō Futarasan jinja
|
Nikkō, Tochigi
|
ichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province[14]
|
Utsunomiya Futarayama jinja
|
Utsunomiya, Tochigi
|
ichinomiya of Shimotsuke Province[14]
|
Ichinomiya Nukisaki jinja
|
Tomioka, Gunma
|
ichinomiya of Kōzuke Province[14]
|
Ōarai Isozaki jinja
|
Ōarai, Ibaraki
|
|
Sakatsura Isozaki jinja
|
Hitachinaka, Ibaraki
|
|
Tamasaki jinja
|
Ichinomiya, Chiba
|
ichinomiya of Kazusa Province[6]
|
Samukawa jinja
|
Samukawa, Kanagawa
|
ichinomiya of Sagami Province[6]
|
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū
|
Kamakura, Kanagawa
|
|
Ichinomiya Asama jinja
|
Fuefuki, Yamanashi
|
ichinomiya of Kai Province[6]
|
Ikushima Tarushima jinja
|
Ueda, Nagano
|
|
Yahiko jinja
|
Yahiko, Niigata
|
ichinomiya of Echigo Province[14]
|
Imizu Jinja
|
Takaoka, Toyama
|
ichinomiya of Etchū Province
|
Shirayamahime jinja
|
Hakusan, Ishikawa
|
ichinomiya of Kaga Province[14]
|
Wakasahiko Shrine
|
Obama, Fukui
|
ichinomiya of Wakasa Province[14]
|
Masumida jinja
|
Ichinomiya, Aichi
|
ichinomiya of Owari Province[6]
|
Ōagata jinja
|
Inuyama, Aichi
|
|
Aekuni jinja
|
Ueno, Iga
|
ichinomiya of Iga Province[6]
|
Izumo daijingu
|
Kameoka, Kyoto
|
ichinomiya of Tanba Province[14]
|
Kono jinja
|
Miyazu, Kyoto
|
ichinomiya of Tango Province[14]
|
Izushi jinja
|
Toyooka, Hyōgo
|
ichinomiya of Tajima Province[14]
|
Iwa jinja
|
Shisō, Hyōgo
|
ichinomiya of Harima Province[13]
|
Nakayama Shrine
|
Tsuyama, Okayama
|
ichinomiya of Mimasaka Province[13]
|
Ani jinja
|
Okayama, Okayama
|
ichinomiya of Bizen Province[13]
|
Hayatani jinja
|
Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima
|
|
Ube jinja
|
Tottori, Tottori
|
ichinomiya of Inaba Province[13]
|
Mizuwakasu jinja
|
Okinoshima, Shimane
|
ichinomiya of Oki Province[14]
|
Miho jinja
|
Matsue, Shimane
|
|
Tamanooya jinja
|
Hōfu, Yamaguchi
|
ichinomiya of Suō Province[13]
|
Tamura jinja
|
Takamatsu, Kagawa
|
ichinomiya of Sanuki Province[13]
|
Kotohira-gu
|
Kotohira, Kagawa
|
|
Isono jinja
|
Saijō, Ehime
|
|
Inbe jinja
|
Tokushima, Tokushima
|
|
Ōasahiko jinja
|
Naruto, Tokushima
|
ichinomiya of Awa Province[13]
|
Tosa jinja
|
Kōchi, Kōchi
|
ichinomiya of Tosa Province[13]
|
Sasamuta jinja
|
Ōita, Ōita
|
ichinomiya of Bungo Province[13]
|
Tajima jinja
|
Karatsu, Saga
|
|
Sumiyoshi jinja
|
Iki, Nagasaki
|
|
Watasumi jinja
|
Tsushima, Nagasaki
|
ichinomiya of Tsushima Province
|
Chinzei Taisha Suwa jinja
|
Nagasaki, Nagasaki
|
|
Nitta jinja
|
Satsumasendai, Kagoshima
|
ichinomiya of Satsuma Province[13]
|
National shrines, 3rd rank
The lowest ranked, nationally significant shrines or Kokuhei Shōsha (国幣小社) includes 50 sanctuaries.
name
|
location
|
notes
|
Iwakiyama jinja
|
Hirosaki, Aomori
|
ichinomiya of Mutsu Province
|
Koshiō jinja
|
Akita, Akita
|
|
Komagata jinja
|
Ōshū, Iwate
|
ichinomiya of Rikuchū Province
|
Dewa jinja
|
Tsuruoka, Yamagata
|
one of the Dewa Sanzan
|
Yudonosan jinja
|
Tsuruoka, Yamagata
|
one of the Dewa Sanzan
|
Chichibu jinja
|
Chichibu, Saitama
|
|
Hakone jinja
|
Hakone, Kanagawa
|
|
Oguni jinja
|
Mori, Shizuoka
|
ichinomiya of Tōtōmi Province[6]
|
Shizuoka Sengen jinja
|
Aoi-ku, Shizuoka
|
|
Izusan jinja
|
Atami, Shizuoka
|
|
Togakushi jinja
|
Nagano, Nagano
|
|
Hotaka jinja
|
Azumino, Nagano
|
|
Watatsu jinja
|
Sado, Niigata
|
ichinomiya of Sado Province[14]
|
Takase jinja
|
Nanto, Toyama
|
ichinomiya of Etchū Province[14]
|
Oyama jinja
|
Tateyama, Toyama
|
ichinomiya of Etchū Province[14]
|
Sugōisobe Jinja
|
Kaga, Ishikawa
|
|
Tsurugi jinja
|
Echizen, Fukui
|
|
Minashi Jinja
|
Takayama, Gifu
|
ichinomiya of Hida Province[14]
|
Inaba jinja
|
Gifu, Gifu
|
|
Toga jinja
|
Toyokawa, Aichi
|
ichinomiya of Mikawa Province[6]
|
Tsushima jinja
|
Tsushima, Aichi
|
|
Owari Ōkunitama jinja
|
Inazawa, Aichi
|
|
Kibitsuhiko jinja
|
Okayama, Okayama
|
ichinomiya of Bizen Province[13]
|
Kibitsu jinja
|
Fukuyama, Hiroshima
|
ichinomiya of Bingo Province[13]
|
Nunakuma jinja
|
Fukuyama, Hiroshima
|
|
Ōgamiyama jinja
|
Yonago, Tottori
|
|
Shitori jinja
|
Yurihama, Tottori
|
ichinomiya of Hōki Province[14]
|
Hinomisaki jinja
|
Izumo, Shimane
|
|
Mononobe jinja
|
Ōda, Shimane
|
ichinomiya of Iwami Province[14]
|
Susa jinja
|
Izumo, Shimane
|
|
Sada jinja
|
Matsue, Shimane
|
|
Iminomiya jinja
|
Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
|
|
Chiriku Hachiman Shrine
|
Miyaki, Saga
|
ichinomiya of Buzen Province
|
Yusuhara Hachimangū
|
Oita, Oita
|
ichinomiya of Bungo Province[13]
|
Fujisaki Hachiman jinja
|
Kumamoto, Kumamoto
|
|
Tsuno jinja
|
Tsuno, Miyazaki
|
ichinomiya of Hyūga Province[13]
|
Hirasaki-jinja
|
Ibusuki, Kagoshima
|
ichinomiya of Satsuma Province[13]
|
Keijo Jinja
|
Seoul, Korea
|
extinct
|
Ryūtōzan Jinja
|
Busan, Korea
|
extinct
|
Taikyu Jinja
|
Daegu, Korea
|
extinct
|
Heijō Jinja
|
Pyongyang, Korea
|
extinct
|
Kōshū Jinja
|
Gwangju, Korea
|
extinct
|
Kōgen Jinja
|
Chuncheon, Korea
|
extinct
|
Zenshū Jinja
|
Jeonju, Korea
|
extinct
|
Kankō Jinja
|
Hamhung, Korea
|
extinct
|
Shinchiku Jinja
|
Hsinchu, Taiwan
|
extinct
|
Taichu Jinja
|
Taichung, Taiwan
|
extinct
|
Kagi Jinja
|
Chiayi, Taiwan
|
extinct
|
"Min-sha"
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]
Metropolitan shrines
"Metropolitan shrines" were known as Fu-sha (府社).[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]
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.[44]
Prefectural shrines
"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]
District shrine
"District shrines" were known as Gō-sha (郷社).[4]
Village shrines
"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]
Hokora or Ungraded shrines
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]
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:[4]
- 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