{{Short description|Japanese state religion office, 700–1871}}{{Infobox organization | successor = [[Ministry of Divinities]], [[Great Teaching Institute]], [[Missionary Office]] | dissolved = [[1871]] }}
The {{nihongo|'''Department of Divinities'''|神祇官|jingi-kan|}}, also known as the '''Department of Shinto Affairs''', '''Department of Rites''', '''Department of Worship''', as well as '''Council of Divinities''', was a Japanese Imperial bureaucracy established in the 8th century, as part of the {{lang|ja-latn|[[ritsuryō]]}} reforms. It was first established under the [[Taihō Code]] which also established the {{Nihongo|Council of State|太政官|daijō-kan}}.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Pye |first=Michael |date=1994 |title=Macmillan Dictionary of Religion |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/9780230379411 |doi=10.1057/9780230379411|isbn=978-1-349-38861-5 }}</ref> However, the {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} and the ''Daijō-kan'' made their first appearance in the [[Asuka Kiyomihara Code]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細 |url=https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp//eos/detail/ |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=國學院大學デジタルミュージアム |language=ja |archive-date=2021-10-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021104545/https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
While the ''Daijō-kan'' handled secular administrative affairs of the country, the {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} oversaw matters related to Shintō, particularly of ''[[kami]]'' worship.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> The general functions of the {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} included overseeing ''kami''-related affairs at court, managing provincial shrines, performing rites for the {{Nihongo|celestial and terrestrial deities|天神地祇|tenjin chigi}}, as well as coordinating the provinces' ritual practices with those in the capital based on a code called {{Nihongo|2=神祇令|3=jingi-ryō}}, which translates to "Code of Celestial and Terrestrial Deities" or "Code of Heavenly and Earthly Gods".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://global.oup.com/academic/product/shinto-9780190621711?cc=us&lang=en& |title=Shinto: A History |date=2016-12-01 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-062171-1 |location=Oxford, New York}}</ref>
While the department existed for almost a millennium, there are periods of time in Japanese ancient and medieval history where the {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} was effectively nonexistent such as when the physical establishment of the department was burned down during the [[Ōnin War]] (1467-1477). During the Meiji period, the {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} was briefly reinstated in 1868 and dissolved in 1871, succeeded by the {{Nihongo|[[Ministry of Divinities]]|神祇省|jingi-shō}} and the [[Ministry of Religion (Japan)|Ministry of Religion]] (教部省, ''kyōbushō'').<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Term == The term {{lang|ja-latn|jingi-kan}} is composed of the Chinese characters {{Nihongo|2=官|3=kan}}, "council" or "department," and {{Nihongo|2=神祇|3=jingi}}, which are an abbreviated form of {{Nihongo|2=天神地祇|3=tenjin chigi}}, "celestial and terrestrial deities." The term {{Nihongo|2=天神|3=tenjin}}, also known as ''[[amatsukami]]'' which translates to "celestial deities" or "heavenly gods" encompasses all ''kami'' gods in Shintō that reside in ''[[Takamagahara]]'' or the "High Plains of Heaven," from whom the Japanese imperial line claims descendance.<ref name=":1" /> The term {{Nihongo|2=地祇|3=chigi}}, also known as ''[[kunitsukami]]'', translates to "terrestrial deities" or "earthly gods" and encompasses all ''kami'' gods in Shinto that reside in or have appeared on the earth.<ref name=":1" /> Colloquially, the term ''jingi'' can also be used to refer to the rituals performed to the heavenly and earthly gods.<ref name=":1" />
Therefore, there are several ways to translate the term ''jingi''-kan in English:
# "Department of Divinities" or "Council of Divinities," where the term ''jingi'' is used to refer to both heavenly and earthly gods. This is the most common translation used in English. # "Department of Rites" or "Council of Rites," where the term ''jingi'' refers not to the heavenly and earthly gods but to the rites performed for these gods. # "Department of Shinto Affairs" or "Council of Shinto Affairs," where "Shinto Affairs" refer to the general function of {{lang|ja-latn|jingi-kan}}, that is to oversee all matters related to Shintō.
== Ritsuryō Jingi-kan == This [[Shintō]] administrative hierarchy was an intentional mirror of its Chinese counterpart, the [[Ministry of Rites]] (禮部).<ref>Breen, John and Mark Teeuwen (2000) {{Google books|MADlfH002mAC|''Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami'', p. 47.|page=47}}</ref> The ''Jingi-kan'' was charged with oversight of Shintō [[clergy]] and [[ritual]]s for the whole country.
=== Hierarchy === The ''Jingi-kan'' was staffed by four levels of managers, as seen below:<ref name=":0" /> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Title in Japanese !Romanization !Title in English !Additional Details |- |従四位下 - 神祇伯 |''jingi-haku'' |Director, junior fourth rank lower grade |Japanese bureaucratic title: 大常伯（たいじょうはく, ''daijōhaku''), 大常卿（たいじょうけい, ''daijō-kei''）、大卜令（たいぼくれい, ''daibokurei''）、祠部尚書（しほうしょうしょ, ''shihōshōsho''） |- |従五位下 - 神祇大副 正六位上 - 神祇少副 |''jingi-daifuku,jingi-shōfuku'' |Senior vice-director, junior fifth rank lower grade Junior vice-director (''shōfuku''), senior sixth rank upper grade |Japanese bureaucratic title: 大常小卿 (だいじょうしょうきょう, ''daijōshōkyō''), 祠部員外郎 (しぶいんがいろう, ''shibuingairō'') |- |従六位上 - 神祇大祐 従六位下 - 神祇少祐 |''jingi-daijō,jingi-shōjo'' |Senior assistant, junior sixth rank upper grade Junior assistant, junior sixth rank lower grade |Japanese bureaucratic title: 大常丞 (たいじょうじょう, ''taijōjō''), 大卜丞 (たいぼくじょう, ''taibokujō'') |- |正八位下 - 神祇大史 従八位上 - 神祇少史 |''jingi-daisakan,jingi-shōsakan'' |Senior secretary, senior eighth rank lower grade Junior secretary, junior eight rank upper grade |Japanese bureaucratic title: 大常録事 (たいじょうろくじ, ''taijōrokuji''), 大卜令史 (たいぼくれいし, ''taibokureishi''), 祠部主事 (しぶしゅじ, ''shibushuji'')、祠部令史 (しぶれいし, ''shibureishi''), 大常主簿 (たいじょうしゅぼ'', taijōshubo'') |- |伴部 (神部,卜部,使部,直丁) |''tomobe'' (''kanbe, urabe, shibu, jikichō'') |Religious functionaries |''Tomobe'' are staffs that serve under these officials. ''Tomobe'' is composed of thirty ''kanbe'' and twenty ''urabe,'' thirty ''shibu'' (servants), and two ''jikichō'' (laborers). |}
=== Functions === In its early days, the {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} had four main functions:<ref name=":1" />
# To carry out annual rites written in ''jingiryō'' as well as oversee the overall coordination of shrine rites. # To provide the sovereign and his court with ritualists who assist in the performance of palace ceremonies. # When misfortune struck or to determine the cause of ominous events, it performs divination to determine the identity of the responsible ''kami''. # To conduct the distribution of tribute offerings (''heihaku'') to shrines for four annual rituals: [[Kinen-sai]] (Toshigoi no Matsuri), the spring and autumn Tsukinamisai, and [[Niiname-no-Matsuri|Niinamesai]].
=== Annual Rites === The {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} was responsible for carrying out thirteen rites as written in the ''jingiryō''. The rites are laid out in articles 2 through 9, as well as article 18. Those rituals are: {| class="wikitable" |+ !Ritual Title !Chronology !Ritual Details/Purpose |- |''Toshigoi no Matsuri'' or ''[[Kinen-sai]]'' |early spring |prayers for a good harvest |- |''Hanashizume no Matsuri'' |end of the 3rd month |prayers for freedom from illness |- |''Kamu miso no Matsuri'' |middle of the 4th month |offerings of summer vestments at Ise |- |''Saigusa no Matsuri'' |4th month |the festival of the Isakawa Shrine in Yamato, a [[setsumatsusha|subshrine]] of the Miwa Shrine |- |''Õmi no Matsuri'' |4th day of the 4th month |the festival of the Hirose Shrine, for the ''kami'' of rain |- |''Kaze no Kami no Matsuri'' |4th day of the 4th month |the festival of the Tatsuta Shrine, for the ''kami'' of wind |- |''Tsukinami no Matsuri'' or ''Tsukinamisai'' |11th day of the 6th month |prayers for a good harvest |- |''Michiae no Matsuri'' |last day of the 6th month |performed at a crossroads outside the capital, to prevent evil spirits from entering |- |''Hoshi shizume no Matsuri'' |after ''Michiae no Matsuri'' on the last day of the 6th month |prayers to prevent fires at the palace |- |Great Purification (''Ōharai'') |half of the year |purifies the emperor and the people of the transgressions and defilements of the first half of the year |- |''Ōmi no Matsuri'' |4th day of the 7th month | |- |''Kaze no Kami no Matsuri'' |4th day of the 7th month | |- |''Kamu miso no Matsuri'' |autumn repetition | |- |''Tsukinami no Matsuri'' |autumn repetition | |- |''Michiae no Matsuri'' |winter repetition | |- |''Hoshi shizume no Matsuri'' |winter repetition | |- |''Kanname-sai'' |9th and 10th months |special offerings at the Ise Shrines of the wine and food made from the new rice crop |- |''Ainame-sai'' |11th month | |- |''Niiname-sai'' |11th month | |- |Great Purification ''(Ōharai)'' |last day of the 12 month |purifies the emperor and the people of the transgressions and defilement of the second half of the year |}
==Jingi-kan in Medieval Japan== From the 10th century to the 15th, the Shirakawa-hakuō family held this position continuously.
In [[feudal Japan]], the ''Jingi-kan'' became the final surviving building of the [[Heian Palace]]. During the [[Jōkyū War]] in 1221, most of the palace was evacuated and fell into disrepair; the ''Jingi-kan'' alone remained in operation. A 1624 memoir by a ''Jingi-haku'' reports that the ''Jingi-kan'' was still being used as late as 1585 and was demolished during renovations. In 1626, a temporary building was constructed to perform additional ceremonies.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ponsonby-Fane|first=Richard Arthur Brabazon|title=Kyoto: the Old Capital of Japan, 794-1869|year=1956|publisher=Ponsonby Memorial Society|location=Kyoto|page=50}}</ref>
== Meiji Jingi-kan == On 3 March 1868, [[Emperor Meiji]] announced that the new Meiji government would restore direct imperial rule (王政復古, ''ōsei fukko'') and [[Unity of ritual and government|unity of rites and government]] (祭政一致, ''saisei itchi''). The department was reinstated in 1868 at the beginning of the [[Meiji period]] as a provisional step to achieve ''saisei itchi''.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
=== After 1871 === In 1870, the Meiji administration attempted to create a new national religion under the term {{Nihongo|"Great Teaching"|大教|taikyō}}, primarily to keep Christianity from gaining popularity and influence in the Japanese society and to re-educate the population about the significance of the imperial rule.<ref name=":0" /> Consequentially, in addition to overseeing Shintō affairs, the {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} began to produce propaganda supporting the empire.
The {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} was demoted to the Ministry of Divinities{{Nihongo|2=神祇省|3=jingi-shō}}, lasting from 1871 to 1872, as part of the ''saisei itchi'' campaign, bringing the {{lang|ja-latn|Jingi-kan}} to an end.<ref name=":1" />
The goals of the Great Teaching campaign were deemed too ambiguous to be formed into practice, making it difficult for the ''Jingi-shō'' to provide theoretical and spiritual content to be spread among the public.<ref name=":0" /> The ''Jingi-shō'' also lacked staff to oversee their two major functions, Shintō affairs and propaganda.<ref name=":0" /> Because of this, the ''Jingi-shō'' was dissolved and the Meiji administration established [[Ministry of Religion (Japan)|Ministry of Religion]] (教部省, ''kyōbushō''), also known as the Ministry of Doctrine.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />
==See also== * ''[[Engishiki]]'', volume 1-10 * [[State Shinto]] * [[Unity of religion and rule]]
==Notes== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[[Kokugakuin University]], ''Encyclopedia of Shinto,'' [http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=1444 "Concepts of Emperor and State" (''Jingi-kan'')]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jingi-Kan}} [[Category:Former government ministries of Japan]] [[Category:8th-century establishments in Japan]] [[Category:History of Shinto]] [[Category:State Shinto]]