{{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 (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 rituals 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 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 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 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 (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