# Saisei Itchi

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Japanese political concept

****Saisei itchi**** (祭政一致) is a Japanese term meaning "unity of worship and government".[1] Under a *saisei itchi* system, the political leader is also the religious leader.

In Japan, unity of religion and rule can be traced back to the theocratic [Yamato Kingship](/source/Yamato_Kingship) and [Ryukyu Kingdom](/source/Ryukyu_Kingdom) of ancient times where the proclamations of spiritual mediums had political authority.[2] *Saisei itchi* is an inherent feature of the [Shinto](/source/Shinto) religion as the emperor is both leader of the country and priest to Japan's *[kami](/source/Kami)*, though this aspect has not been focused on since the end of [World War II](/source/World_War_II).[3] However, Japanese theologian Keiichi Yanagawa argued a ritual government is different from a theocracy as a theocracy is a government managed directly by a member of that religion's clergy.

## History

The term *saisei itchi* first appeared in late [Mito scholarship](/source/Mitogaku) in reference to the ancient system of governance in Japan which was one with ritual. It was later taken up by the government of the [Meiji Restoration](/source/Meiji_Restoration) as a slogan and policy as they aimed to reunite ritual and government.[4]

On March 13, 1868, the government of the [Meiji Restoration](/source/Meiji_Restoration) announced the restoration of the emperor and the reestablishment of the [Department of Divinities](/source/Department_of_Divinities) in a *Dajō-kan Futatsu* (太政官布達; Dajōkan Notice).[5] On April 25, 1869, Emperor Meiji personally performed priestly functions in the Ceremonial Hall of the palace, demonstrating this principle of united government and ritual.[6] While the emperor's palace had previously been a religious institute of its own as it housed *kami,* with the Meiji government, these ritual activities were made known to the public who were ordered to worship the *kami*, and some rituals were to be held at [Ise Shrine](/source/Ise_Shrine) at the same time.[7] While government funding did vary during the system of [State Shinto](/source/State_Shinto), at its highest, officially recognized shrines received tribute directly from their prefectural governor, while private shrines—shrines that were Unranked Shrines in the [modern system of ranked Shinto Shrines](/source/Modern_system_of_ranked_Shinto_shrines)—were ineligible for funds.[8]

The term *saisei itchi* also appears in the [Taikyo Proclamation](/source/Taikyo_Proclamation) issued on January 3, 1870.[9] Part of the *saisei itchi* policy of the Meiji government included the separation of Shinto and Buddhism, a process which some took to an extreme, resulting in the destruction of many Buddhist artworks and artifacts.[10]

While the Meiji government's policy had been one of *saisei itchi* from the beginning, this conflicted with the [Meiji Constitution](/source/Meiji_Constitution) as it provided the people with the freedom of religion. However, the definition of religion in the constitution was unclear, allowing for the government to take the stance that the rites of State Shinto were not religious in nature, and therefore separate legally and administratively from other religions.[11]

This policy was officially dissolved during the [American occupation of Japan](/source/Occupation_of_Japan) post-World War II with the issuance of the Religious Corporations Order followed by the Religious Corporations Act.[12]

## See also

- [Department of Divinities](/source/Department_of_Divinities)

- [Theocracy](/source/Theocracy)

- [Separation of church and state](/source/Separation_of_church_and_state)

- [State Shinto](/source/State_Shinto)

- [Controversies surrounding Yasukuni Shrine](/source/Controversies_surrounding_Yasukuni_Shrine)

- [Caesaropapism](/source/Caesaropapism)

- [Bureau of Shinto Affairs](/source/Bureau_of_Shinto_Affairs)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOno196276_1-0)** [Ono 1962](#CITEREFOno1962), p. 76.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEYamakami1989_2-0)** [Yamakami 1989](#CITEREFYamakami1989).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTENigosian1994218_3-0)** [Nigosian 1994](#CITEREFNigosian1994), p. 218.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETeeuwen2017_4-0)** [Teeuwen 2017](#CITEREFTeeuwen2017).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEYasumaruMiyachi2000_5-0)** [Yasumaru & Miyachi 2000](#CITEREFYasumaruMiyachi2000).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEOno196273_6-0)** [Ono 1962](#CITEREFOno1962), p. 73.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHardacre198932_7-0)** [Hardacre 1989](#CITEREFHardacre1989), p. 32.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEHardacre198996–97_8-0)** [Hardacre 1989](#CITEREFHardacre1989), p. 96–97.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEKōno1935_9-0)** [Kōno 1935](#CITEREFKōno1935).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETamaruReid199624_10-0)** [Tamaru & Reid 1996](#CITEREFTamaruReid1996), p. 24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEAgency_for_Cultural_Affairs1988162_11-0)** [Agency for Cultural Affairs 1988](#CITEREFAgency_for_Cultural_Affairs1988), p. 162.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-FOOTNOTETamaruReid1996122_12-0)** [Tamaru & Reid 1996](#CITEREFTamaruReid1996), p. 122.

## Bibliography

- Agency for Cultural Affairs (1988). *Japanese religion: a survey*. Kodansha international. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4-7700-0955-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4-7700-0955-5).

- Hardacre, Helen (1989). *Shintō and the state, 1868-1988*. Studies in church and state. Princeton, N.J: Princeton university press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-691-07348-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-691-07348-4).

- Kōno, Seizō (August 1935). *歴代の詔勅* [*Imperial Edicts throughout History*] (in Japanese). 日本文化協会出版部.

- Nigosian, S. A. (January 1, 1994), *World Faiths*, Bedford/st Martins; 2nd edition, pp. 217–218, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0312084141](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0312084141)

- Ono, Sokyo (1962). [*Shinto The Kami Way*](http://archive.org/details/shinto1).

- Tamaru, Noriyoshi; Reid, David, eds. (1996). *Religion in Japanese Culture, Where Living Traditions Meet a Changing World*. Kodansha International. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [4-7700-2054-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/4-7700-2054-6).

- Teeuwen, Mark (2017). ["Clashing Models: Ritual Unity vs Religious Diversity"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/44259460). *Japan Review* (30): 39–62. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0915-0986](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0915-0986).

- Yamakami, Izumo (December 1, 1989). *古代神道の本質* [*The Nature of Ancient Shinto*] (in Japanese). Hosei University Press. pp. 84–100. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4588306013](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4588306013).

- Yasumaru, Yoshio; Miyachi, Masato (2000). *日本近代思想体系：宗教と国家* [*Modern Japanese System of Thought: Religion and Nation*] (in Japanese). Tōkyō: Iwanami shoten. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4-00-230005-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4-00-230005-4).

- 世界大百科事典&マイペディア 第2版[CD-ROM], [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4816981838](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4816981838)

- 広辞苑 第六版 DVD-ROM版, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4001301618](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4001301618)

- 安丸良夫・宮地正人編『日本近代思想大系5 宗教と国家』岩波書店, 1988, [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4002300054](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4002300054)

v t e State Shinto Organizations Department of Divinities Ministry of Divinities Missionary Office Ministry of Religion Kyodo Shoku Taikyo Institute Bureau of Shinto Affairs Bureau of Shrines and Temples Home Ministry Institute of Japanese Classics Research National Association of Shinto Priests Bureau of Shrines Bureau of Religions Institute of Divinities Jingu-kyo Kokugakuin University Concepts Unity of religion and rule Haibutsu kishaku Secular Shrine Theory Yasukuni Shrine Shōkonsha Imperial cult Modern system of ranked Shinto shrines Events Taikyo Proclamation Shinbutsu bunri Shrine Consolidation Policy Religious Organizations Law Shrine Parishioner Registration Humanity Declaration Shinto Directive Successor organizations Association of Shinto Shrines Kokugakuin University Shinto Taikyo Yasukuni Shrine Gokoku Shrines Shrine Shinto Predecessors Kokugaku Fukko Shinto

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Saisei Itchi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saisei_Itchi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saisei_Itchi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.