Shake (social class)

{{Short description|Japanese social class that dominates Shinto shrines}} [[File:Kusakabe Kimbei 53. Shinto Priest.jpg|thumb|A high priest in 1902, photographed by Kusakabe Kimbei]] The '''''Shake''''' (社家) was a Japanese social class and the name for families that dominated Shinto shrines through hereditary government offices and priestly positions. Officially abolished in 1871, with 14 ''shake'' families granted hereditary nobility (''Kazoku''), most shrines were deprived of their power and influence over adepts however a few and prestigious ancient families remained unaffected in terms of succession, as attested by hereditary succession of former ''shake'' families continuing to this day. Prominent ''shake'' families include the Nakatomi family and the Suwa family.

== History == In ancient times, shrine rituals were performed by political leaders and clan heads, whereas in some rural areas villagers took turns serving the village shrine. Eventually, when it became necessary for a priest to work full-time, professional priests were born, and the positions became hereditary.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia Nipponica|publisher=Shogakukan|year=2001|at=Shake (社家)|oclc=14970117}}</ref>

Since ancient times, the ''shake'' families worshipped their ancestral god of the clan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=第1章神長野県神社庁|url=https://www.nagano-jinjacho.jp/column/jinjya-yogo/kami/kami.html|access-date=2021-08-15|website=Nagano Agency of Shinto Shrines (長野県神社庁)|language=ja-JP}}</ref> For this reason, most ''shake'' families serving ancient shrines were originally ''Kuni-no-miyatsuko'' clans.

The ''shake'' as an official social class was abolished from the political ideology that a shrine should not belong to one family as part of the Daijō-kan decree in 1871. However, in reality this only applied to ''Kokuhei-sha-''ranked shrines and the hereditary succession of former ''shake'' families at rural shrines continued. In addition, 14 ''shake'' families were appointed ''Kazoku'' hereditary peerage.<ref name=":0" />

== ''Shake'' families == Some of the most well-known shake families include:

* Nakatomi family of Kasuga Grand Shrine,<ref name=":1" /> Katori Shrine, and Kashima Shrine * Suwa family of Suwa Grand Shrine * Arakida and Watarai families of Ise Grand Shrine<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Gibney|first=Frank B|title=Britannica International Encyclopædia|publisher=TBS Britannica|year=1991|at=Shake (社家)|oclc=834589717}}</ref> * Senge and Kitajima families of Izumo Taisha<ref name=":1" /> * Urabe family of Yoshida Shrine<ref name=":1" /> * Aso clan of Aso Shrine<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Matsunaga |first=Naomichi |title=Kuni no miyatsuko |url=https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=8839 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231025020641/https://d-museum.kokugakuin.ac.jp/eos/detail/?id=8839 |archive-date=2023-10-25 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=Kokugakuin University Encyclopedia of Shinto |language=en}}</ref> * the Owari clan of Atsuta Shrine<ref name=":12" /> * {{ill|Munakata clan|ja|宗像氏}} of Munakata Taisha,<ref name=":12" /> * Amabe clan of Kono Shrine<ref name="Bunka1">{{cite web |title=海部氏系図 |trans-title=Amebe shikeizu |url=https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/heritage/detail/201/777 |accessdate=August 20, 2020 |publisher=Agency for Cultural Affairs |language=Japanese}}</ref> * Yamato clan of Ōyamato Shrine. * {{ill|Tsumori clan|lt=Tsumori family|ja|津守氏}} of Sumiyoshi-taisha<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sumiyoshi Taisha |url=http://www.digital-images.net/Gallery/Scenic/Japan/Shrines/Sumiyoshi/sumiyoshi.html |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.digital-images.net}}</ref>

== See also ==

* Shinkan (official) * Shinto shrine

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:Shinto shrines in Japan Category:Japanese Shintoists Category:Shake clans