The 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 (), which are parsed into minor, medium, or major sub-categories; and National shrines (), which are similarly categorized as minor, medium, or major.Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics, Kokugakuin University: Glossary of Shinto Names and Terms, Kampei Taisha. Some shrines are the "first shrines" called 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.
All listed shrines on this page with the exception of Ise Grand Shrine are Beppyo shrines.
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. 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).
Ise Grand Shrine Name Location Notes Ise Grand Shrine Ise, Mie One of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Upper Seven; Outside of classification due to being first ranked Izawa-no-miya the Shima Province Ichinomiya was considered part of it, as was Izawa-jinja which was also seen as the Shima Province Ichinomiya Kashima Jingu and Katori Jingu were considered the two shrines directly below Ise Jingu.
Kan-sha The or "official government shrines" had two subdivisions, Kanpei-sha or "government shrines" and Kokuhei-sha or "national shrines".
For future tables, red cells denote shrines in the Japanese colonial empire.
Kanpei-sha In 1871, the Japanese government established the Kanpei-sha (官幣社) system to classify Shinto shrines based on their level of association with the imperial family. The highest category included shrines that venerated the imperial family members, emperors, or meritorious retainers of the Imperial family. These shrines were considered to be the most closely associated with the imperial family and received government support.
Imperial shrines, 1st rank The Kanpei-taisha were the most highly ranked shrines in Japan that were officially designated by the government. There were 67 shrines that held this status, which were closely associated with the imperial family. These shrines were considered to be of great historical and cultural significance, and were often visited by members of the imperial family as well as the general public.Ponsonby-Fane, Richard. (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 124. Name LocationCategory NotesKatori jinguChiba prefectural government: Chiba, Katori Shrine Katori, ChibaMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha ichinomiya of Shimōsa Province directly under Ise Grand Shrine, Futsunushi Kashima Jingū Kashima, IbarakiMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha ichinomiya of Hitachi Province directly under Ise Grand Shrine, Takemikazuchi Iwashimizu Hachimangū YawataKokushi genzaisha, Chokusaisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Upper Seven; Homuda-wakeno-mikoto (Emperor Ōjin); Okinaga-tarashi-hime-no-mikoto (Empress Jingū), Kamigamo Shrine Kita-ku, KyotoMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Upper Seven, combined with Shimogamo Shrine; Wake-ikazuchi-no-kami; ichinomiya of Yamashiro Province"Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 1; retrieved 2013-1-28. Shimogamo Shrine Sakyō-ku, KyotoMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Upper Seven, combined with Kamigamo Shrine; Tamayori-hime-no-mikoto; Kamo Taeketsunumi-no-mikoto; ichinomiya of Yamashiro Province Kasuga-taishaNational Diet Library (NDL): Kanpei Taisha Kasuga Jinja NaraMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Upper Seven, Takemikazuchi, Futsunushi, Ame no Koyane, HimegamiMatsunoo Taisha Ukyō-ku, KyotoMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Upper Seven; Oyamakui-no-mikoto; Nakatsushima-hime-no-mikoto, Tsukuyomi-no-MikotoHirano Shrine Kita-ku, KyotoMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Upper Seven; Imaki-no-kami, Kudo-no-kami; Furuaki-no-kami, HimegamiFushimi Inari-taisha Fushimi-ku, KyotoMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Upper Seven; Inari Ōkami, UkanomitamaTatsuta Taisha Sangō, NaraMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Middle Seven, ShinatsuhikoŌmiwa Shrine Sakurai, NaraMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Middle Seven; ichinomiya of Yamato Province Ōmononushi Ōnamuchi Sukunahikona-no-kami Mount MiwaIsonokami ShrineNara National Museum: No. 31, Map of the Precincts of Kanpei Taisha Isonokami Shrine Tenri, NaraMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Middle Seven, Ōyamato Shrine Tenri, NaraMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Middle Seven, Yamato OkunitamaHirose Taisha Kawai, NaraMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Middle Seven Sumiyoshi-taisha Sumiyoshi-ku, OsakaMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Middle Seven; ichinomiya of Settsu Province, Sumiyoshi sanjin, Empress JingūHiyoshi Taisha ŌtsuMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Lower Eight, Ninomiya, Ōkuninushi, Oyamakui no KamiHirota Shrine NishinomiyaMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Lower Eight, AmaterasuYasaka ShrinePonsonby-Fane. Imperial, p. 126. Higashiyama-ku, KyotoKokushi genzaisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Lower Eight, Susanoo-no-Mikoto (Gion cult, YashimajinumiNiukawakami Shrine Higashiyoshino, NaraMyojin Taisha one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Lower Eight Itsukushima Shrine HatsukaichiMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Aki Province proposed addition to the Twenty-Two Shrines, , , Izumo-taisha Izumo, ShimaneMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha ichinomiya of Izumo Province"Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 2; retrieved 2013-1-28. head shrine of Izumo-taishakyo, sometimes seen as a rival to Ise Grand Shrine, Susanoo-no-MikotoHikawa ShrineSawada, Janine Anderson. (2004). Practical pursuits: religion, politics, and personal cultivation in nineteenth-century Japan, p. 312 n15. SaitamaMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha ichinomiya of Musashi ProvinceSusanoo Kushinadahime Ōkuninushi Ashinazuchi TenazuchiUsa Jingū Usa, ŌitaMyojin Taisha, Chokusaisha ichinomiya of Buzen ProvinceHachimanKashii-gū Higashi-ku, FukuokaKokushi genzaisha, ChokusaishaEmperor Chuai, Empress JinguKashihara Jingu Kashihara, NaraChokusaishaEmperor Jimmu, Himetataraisuzu-himeHeian Jingu Sakyō-ku, KyotoChokusaisha Emperor Kanmu Emperor KōmeiMeiji JinguBreen, John et al. (2000). Shinto in History: ways of the Kami, p. 276. Shibuya, TokyoChokusaishaEmperor Meiji Empress ShokenOmi Jingū ŌtsuChokusaishaEmperor TenjiAwa Shrine Tateyama, ChibaMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Awa Province Ame-no-FutodamaAso Shrine Aso, KumamotoMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Higo Province Atsuta JinguEncyclopedia of Shinto: Atsuta Shinkō Atsuta-ku, NagoyaMyojin TaishaAtsuta no Ōkami
Amaterasu
Susanoo
Yamatotakeru
Miyazu-himeFujisan Hongū Sengen TaishaBernstein, Andrew. "Whose Fuji?: Religion, Region, and State in the Fight for a National Symbol," Monumenta Nipponica, Vol. 63, No. 1, Spring 2008, pp. 51-99; Ponsonby-Fane, (1959). The Imperial House of Japan, p. 125. Fujinomiya, ShizuokaAsama Shrine: Fujinomiya, Shizuoka = Ōmiya in Suruga provinceMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Suruga Province, Konohanasakuya-himeGassan Shrine TsuruokaMyojin Taisha one of the Three Mountains of Dewa; Tsukuyomi-no-MikotoHakozaki Shrine Higashi-ku, FukuokaMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Chikuzen ProvinceEmperor Ōjin Empress Jingū Tamayori-himeHinokuma Jingu WakayamaMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Kii Province,"Nationwide List of Ichinomiya," p. 3; retrieved 2013-1-28. shared with Kunikakasu Shrine; Hie Shrine Chiyoda, Tokyo Oyamakui no KamiHiraoka Shrine HigashiōsakaMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Kawachi Province Ame-no-Koyane, Hime-gami, Futsunushi, TakemikazuchiHokkaidō JingūPonsonby-Fane, (1963). The Vicissitudes of Shinto, p. 328. Sapporo ichinomiya of Ezo Province北海道神宮 ... Hokkaido Jingu Shrine at Nippon-Kichi.jp; retrieved 2012-1-29. Ōkunitama, Ōkuninushi, and Sukunahikona,Ikukunitama Shrine Tennōji-ku, OsakaMyojin TaishaIzanagi Jingu Awaji, Hyōgo Myojin Taisha ichinomiya of Awaji Province Izanagi, IzanamiKehi Jingu Tsuruga, FukuiMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Echizen Province Kagoshima Jingū Kirishima, KagoshimaShikinai Taisha ichinomiya of Ōsumi ProvinceHoori Toyotama-hime Emperor Chūai Emperor Ōjin Empress JingūKamayama Shrine WakayamaKirishima Jingū Kirishima, KagoshimaKonohanasakuya-hime Hoori Toyotama-hime Ugayafukiaezu Tamayori-bime Ninigi-no-MikotoKumano Hongū Taisha Tanabe, WakayamaMyojin TaishaKumano Hayatama Taisha Shingū, WakayamaShikinai TaishaKunikakasu Shrine WakayamaMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Kii Province; shared with Hinokuma Shrine; Mishima Taisha Mishima, ShizuokaMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Izu Province, ŌyamatsumiMiyazaki Jingū MiyazakiEmperor Jimmu Ugayafukiaezu Tamayori-bimeMunakata Taisha Munakata, FukuokaMyojin Taisha, , Niutsuhime Shrine Katsuragi, WakayamaMyojin TaishaNiutsuhime-no-Ōkami Kōyamiko-no-Ōkami Ōgetsuhime-no-kami Ichikishimahime-no-ŌkamiŌtori taisha SakaiMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Izumi Province Ōtori-no-muraji and Yamato TakeruSuwa-taisha Suwa, NaganoMyojin Taisha ichinomiya of Shinano ProvinceTakeminakata Yasakatome KotoshironushiTakebe taisha ŌtsuTakebe Taisha: Ōtsu, Shiga = Seta in Ōmi provinceMyojin Taisha Yamato-takeru-no-mitoko; ichinomiya of Ōmi Province Taga-taisha Taga, Shiga Sannomiya Izanagi, IzanamiUdo Jingū Nichinan, MiyazakiUgayafukiaezu Amaterasu Ame-no-oshihomimi Ninigi-no-Mikoto Hoori Emperor JimmuYoshino JinguNDL: Kanpei Taisha Yoshino Jingu Yoshino, NaraEmperor Go-DaigoTaiwan Grand Shrine Taipei, Taiwan now extinctKarafuto Shrine Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Karafuto Prefecture, Russia removed from SakhalinChōsen Jingu Seoul, Korea under Japanese rule now extinct Kunitama Okami Amaterasu OkamiFuyo Jingū Buyeo County, Korea never completed Emperor Ōjin (Hachiman), Empress Saimei (Empress Kōgyoku), Emperor Tenji, Empress JingūKantō Jingu Lüshunkou District, Kwantung Leased Territory, China now extinct Emperor Meiji Amaterasu OmikamiNan'yō ShrinePeattie, Mark R. (1988). Nanʻyō: the rise and fall of the Japanese in Micronesia, 1885-1945, pp. 225-229; n.b., construction completed in 1941 Koror, Palau Amaterasu Ōmikami. holy relics and kami were evacuated by submarine in 1944Peattie, p. 339 n61.
Imperial shrines, 2nd rank The mid-range of ranked Imperial shrines or Kanpei Chūsha (官幣中社) included 23 sanctuaries. These shrines were considered to be of intermediate rank among the government-supported shrines and were given lesser financial support compared to the Kanpei-taisha.Ponsonby-Fane. Imperial, p. 125. Name LocationCategory Notes Ōharano Shrine. Nishikyō-ku, Kyoto.Kokushi genzaisha Take-mikazuchi-no-mitoko, Futsunushi Ame-no-Koyane, Himegami, one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Middle Seven; Kifune Shrine. Sakyō-ku, KyotoMyojin Taisha Kuraokami-no-kami, one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Lower Eight Kitano Tenmangū. Kamigyō-ku, KyotoKokushi genzaisha Sugawara no Michizane , one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Lower Eight Umenomiya Taisha. Ukyō-ku, KyotoUmenomiya Shrine: Ukyō-ku, Kyoto = Umetsu in Yamashiro provinceMyojin Taisha Sakatoke-no-kami, Ōwakako-no-kami, Satatokeko-no-kami, one of the Twenty-Two Shrines, Lower Eight; Yoshida Shrine. Sakyō-ku, Kyoto Twenty-Two Shrines, Lower Eight, Take-mikazuchi-no-mitoko, Futsunushi Ame-no-Koyane, Himegami, Akama Jingu Shimonoseki Emperor Antoku; n.b., raised to kanpei-taisha in 1940 Dazaifu Tenmangū. Dazaifu, Fukuoka Sugawara no Michizane Hikosan Jingū. Soeda, Fukuoka Prefecture Amenooshihomimi Izanagi