IOverview
Imperial Household Shinto 皇室神道 is the general name for the rites the Emperor performs within the palace, offered to the kami with Amaterasu at the centre. It has no adherents in the sense of members, no church, and most of its rites take place in halls the public cannot enter.
The Association of Shinto Shrines describes these as rites the Emperor performs to pray for the lasting continuity of the nation, the happiness of the people and world peace, and counts them as one of the four forms of Shinto. In the Association's words, the true nature of the Emperor is to be always with the kami.
IIHistorical Development
Japanese court ritual is ancient. The codes and regulations of the Nara and Heian periods already prescribed seasonal state rites, including the offering of new rice. In the medieval period, as the court weakened, many rites lapsed. Imperial Household Shinto took much of its present shape in the Meiji era, when the capital moved to Tokyo in 1869 and three sanctuaries were built within the palace.
- 1467 to 1687Daijōsai interruptedAfter the Ōnin War the Daijōsai lapsed for more than 220 years, resuming in 1687.
- 1738Unbroken sinceThe rite has been held without interruption from this year.
- 1869Three palace sanctuariesThe capital moves to Tokyo and three sanctuaries are built in the palace.
- 1947New constitutionSeparates state and religion, and palace rites come to be treated as private affairs of the Imperial family.
- 14 to 15 Nov 2019Emperor Naruhito's DaijōsaiThe most recent, accompanied by debate over public funding.
IIIThe Three Palace Sanctuaries
At the heart of Imperial Household Shinto are the Kyūchū Sanden 宮中三殿, the three sanctuaries of the Tokyo Imperial Palace.
| Sanctuary | Characters | Enshrines |
|---|---|---|
| Kashikodokoro | 賢所 | Amaterasu, with a replica of the mirror Yata no Kagami. The central sanctuary |
| Kōreiden | 皇霊殿 | The spirits of past emperors and imperial family members, enshrined one year after death |
| Shinden | 神殿 | The kami of heaven and earth in Japanese mythology |
Misconception: Imperial Household Shinto is what remains of State Shinto. In fact: State Shinto was the system of administering shrines through the state apparatus from 1868 to 1945, abolished in 1945. Palace ritual is a separate stream that predates and outlived that period, and it is now treated as a private affair of the Imperial family.
IVThe Principal Rites
The Emperor performs dozens of rites a year, beginning with a rite at dawn on New Year's Day. The most important is Niinamesai 新嘗祭, the harvest thanksgiving, in which the Emperor offers the year's new rice to the kami and partakes of it. The Association of Shinto Shrines notes that Emperor Shōwa grew rice himself in the palace grounds to provide the offering.
After accession, the Emperor performs his first Niinamesai in a special form called the Daijōsai 大嘗祭, in a complex of temporary halls built for the purpose within the palace and dismantled afterwards. Emperor Naruhito performed the Daijōsai on the night of 14 to 15 November 2019. The ritual staff of the palace are called shōten 掌典, a body of officiants attached to the Imperial family.
VLegal Status and Debate
The 1947 constitution separates state and religion. Since then palace rites have been classed as private affairs of the Imperial family rather than acts of state. The boundary was most visible at the 2019 Daijōsai, which the government funded. According to English Wikipedia, more than 240 plaintiffs sued over the use of public money, and the courts dismissed the suits. In 2018 Prince Akishino, now Crown Prince, had suggested a smaller rite using existing buildings and paid for from the Imperial family's own budget rather than state funds.
Imperial Household Shinto has no organisation open to outsiders. It is tied to the great shrines by ritual bonds: Ise Jingū receives imperial envoys on major occasions, and Ise's supreme priestess is by custom a member or former member of the Imperial family. Since the Association of Shinto Shrines regards Ise as its head shrine, Imperial Household Shinto and Shrine Shinto are closely linked though not the same organisation.
VIIn Vietnam
This section does not apply: Imperial Household Shinto is the ritual of one particular royal house and takes place only within the Japanese palace. Vietnamese readers may think of rites once led by their own monarchs, such as the Nguyễn dynasty's Nam Giao sacrifice to Heaven in Huế, but the two traditions differ in origin and content and resemble each other only in the ruler acting as officiant on behalf of the realm.
VIISymbol of the Branch
Double sixteen petal chrysanthemum crest
十六八重表菊 jūrokuyae-omotegiku
VIIIOther Branches of Shinto
Shrine Shinto神社神道 Jinja ShintōThe largest form, centred on the nationwide network of shrines.
Folk Shinto民俗神道 Minzoku ShintōCustomary Shinto practised by ordinary people without systematisation: household altars, kami of the kitchen and well, village customs, seasonal and life-cycle rites.
Sect Shinto教派神道 Kyōha Shintō (called 宗派神道 Shūha Shintō by the Association of Shinto Shrines)Organised groups with founders, doctrines and members, mostly formed in the 19th century.Uses the common symbol of the path
Izumo Ōyashirokyō出雲大社教 Izumo ŌyashirokyōFounded in 1882 by Senge Takatomi, 80th chief priest of Izumo Taisha.Konkōkyō金光教 KonkōkyōFounded in 1859 by Konkō Daijin, headquartered in Asakuchi, Okayama.Uses the common symbol of the pathKurozumikyō黒住教 KurozumikyōFounded by Kurozumi Munetada, dated to 1814, headquartered at Shintōzan in Okayama.Uses the common symbol of the path
Ōmoto大本 ŌmotoBegan with Deguchi Nao in 1892 in Ayabe, Kyoto.Imperial Household Shinto皇室神道 Kōshitsu ShintōRites performed by the Emperor within the palace for the nation, the people and world peace, centred on Amaterasu.Historical Shinto schools両部神道, 吉田神道, 伊勢神道, 垂加神道, 復古神道Interpretive schools from the medieval to early modern period, including Ryōbu, Ise, Yoshida, Suika and Fukko Shinto.Uses the common symbol of the pathIXSources
The library cross-checks the sources below. Where they disagree, the page gives both.
?Quick Questions
What is Imperial Household Shinto?
It is the body of rites the Emperor performs within the palace, offered to the kami with Amaterasu at the centre, for the nation, the people and world peace. The Association of Shinto Shrines counts it as one of the four forms of Shinto.
What is the Daijōsai?
It is a new Emperor's first harvest thanksgiving, held once per reign in temporary halls built for the purpose. The most recent was Emperor Naruhito's in November 2019.
Are palace rites an act of state?
Under the understanding that followed the 1947 constitution, palace rites are private affairs of the Imperial family. Government funding of the 2019 Daijōsai was challenged in court, and the suits were dismissed.