The solar goddess of Shinto, Amaterasu Omikami, is considered to be the ancestral deity of the Imperial House of Japan, and is widely worshiped in agricultural rituals. During the Kofun Period, a number of Shinmei Shrines, such as Ise Grand Shrine, were constructed and dedicated to Amaterasu. In national rituals, only the emperor was permitted to make offerings towards the deity.[1]
However, as the power of the imperial court declined in the middle of the Heian Period, the central government could no longer financially support the Shinmei Shrines. As a result, the responsibilities of their maintenance fell onto local feudal lords, who were also given the right to relay prayers. Local lords donated part of their own estates (Shōen) as Shinryo (Japanese: 神領, lit. 'Domain of gods') to construct shrines dedicated to Amaterasu, including Nishina Shinmei Shrine in Ōmachi, Shinmei Shrine in Yokohama, and Amatsu Shinmei Shrine in Kamogawa. Some of the Shinmei Shrines, such as the Shiba Great Shrine, were said to have predated the Shōen System.[2]
The priests of Shinmei Shrines, also known as Oshi (Japanese: 御師, lit. 'Royal teacher'), temporarily enshrined the talisman Jingū Taima in their branch offices in the eastern part of Japan, and some of these offices later developed into Shinmei Shrines as well.[3]
During the Kamakura and later Muromachi Periods, Oshi's influence began to spread among both high-ranking samurai class and the common people.[4] Especially in Kyoto, an increasing number of shrines outside of the traditional Shinryo were given permission by Oshi to enshrine Amaterasu. These shrines came to be known as "Imashinmei" (Japanese: 今神明, lit. 'Current Shinmei') or "Hishinmei" (Japanese: 飛神明, lit. 'Flying Shinmei').[5] In the Edo Period, the Ise faith became even more popular, spreading throughout the country and permeating a wide range of social classes.[6] In 1632, Ise Shrine published the Ise Calendar in 1632, which recorded dates for agricultural activities and was widely used before the Meiji Restoration.[7] As the influence of Ise Shrine and its deity Amaterasu grew, the number of Shinmei Shrines increased further.
Major shrines
Major Shimei Shrines can be seen in the following table:
