Shinmei shrines () are shrines dedicated to the worship of the Japanese solar deity Amaterasu. The head Shinmei shrine is Ise Grand Shrine which inspired the Shinmei-zukuri architectural style.
History 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.Nishigaki 1983, p.28
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 () 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.Kawamori 1985, pp.80-83
The priests of Shinmei Shrines, also known as Oshi (), 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.Nishigaki 1983, pp.162-164
During the Kamakura and later Muromachi Periods, Oshi's influence began to spread among both high-ranking samurai class and the common people.Nishigaki 1983, p.114 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" () or "Hishinmei" ().Seta 1985, pp.290-291 In the Edo Period, the Ise faith became even more popular, spreading throughout the country and permeating a wide range of social classes.Shinjo 1949, p.144 In 1632, Ise Shrine published the Ise Calendar in 1632, which recorded dates for agricultural activities and was widely used before the Meiji Restoration.Nishigaki 1983, pp.156-157 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: RegionLocationShrine Name (ja)Shrine Name (en)HokkaidoHakodate山上大神宮Yamanoue Great ShrineHokkaidoAshibetsu蘆別神社Ashibetsu ShrineHokkaidoMatsumae 徳山大神宮Tokuyama Great ShrineHokkaidoEsashi姥神大神宮Ubagami Great ShrineTōhokuGoshogawara, Aomori神明宮Shinmei ShrineTōhokuIchinoseki, Iwate御嶽山御嶽神明社Ontakesan Ontake Shinmei ShrineTōhokuŌshū, Iwate神明神社Shinmei ShrineTōhokuSendai, Miyagi櫻岡大神宮Sakura Gaoka Great Shrine TōhokuMisato, Miyagi木間塚神明社Kimatsuka Shinmei ShrineTōhokuShiroishi, Miyagi神明社Shinmei ShrineTōhokuAkita, Akita土崎神明社Tsuchizaki Shinmei ShrineTōhokuŌdate, Akita大館神明社Ōdate Shinmei ShrineTōhokuŌdate, Akita扇田神明社Ōgita Shinmei ShrineTōhokuSemboku, Akita角馆总镇树神明社Kakunodate Sōchinju Shinmei ShrineTōhokuGojōme, Akita五城目神明社Gojōme Shinmei ShrineTōhokuYamagata, Yamagata神明神社Shinmei ShrineTōhokuAizuwakamatsu, Fukushima神明神社Shinmei ShrineTōhokuKōriyama, Fukushima開成山大神宮Kaiseizan Great ShrineKantōItako, Ibaraki神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōTochigi, Tochigi神明宫Shinmei ShrineKantōTokorozawa, Saitama所澤神明社Tokorozawa Shinmei ShrineKantōSōka, Saitama神明宫Shinmei ShrineKantōHannō, Saitama神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōAgeo, Saitama神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōKuki, Saitama神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōSatte, Saitama神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōHasunuma, Saitama神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōMinaminakamaru, Saitama神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōMikura, Saitama神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōTsukamoto, Saitama神明神社Shinmei ShrineKantōKagiage, Saitama神明社Shinmei ShrineKantōTorochō, Saitama神明社Shinmei Shrine
References
Bibliography