Unity of religion and rule explained

The term ^[1] refers to the unification of ritual and politics. ritual in ritual-politics means "ritual" and religion. The word "politics" means "ritual" and politics.^[2]

、In Japan, the Oracle of miko can be traced back to the ancient theocracy, including the Yamato Kingship, where the Oracle of Wu had political authority, as well as the Ryukyu Kingdom, a system of government that was based on the Ryukyu Kingdom.

Shinto is an animistic religion, and one of its characteristics is the unity of ritual and government. Although not necessarily restricted to Shinto in Japanese, rites and ceremonies are used in English as Saisei itchi as a term for Shinto.^{[3] [4] [5]} Keiichi Yanagawa defined ritual government as different from theocracy, in which a professional clergyman directly governs.^[6] Ritual and political unity has been referred to primarily in the context of the ancient emperor system.

Ritual and Political Unity in Japan

On March 13, 1868, the Meiji Restoration announced the Restoration of the Monarchy and the reestablishment of the Department of Divinities in a "Dajokanbudan".^{[7] [8]}

Also used on January 3, 1870, in the "Declaration of the Great Teachings" (Dai-kyo Sengen).^{[9] [10]}

Later in the Meiji era, the theory came to be replaced with Secular Shrine Theory,^[11] the idea that Shinto Shrines were secular in their nature rather than religious.

See also

• Department of Divinities
• Theocracy
• Separation of church and state
• State Shinto
• Controversies surrounding Yasukuni Shrine
• Caesaropapism
• Bureau of Shinto Affairs

Bibliography

• 世界大百科事典&マイペディア 第2版[CD-ROM]，ISBN 978-4816981838
• 広辞苑 第六版 DVD-ROM版，ISBN 978-4001301618
• 安丸良夫・宮地正人編『日本近代思想大系5　宗教と国家』岩波書店，1988，ISBN 978-4002300054

• Book: 小学館 . 日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ) . 小学館、コトバンク . 2021b . 原始宗教 . ja.
• Book: 小学館 . デジタル大辞泉 . 小学館、コトバンク . 2021c . 原始宗教 . ja.
• Book: . 古代神道の本質 . 法政大学出版局 . 1989 . 4588306014 . 84–100 . . ja.
• Book: . ブリタニカ国際大百科事典 小項目事典 . ブリタニカ・ジャパン、コトバンク . 2021f . 祭政一致 . ja.
• Book: 平凡社 . 百科事典マイペディア . 平凡社、コトバンク . 2021c . 祭政一致 . ja.
• Book: 平凡社 . 世界大百科事典 第２版 . 平凡社、コトバンク . 2021d . 祭政一致 . ja.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Glossary of Shinto Names and Terms: K . 2023-03-10 . www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp.
2. 『世界大百科事典』に山田武の署名記事があるほか，無記名ではあるが『マイペディア』などの百科事典，『日本国語大辞典』『広辞苑』などの国語辞典，また新聞報道などにも細部の表現は違うが使われている。
3. Web site: saisei-itchi Japanese religion . 2022-04-25 . britannica.com . en.
4. Public Shrine Forests? Shinto, Immanence, and Discursive Secularization, Aike P. Rots, Japan Review 30 Special Issue (2017): p.187
5. Saisei itchiは"the unity of religion and government"か"the unity of ritual and government"と直訳され神道固有の概念として解説されている
6. Between Unity and Separation: Religion and Politics in Japan, 1965-1977 Yanagawa Keiichi and David Reid, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 6/4 December 1979. p.502
7. 「此度王政復古，神武創業ノ始ニ被為基，諸事御一新，祭政一致之御制度ニ御復被遊候ニ付テハ，先第一神祇官御再興御造立ノ上……（後略）」安丸良夫・宮地正人編『日本近代思想大系5　宗教と国家』425ページ
8. https://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/787948/80 明治元年太政官布告第153
9. 「朕恭惟　天神　天祖，立極垂統；列皇相承，継之述之。祭政一致，億兆同心。治教明于上，風俗美于下。而中世以降，時有汚隆，道有顕晦，治教之不洽也久矣。今也，天運循環，百度維新，宜明治教，以宣揚惟神大道也。因新命宣教使，以布教天下。汝群臣衆庶，其体斯旨。」安丸良夫・宮地正人編『日本近代思想大系5　宗教と国家』431ページ
10. 『歴代の詔勅』 p.66 河野省三 内閣印刷局、1940年（国立国会図書館）
11. Web site: 神社非宗教論とは - Weblio辞書 . 2022-03-13 . www.weblio.jp . ja.