Unity of religion and rule

The term unity of religion and rule (祭政一致, saisei itchi)[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]

Under the ritualistic system, the political leader is also the religious leader. This ideology and political form is common in ancient societies governed by animist religions.[3][4]、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.[5]

Shinto is an animistic religion, and one of its characteristics is the unity of ritual and government.[6] Although not necessarily restricted to Shinto in Japanese, rites and ceremonies are used in English as Saisei itchi as a term for Shinto.[6][7][8][9] Keiichi Yanagawa defined ritual government as different from theocracy, in which a professional clergyman directly governs.[10] Ritual and political unity has been referred to primarily in the context of the ancient emperor system.[11]

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".[12][13]

Also used on January 3, 1870, in the "Declaration of the Great Teachings" (Dai-kyo Sengen).[14][15]

Later in the Meiji era, the theory came to be replaced with Secular Shrine Theory,[16] the idea that Shinto Shrines were secular in their nature rather than religious.[17]

See also

References
  1. "Glossary of Shinto Names and Terms: K". www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  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. 小学館 2021b, p. 「原始宗教」.
  4. 小学館 2021c, p. 「原始宗教」.
  5. 山上 1989, pp. 84–100.
  6. Nigosian, S. A. (January 1, 1994), World Faiths, Bedford/st Martins; 2nd edition, pp. 217–218, ISBN 978-0312084141
  7. "saisei-itchi | Japanese religion". britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  8. Public Shrine Forests? Shinto, Immanence, and Discursive Secularization, Aike P. Rots, Japan Review 30 Special Issue (2017): p.187
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 平凡社 2021d, p. 「祭政一致」.
  12. 「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
  13. 明治元年太政官布告第153 『法令全書. 慶応３年』 p.63、内閣官報局（国立国会図書館）
  14. 「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
  15. 『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）
  16. "神社非宗教論とは - Weblio辞書". www.weblio.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-03-13.
  17. 新田 1995, p. 199-220.

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
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