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Institute of Divinities

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Institute of Divinities
神祇院
Agency overview
FormedNovember 9, 1940
Preceding agency
DissolvedJanuary 31, 1946
Superseding agency
Headquarters1-2 Kasumigaseki, Kojimachi-ku, Tokyo-shi
Agency executives
Parent agencyHome Ministry
Key document
  • SCAPIN-448

The Institute of Divinities (神祇院, Jingi-in)[1], used to be a government agency in Japan. It was part of the Ministry of the Interior's foreign bureau.[2][1] The institute's main goal was to make Shintoism more respected in the Empire of Japan. It was responsible for managing shrines and was the center of Shintoism until the end of World War II.[2]


During the early years of the Showa era, there was a revival movement of the Department of Divinities and a push to establish special divine offices in Japan.[3] In 1940, on the occasion of the 2600th anniversary of the accession of Jimmu, the Institue of Divinities was created.

Six years later, after Japan's defeat in World War II, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ) issued the Shinto Directive, which led to the termination of the movement on January 31, 1946. As a result, the special office was abolished on the same day.[4]

Establishment of the Institute of Divinities

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According to the Government Regulations of the Institute of Shinto Religion (Imperial Ordinance No. 736 of 1940), the Bureau of Shrines of the Home Ministry was given a higher status and became an external bureau of the Ministry on November 9, 1940. The bureau is situated at 1-2, Kasumigaseki, Kojimachi-ku, Tokyo, which is also the location of the Ministry of Home Affairs Office Building.[5]

The president of the Bureau of Shrines was appointed by the Minister of Home Affairs. Eiji Yasui, who was the Minister of Home Affairs at that time, was the first president. The Vice President of the bureau was Ichisho Inuma, who was also the Director General of the Bureau of Shrines. Inuma served in this position until the JCG was abolished.

To manage various matters related to shrines, various organizations were established by the Institute.

Shinto Directive and Abolition of the Institute of Divinities

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After the end of WWII the GHQ issued a memorandum to the government on December 15, 1945, called "Regarding the Abolition of the Government's Guarantee, Support, Preservation, Supervision, and Supervision of National Shinto and Shinto Shrines and the Abolition of Kobu" (SCAPIN-448). This memorandum led to the abolition of the Institute of Divinities.

The Institute of Divinities was abolished on January 31, 1946, in accordance with the Imperial Ordinance No. 59 of 1946, which concerned the revision of government regulations for administrative reorganization.. With the exception of some former government-owned shrines that did not have an encompassing relationship, most of the jurisdiction over shrines was transferred to the Association of Shinto Shrines. This religious corporation was established on February 3 by the Office of Japanese Classics Research, National Association of Shinto Priests, and Jingu-kyo.[citation needed]

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  • State Shinto
  • Shrine Shinto
  • Department of Divinities
  • Ministry of Divinities

References

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  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細". 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Basic Terms of Shinto: J". www2.kokugakuin.ac.jp. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  3. ↑ 阪本是丸 『明治維新と国学者』 大明堂、1993年、193頁
  4. ↑ 行政整理実施ノ為ニスル内務省官制中改正等ノ件（昭和21年勅令第59号）、『官報』第5713号、昭和21年1月31日。
  5. ↑ 官報. 1940年11月09日 内務省告示第五百八十九號 昭和十五年一月九日

Literature

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