The Separation of Rituals and Doctrines (<i>Saikyō bunri</i>) in Forming the Basis for the Unity of Ritual and Political Rule (<i>Saisei itchi</i>) and the Modern Japanese State

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  • 近代祭政一致国家成立の基盤形成と祭教分離
  • キンダイ サイセイ イッチ コッカ セイリツ ノ キバン ケイセイ ト サイキョウ ブンリ

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<p>The concept of the Separation of Rituals and Doctrines (saikyō bunri) made it possible for the modern Japanese State to establish the Unity of Ritual and Political Rule (saisei itchi) and to claim that Shinto was not a religion (Jinja hi shūkyō ron).</p><p>In this paper, to clarify the process of forming the basis for saisei itchi in the modern Japanese State, I will focus on the concept of saikyō bunri observed in the segregation between the administration of rituals and that of Shinto indoctrination in 1872, which was closely related with the process of the re-establishment and abolition of the Meiji Jingikan.</p><p>To act as the highest counsel on Imperial rituals, the Meiji Jingikan built its shrine in the palace, which was dedicated to the eight deities (Hasshin), the spirits of former Emperors (Kōrei), and the Kami of heaven and earth (Tenjin Chigi), and developed the rituals related to these deities. Through performing such rituals, the Meiji Jingikan consolidated the modern Jinja (shrine) system.</p><p>Saikyō bunri was made in the process of the abolition of the Meiji Jingikan. On the one hand, the Imperial rituals performed in the Imperial court were centralized and segregated from Shinto indoctrination. On the other hand, the prime minister became the highest counsel on the Imperial rituals. Thus, the process resulted in forming the basis of saisei itchi of the modern Japanese State.</p><p>However, as the highest counsel on the Imperial rituals was suspended, the Imperial rituals were exclusively centralized to the Emperor himself. At this point, saikyō bunri became a concept which enabled to coexist saisei itchi and the separation of church/religion and state (seikyō bunri) in the modern Japanese State. Furthermore, it led to the theory that Shinto was not a religion.</p>

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