Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Unity of religion and rule
Japanese political concept From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Remove ads
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.[original research?][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]
Remove ads
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]
Remove ads
See also
References
Bibliography
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads