Saisei Itchi
Saisei itchi (祭政一致) is a Japanese term meaning "unity of ritual and politics". Under a saisei itchi system, the political leader is also the religious leader.
In Japan, unity of religion and rule can be traced back to the theocratic Yamato Kingship and Ryukyu Kingdom of ancient times where the proclamations of spiritual mediums had political authority.[1] Shinto is an animistic religion, and saisei itchi is one feature of the religion.[2] However, Japanese theologian Keiichi Yanagawa argued a ritual government is different from a theocracy as a theocracy is a government managed directly by a member of that religion's clergy.[3]
History
[edit]The term saisei itchi first appeared in late Mito scholarship in reference to the ancient system of governance in Japan which was one with ritual. It was later taken up by the government of the Meiji Restoration as a slogan and policy as they aimed to reunite ritual and government.[4]
On March 13, 1868, the government of the Meiji Restoration announced the restoration of the emperor and the reestablishment of the Department of Divinities in a Dajō-kan Futatsu (太政官布達; Dajōkan Notice).[5][6] The term also appears in the Taikyo Proclamation issued on January 3, 1870.[7]
Later in the Meiji era, the policy came to be replaced with Secular Shrine Theory, the idea that Shinto Shrines were secular in nature rather than religious.
See also
[edit]- Department of Divinities
- Theocracy
- Separation of church and state
- State Shinto
- Controversies surrounding Yasukuni Shrine
- Caesaropapism
- Bureau of Shinto Affairs
References
[edit]- ^ Umakami, Izumo (December 1, 1989). 古代神道の本質 [The Nature of Ancient Shinto] (in Japanese). Hosei University Press. pp. 84–100. ISBN 978-4588306013.
- ^ Nigosian, S. A. (January 1, 1994), World Faiths, Bedford/st Martins; 2nd edition, pp. 217–218, ISBN 978-0312084141
- ^ 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
- ^ Teeuwen, Mark (2017). "Clashing Models: Ritual Unity vs Religious Diversity". Japan Review (30): 39–62. ISSN 0915-0986.
- ^ Yasumaru, Yoshio; Miyachi, Masato (2000). 日本近代思想体系：宗教と国家 [Modern Japanese System of Thought: Religion and Nation] (in Japanese). Tōkyō: Iwanami shoten. ISBN 978-4-00-230005-4.
- ^ 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）
- ^ Kōno, Seizō (August 1935). 歴代の詔勅 [Imperial Edicts throughout History] (in Japanese). 日本文化協会出版部.
Bibliography
[edit]- 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