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カテゴリー1： 3. Institutions and Administrative Practices
カテゴリー2： Modern and Contemporary
Title
Shrine priest training institutes
Text
For a priest to receive an appointment to a shrine attached to the Jinja Honchō (Association of Shintō Shrines), he or she has to acquire qualifications as set out by the Association. In prewar times, the would-be priest had to meet stipulations as laid down in imperial edicts. Shrine priest training institutes were first established in the Meiji era. Representative in the early period were the Kōten Kōkyūsho and the Jingū Kōgakkan. Today, the two great training institutions are Kokugakuin University and Kōgakkan University.
The Kōten Kōkyūsho was set up in 1882 as an institute for instruction and research into Japanese history and classics, but from the outset the training and education of shrine priests was integral to the tasks of this institution. In 1882, the Home Ministry determined that all priests employed in shrines of prefectural status and below were to possess a graduation certificate from the Kōten Kōkyūsho. Those without graduation certificates were required to pass examinations set by that institute. In 1886, the institute began priest training, employing a system of classification comprised of two levels, one of five gradations, the other of eight. This classification was further systematized in 1902, with two pieces of legislation: "Orders Relating to the Employment of Priests at State Shrines and the Grand Shrines of Ise" (Imperial Order no. 28) and "Regulations for the Employment of Priests at Prefectural and Other Shrines" (Home Ministry Order no. 4). As a consequence, those in receipt of Kōten Kōkyūjo classification were now treated on par with government officials of sōnin or hannin status. The training of priests at the Kōten Kōkyūsho really began in earnest in 1909 with the creation of a formal department dedicated to the training of priests called the Shinshoku Yōseibu. In 1927, according to a directive regarding vocational schools, this was re-styled the Shinshokubu (Department of Shintō Priests), and then subsequently, the Shintō Department (Shintōbu). These departments were affiliated with Kokugakuin University, and were responsible for training large numbers of shrine priests.
The Jingū Kōgakkan also began its life in 1882, and was from the outset an educational institute designed for the training of priests at the Grand Shrines of Ise. In 1903, it became a state recognized college affiliated to the Home Ministry, and subsequently, it was elevated in status to Kōgakkan University, switching its affiliation to the Education Ministry. Graduates from its main, specialist, and general programs were eligible to serve as priests without passing further examinations, and were treated on par with government officials of sōnin and hannin status. Hereafter, the vast majority of priests were trained at Kōten Kōkyūsho, at Kokugakuin or at Jingū Kōgakkan. After the war, the Association of Shintō Shrines (Jinja Honchō) entrusted the advanced training of priests who wished to serve at its affiliated shrines to the Shintō Studies departments at Kokugakuin and Kōgakkan Universities (the latter having developed out of Jingū Kōgakkan). There exist today other institutes for training priests besides these two main centers: Taisha Kokugakukan, Atsuta Jingū Gakuin, Kyōto Kokugakuin, Jingū Kenshūsho, Dewa Sanzan Jinja Shinshoku Yōseisho, and Shiogama Jinja Shinshoku Yōseisho. Training seminars for priests are also held at Kokugakuin University and prefectural Shrine Bureaus (Jinjachō). Moreover, Osaka Kokugakuin offers correspondence courses for would-be priests, thereby contributing to the expansion of training opportunities.
— Sakamoto Koremaru

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