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{{Short description|Shinto shrine attendant}}
{{redirect|Shinshoku|the [[L'Arc-en-Ciel]] song|Shinshoku (Lose Control)}}
{{Expand Japanese|神職|date=January 2024|topic=cult}}

{{Italic title}}
{{Shinto}}

{{nihongo3|"divine [[Master of ceremonies|master (of ceremonies)]]"|[[wiktionary:神主|神主]]|'''Kannushi'''|originally pronounced {{Transliteration|ja|kamunushi}}}}, also called {{nihongo3|meaning "employee/worker of kami"|神職|'''shinshoku'''}}, is the common term for a member of the clergy at a {{nihongo|[[Shinto]] [[shinto shrine|shrine]]|神社|jinja}} responsible for maintaining the shrine and leading worship of the {{Transliteration|ja|[[kami]]}} there.<ref name="IK">* ''Kannushi'' (in Japanese), Iwanami {{nihongo|[[Kōjien]]|広辞苑}} Japanese dictionary, 6th Edition (2008), DVD version</ref> The characters for {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} are sometimes also read as '''{{Transliteration|ja|jinshu}}''' with the same meaning. ''Kannushi'' originally referred only to the highest-ranking member of the clergy at a shrine, but has since expanded to become a collective term for all members of the clergy, synonymous with ''shinshoku''.

Another office called {{Nihongo|2=神官|3=[[Shinkan (official)|shinkan]]|4=lit. "religious official"}} used to exist, but the position was abolished during the removal of Shinto from government oversight during the establishment of the Japanese constitution.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Michiaki |first=Okuyama |date=2011 |title="State Shinto" in Recent Japanese Scholarship |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41303084 |journal=Monumenta Nipponica |volume=66 |issue=1 |pages=123–145 |doi=10.1353/mni.2011.0019 |jstor=41303084 |issn=0027-0741|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

== History ==
Originally, the {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} were intermediaries between {{Transliteration|ja|kami}} and people and could transmit their will to common humans.<ref name="eos"/> A {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} was a man capable of miracles or a holy man who, because of his practice of [[Harae|purificatory rites]], was able to work as a medium for a {{Transliteration|ja|kami}}.<ref name="IK"/><ref name="ya">
{{cite web |last = Moriyasu |first = Jin |title = Kannushi |language = ja |work = Nihon Hyakka Zensho |publisher = Shogakukan |url = http://100.yahoo.co.jp/detail/%E7%A5%9E%E4%B8%BB/ |access-date = 2009-10-16 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://archive.today/20121209091437/http://100.yahoo.co.jp/detail/%E7%A5%9E%E4%B8%BB/ |archive-date = 2012-12-09 }}</ref>

In ancient times, because of the overlap of political and religious power within a clan, it was the head of the clan who led the clansmen during religious functions, or else it could be another official.<ref name="ya"/> Later, the role evolved into a separate and more specialized form. The term appears in both the {{Transliteration|ja|[[Kojiki]]}} (680 AD) and {{Transliteration|ja|[[Nihon Shoki]]}} (720 AD),<ref name="ya"/> where the [[Empress Jingū]] and [[Emperor Sujin]] respectively become {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}}.<ref name="eos">
{{cite encyclopedia | title= Kannushi | last= Nishimuta | first= Takao | date= 2007-03-28 | encyclopedia= Encyclopedia of Shinto | publisher= Kokugakuin | url= http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=1285 | access-date= 2009-10-16}}</ref>

== Description ==
Within the same shrine, such as at [[Ise Jingū]] or [[Ōmiwa Shrine]], there can be different types of {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} at the same time; these may be called, for example, {{nihongo||大神主|Ō-kannushi}}, {{nihongo||総神主|Sō-kannushi}}, or {{nihongo||権神主|Gon-kannushi}}.<ref name="eos"/><ref name="ya"/> {{Transliteration|ja|Kannushi}} are assisted in their religious or clerical work by women called {{Transliteration|ja|[[miko]]}}.

{{Transliteration|ja|Kannushi}} can marry, and their children usually inherit their position.<ref name="nishi">
{{cite book | last= Nishimura | first= Hajime | title= A Comparative History of Ideas | publisher= Motilal Banarsidass | year= 1998 | isbn= 978-81-208-1004-4}}</ref> Although this hereditary status is no longer legally granted, it continues in practice.<ref name="EB">
{{cite web| title= Shinshoku | publisher= Encyclopædia Britannica Online | url= http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/540847/shinshoku | access-date= 2009-10-16}}
</ref>

=== Vestments and ritual objects ===
The clothes {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} wear, such as the {{Transliteration|ja|[[jōe]]}}, the {{Transliteration|ja|eboshi}} and {{Transliteration|ja|kariginu}}, do not have any special religious significance, but are simply official garments previously used by the Imperial court.<ref name="nishi"/> This detail reveals the close connection between {{Transliteration|ja|kami}} worship and the figure of the Emperor.<ref name="nishi"/> Other implements used by {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} include a baton called {{Transliteration|ja|[[Hu (ritual baton)|shaku]]}} and a wand decorated with white paper streamers ({{Transliteration|ja|[[shide (Shinto)|shide]]}}) called {{Transliteration|ja|[[ōnusa]]}}.

{{gallery
|File:Kannushi and miko at the Meiji Shrine, Tokyo.jpg|A {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} wearing a {{Transliteration|ja|[[jōe]]}} being accompanied by two {{Transliteration|ja|[[miko]]}}
|File:Shinto priest in full dress,kannushi,katori-jingu-shrine,katori-city,japan.JPG|A {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} in full dress, [[Katori Shrine]]
|File:Kannushi Kamakura.jpg|A {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}} wearing a {{Transliteration|ja|kariginu}} and an {{Transliteration|ja|eboshi}} hat
}}

== Education ==
To become a {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}}, a [[novice]] must study at a university approved by the {{Nihongo|[[Association of Shinto Shrines]]|神社本庁|Jinja Honchō}}, typically [[Tokyo]]'s [[Kokugakuin University]] or [[Ise, Mie|Ise]]'s [[Kogakkan University]], or pass an exam that will certify his qualification.<ref name="EB"/> [[Women in Japan|Women]] can also become {{Transliteration|ja|kannushi}}, and widows can succeed their husbands in their job.<ref name="EB"/>

== Hierarchy, rank, and status ==
Shinto clergy are given a {{Nihongo|rank|階位|kaii}} and placed within a {{Nihongo|hierarchy|職階|shokkai}} at their shrine which results in varying levels of relative status, though the relative importance of the shrine they work at has no affect on their status. For example, the head priest of a [[Beppyo shrine|''beppyo'' shrine]] is of equal status to a head priest of a small regional shrine. Additionally, rank and hierarchy are not the same, with hierarchy more important for determining status than rank. For example, a head priest of only ''seikai'' rank would be higher in status than an assistant priest of the ''meikai'' rank.

=== Ranks ===
The [[Association of Shinto Shrines]] has regulations that confer one of five ranks called {{Nihongo|2=階位|3=kaii}} on clergy members based on their level of education and passing of exams. Up to the second highest rank, {{Nihongo|2=明階|3=meikai}}, can be reached through study alone. The names of the ranks come from the four virtues of Shinto: {{Nihongo|purity|浄|jō}}, {{Nihongo|light|明|mei}}, {{Nihongo|correctness|正|sei}}, and {{Nihongo|forthrightness|直|choku}}. There were originally only four ranks until 1961 when the ranks were reformed and the fourth rank of {{Nihongo|2=権正階|3=gonsekai}} was added.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=藤本 |first=頼生 |date=2011 |title=神職養成と宗教教育 : 戦後六十五年の歩みからみる現状と課題 |trans-title=Clergy Training and Religious Education across 65 Years from WWII to Present |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/rsjars/85/2/85_KJ00007476347/_pdf/-char/ja |journal=宗教研究 |language=ja |volume=85 |issue=2 |pages=511 |via=J-STAGE}}</ref>

{{Nihongo|2=浄階|3='''Jōkai'''}}: The highest rank. Given to those with a long history of contributions to Shinto research.

{{Nihongo|2=明階|3='''Meikai'''}}: The rank necessary to become a head priest or assistant head priest at a ''beppyo'' shrine. A clergy member with this rank can take a head priest position at any shrine other than Ise Shrine's high head priest position which requires imperial sanction.

{{Nihongo|2=正階|3='''Seikai'''}}: The rank necessary to become an assistant priest or {{Nihongo|interim head priest|宮司代務者|gūji daimusha}} at a ''beppyo'' shrine.

{{Nihongo|2=権正階|3='''Gonsekai'''}}: The rank necessary to become a head priest or interim head priest at a standard shrine, or a junior priest at a ''beppyo'' shrine.

{{Nihongo|2=直階|3='''Chokkai'''}}: The rank necessary to become an assistant priest or junior priest at a standard shrine.

=== Hierarchy ===
The clergy of a shrine is ranked in a hierarchy called {{Nihongo|2=職階|3=shokkai}}. The exact hierarchy may vary based on the scale and history of the shrine but, in general, the hierarchy from highest ranking to lowest is {{Nihongo|head priest|宮司|gūji}}, {{Nihongo|assistant priest|禰宜|negi}}, and {{Nihongo|junior priest|権禰宜|gonnegi}}. There is generally only one head priest and one assistant priest per shrine. Some ''beppyo'' shrines have an {{Nihongo|assistant head priest|権宮司|gongūji}} role ranking below the head priest and several assistant priests. An overview of their roles is that the head priest is the head of the shrine, the assistant head priest is the secondary leader, the assistant priest(s) support the head priest in their duties, and the junior priests perform general tasks. [[Ise Shrine]] is an exception in that its ranks are as follows: {{Nihongo|master of ceremonies|祭主|saishu}}, {{Nihongo|high head priest|大宮司|daigūji}}, {{Nihongo|low head priest|少宮司|shōgūji}}, assistant priest (''negi)'', junior priest (''gonnegi)'', {{Nihongo|shrine administrator|宮掌|gūshō}}, {{Nihongo|attendant|出仕|shusshi}}, and {{Nihongo|apprentice attendant|出仕前|shusshi-mae}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=井上 |first=順孝 |title=神道 |date=4 December 2006 |publisher=ナツメ社〈図解雑学〉|isbn=9784816340628 |language=ja |trans-title=Shinto}}</ref>

== Other positions ==

=== Onshi ===
{{Nihongo|2=御師|3=Onshi|4=also read ''oshi''}} is a low-ranking position at a shrine responsible for leading prayers for visitors, providing lodging and tours for pilgrims, and arranging performances of ''[[kagura]]''. They are most associated with Ise Shrine.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hardacre |first=Helen |title=Shinto: a history |date=2017 |publisher=Oxford University press |isbn=978-0-19-062171-1 |location=New York (N.Y.)}}</ref>

=== Lower priests ===
There are two positions that may be called lower priests, {{Nihongo|2=宮掌|3=gūshō}} and {{Nihongo|2=主典|3=shuten}}, though they are not technically considered members of the clergy as they have not yet received their rank (''kaii'') and are only present in some special shrines, such as Ise Shrine and [[Atsuta Shrine]]. They perform some duties under the guidance of higher-ranking priests.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Holtom |first=Daniel Clarence |title=The political philosophy of modern Shinto, a study of the state religion of Japan |date=1922 |publisher=University of Chicago }}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{Transliteration|ja|[[Miko]]}}
* {{Transliteration|ja|[[Norito]]}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Kannushi|lcfirst=yes}}

* [http://eos.kokugakuin.ac.jp/modules/xwords/entry.php?entryID=1285 Kannushi], Encyclopedia of Shinto

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[[Category:Kannushi| ]]
[[Category:Religious occupations]]
[[Category:Shinto]]
[[Category:Japanese words and phrases]]