Taisha is a term used to refer to a rank of Shinto shrines.

A taisha (大社)(the characters are also read ōyashiro) is literally a "great shrine"[1] that was classified as such under the old system of shrine ranking, the shakaku (社格), abolished in 1946.[2][3]

History

Originally Taisha referred to the 203 Myojin Taisha[4] or the 492 Shikinai Taisha listed in the Engishiki Jinmyocho

The term became more strict in the Empire of Japan. In that time it almost always referred to Izumo-taisha. After the war, many shrines with the rank of taisha, such as the former Kanpei Taisha and the former Kokuhei Taisha Shrine, started calling themselves taisha.

Izumo Taisha wants to be the only shrine to use the name.

List of Taisha

Shrine name Former shrine name Imperial rank Engishiki Location
Prewar
Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture
Kumano Taisha Kumano Jinja Kokuhei Taisha Myojin Taisha Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
Postwar
Mishima Taisha Mishima Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Fujisan Hongū Sengen Taisha Sengen Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Suwa-taisha Suwa Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture
Keta Taisha Keta Jinja Kokuhei Taisha Myojin Taisha Hakui City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Nangū Taisha Nangu Jinja Kokuhei Taisha Myojin Taisha Tarui Town, Fuwa District, Gifu Prefecture
Tado Taisha Tado Jinja Kokuhei Taisha Myojin Taisha Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture
Taga-taisha Taga Jinja Kanpei Taisha Shikinai Shosha Taga Town, Inukami District, Shiga Prefecture
Takebe taisha Takebe Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
Hiyoshi Taisha Hiyoshi Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
Kasuga-taisha Kasuga Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Nara City, Nara Prefecture
Tatsuta Taisha Tatsuta Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Misato Town, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture
Hirose Taisha Hirose Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Kawai Town, Kitakatsuragi District, Nara Prefecture
Fushimi Inari-taisha Inari Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Fushimi Ward , Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
Matsunoo Taisha Matsuo Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto City , Kyoto Prefecture
Umenomiya Taisha Umenomiya Jinja Kanpei Chusha Myojin Taisha Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City , Kyoto Prefecture
Sumiyoshi-taisha Sumiyoshi Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Ōtori taisha Otori Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Nishi Ward, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
Kumano Hongū Taisha Kumanoimasu Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture
Kumano Hayatama Taisha Kumano Hayatama Jinja Kanpei Taisha Shikinai Taisha Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture
Kumano Nachi Taisha Kumano Nachi Jinja Kanpei Chusha Kokushi genzaisha Nachikatsuura Town, Higashimuro District, Wakayama Prefecture
Munakata Taisha Munakata Jinja Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha Munakata City, Fukuoka Prefecture
Kōra taisha Kora Jinja Kokuhei Taisha Myojin Taisha Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture

Former Taisha

There are some shrines which used to call themselves Taisha but later changed their names

Shrine name Imperial rank Engishiki Notes
Hikawa Shrine Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha The word "Hikawa Taisha" appears on the bag of votive offerings
Hirano Shrine Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha There used to be a sign that said "Hirano Taisha" on the gate
Hiraoka Shrine Kanpei Taisha Myojin Taisha A sign that reads "Hiraoka Taisha" is still present in front of the old station of Hiraoka
Ikoma Shrine Fuken-sha Shikinai Taisha

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細". 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  2. ↑ Iwanami Kōjien (広辞苑) Japanese dictionary
  3. ↑ "Myōjin taisha". Encyclopedia of Shinto. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
  4. ↑ Inoue, Nobutaka. "Myōjin taisha". Kokugakuin University Encyclopedia of Shinto. Retrieved 2023-04-10.
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