Shake (social class)

The Shake (社家) was a Japanese social class and the name for families that dominated Shinto shrines through hereditary government offices and priestly positions. Officially abolished in 1871, with 14 shake families granted hereditary nobility (Kazoku), most shrines were however unaffected, and at many shrines hereditary succession of former shake families continues to this day. Prominent shake families include the Nakatomi family and the Suwa family.

A high priest in 1902, photographed by Kusakabe Kimbei

History

In ancient times, shrine rituals were performed by political leaders and clan heads, whereas in some rural areas villagers took turns serving the village shrine. Eventually, when it became necessary for a priest to work full-time, professional priests were born, and the positions became hereditary.[1]

Since ancient times, the shake families worshipped their ancestral god of the clan.[2] For this reason, most shake families serving ancient shrines were originally Kuni-no-miyatsuko clans.

The shake as an official social class was abolished from the political ideology that a shrine should not belong to one family as part of the Daijō-kan decree in 1871. However, in reality this only applied to Kokuhei-sha-ranked shrines and the hereditary succession of former shake families at rural shrines continued. In addition, 14 shake families were appointed Kazoku hereditary peerage.[1]

Shake families

Some of the most well-known shake families include:

See also

References
  1. Encyclopedia Nipponica. Shogakukan. 2001. Shake (社家). OCLC 14970117.
  2. "第1章 神 長野県神社庁". Nagano Agency of Shinto Shrines (長野県神社庁) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-08-15.
  3. Gibney, Frank B (1991). Britannica International Encyclopædia. TBS Britannica. Shake (社家). OCLC 834589717.
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