Encyclopedia of Shinto

Chronological Supplement
『神道事典』巻末年表、英語版

Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics

Kokugakuin University
2016
 Preface

This book is a translation of the chronology that appended Shinto

jiten, which was compiled and edited by the Institute for Japanese Culture
and Classics, Kokugakuin University. That volume was first published in
1994, with a revised compact edition published in 1999. The main text of
Shinto jiten is translated into English and publicly available in its entirety at
the Kokugakuin University website as "The Encyclopedia of Shinto" (EOS).
This English edition of the chronology is based on the one that appeared in
the revised version of the Jiten. It is already available online, but it is also
being published in book form in hopes of facilitating its use.
The original Japanese-language chronology was produced by
Inoue Nobutaka and Namiki Kazuko. The English translation was prepared
by Carl Freire, with assistance from Kobori Keiko.
Translation and publication of the chronology was carried out as
part of the "Digital Museum Operation and Development for Educational
Purposes" project of the Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics,
Organization for the Advancement of Research and Development,
Kokugakuin University. I hope it helps to advance the pursuit of Shinto
research throughout the world.
Inoue Nobutaka
Project Director
January 2016

*****

Translated from the Japanese original Shinto jiten, shukusatsuban.

(General Editor: Inoue Nobutaka; Tokyo: Kōbundō, 1999)
English Version Copyright (c) 2016 Institute for Japanese Culture and
Classics, Kokugakuin University.
All rights reserved.
Published by the Institute for Japanese Culture and Classics, Kokugakuin
University, 4-10-28 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Printed in Japan by Mizuki Shobō
 Guide

1. Entries are divided into four categories: "Institutions/Laws,"

"Shrines/Organizations," "Personalities/Texts," and "Society." The content
corresponding to each category is mainly as follows:
[A] Institutions/Laws: Laws and ordinances concerning Shinto, along
with statutes, proclamations, and other materials of a similar nature.
[B] Shrines/Organizations: Matters related to shrines, religious groups,
sects, and similar entities.
[C] Personalities/Texts: Important items including dates of death related
to personalities who appear in the main text of "The Encyclopedia,"
as well as publication and other information regarding major texts.
[D] Major developments in Japanese society, as well major
developments and incidents involving Shinto.
2. The source texts for the entries are cited at the end of the entry in
parentheses. However, it was decided not to cite a source for those entries
recounting information that has already become widely accepted as
established theory.
3. For Personalities, all ages of death are presented using the traditional
Japanese kazoedoshi system (one year old at birth, with one year added at
each New Year).
4. Hyphens are used in dates to indicate some part of the information is
unknown, e.g. "-.-" indicates neither month nor date are known, while "2.-"
shows only the month (2nd) is known.
5. Dates through the end of 1872 are given using the old lunisolar calendar
(kyūreki). The dates from January 1, 1873, forward are presented using the
Gregorian system (seireki).
6. The corresponding Gregorian calendar equivalents for many traditional
Japanese calendar dates until around the mid-sixth century C.E. are difficult
to establish precisely. For convenience’s sake, the Gregorian equivalents
provided for those years are based on the hypothesis that Jinmu’s installation
as emperor occurred in 660 B.C.
7. An asterisk is used to indicate the title of corresponding entry from the
EOS.
 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
663 Tsuchinoe- 9.-: Emperor Jimmu worships the
BCE uma ("elder "kami of heaven and earth"
year of the (*Tenjinchigi) at Nyuu River
horse"; see before his conquest of Yamato.
also *Ehō) (Nihon shoki)
660 Jimmu 1 1.1: Enthronement of Emperor
BCE Jimmu. (Nihon shoki)
657 Jimmu 4 2.23: Emperor Jimmu worships
BCE the imperial ancestral kami at Mt.
Torimi in Yamato after
completing his conquest of that
province. (Nihon shoki)
92 Sujin 6 -.-. Princess Toyosukirihime no
BCE mikoto enshrines *Amaterasu
Ōmikami at Kasanui village in
Yamato. (Nihon shoki)
91 Sujin 7 11.13: "Shrines of heaven" -.-: The shrine to Takefutsu no
BCE (tensha) and "shrines of the Ōmikami is transferred to
earth" (kokusha, literally, Yamanobe in Yamato and
"shrines of the state") are renamed Isonokami Ōmikami
established (see *Kansha). (origins of Isonokami Shrine)
Lands are also set aside for (see also *Futsunomitama).
serving the kami (shinchi), and (Sendai kuji honki)
kami ritualists (*Kanbe) are
appointed. (Nihon shoki)
11.13: Ichishi no Nagaochi
charged with worshipping
*Yamato no Ōkunitama as a
replacement for Nunakiirihime no
Mikoto, who the previous year
had been entrusted with
worshipping the deity at a
location outside the imperial
palace (origin of Ōyamato
Shrine). (Nihon shoki)
11.13: Epidemics rampant around
this time. In accordance with an
oracle, the emperor asks kami
Ōtataneko to worship
*Ōmononushi no kami (origins of
Ōmiwa Shrine). (Nihon shoki)
23 Suinin 7
BCE

5 Suinin 25 3.-: Yamatohime no mikoto

BCE transfers *Amaterasu Ōmikami to
be enshrined at Ise (another
account relates this occurs the
10th month of the following

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7.7: Nomi no sukune and Taima no Kuehaya

hold wrestling match (first mention of
*Sumō). (Nihon shoki)

2
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Year). (Nihon shoki)
4 Suinin 26 8.3: Emperor appoints Mononobe
BCE Tochine no Ōmuraji manager
(*Kengyō) of the treasury for
Izumo Shrine. (Nihon shoki)
3 Suinin 27 8.7: Lands are set aside for
BCE serving the kami (shinchi) and
kami ritualists (*Kanbe) are
appointed. (Nihon shoki)
8.7: Weapons presented to
shrines as an offering (shinpei;
see *Heihaku) (first mention of
weapons being given as
offerings). (Nihon shoki)
10 CE Suinin 39 10.-: Inishiki no mikoto ordered
to offer a thousand swords to
Isonokami Shrine and to manage
its treasury. (Nihon shoki)
57

90 Keikō 20 2.4: Iono no himemiko ordered to

worship *Amaterasu Ōmikami.
(Nihon shoki)
110 Keikō 40 10.7: *Yamatotakeru no mikoto
visits Ise Shrine prior to his
eastern campaign of conquest.
Yamatohime no mikoto endows
him with the sacred sword
Kusanagi no tsurugi (see also
*Sanshu no shinki). (Nihon shoki)
135 Seimu 5 9.-: Each province ordered to
appoint a provincial governor-
ritualist (*Kuni no miyatsuko)
to provinces and districts and
local administrators (inagi) to
villages. Province and district
borders established at
mountains and rivers, and
village boundaries established.
200 Chūai 9 4.-: Empress Jingū receives
oracles upon the conquest of
Silla. (Nihon shoki)
201 Empress 2.-: Empress Jingū, following an
Jingū 1 oracle, performs several

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-.-: The king of Na (Na-no-kuni) from the

land of Wa (i.e., Japan) sends envoys to the
later Han Dynasty and receives in return from
Emperor Guangwu an imperial seal.
(Houhanshu, Guangwu di ji [History of the
later Han dynasty, the annals of Emperor
Guangwu])

4
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
enshrinement ceremonies: the
"violent spirit" (*Aramitama) of
Amaterasu Ōmikami at Hirota
Province; Wakahirume no mikoto
at Ikuta Province; Kotoshironushi
no mikoto at Nagata Province;
and, at Nunakura in Ōtsu, the
"peaceful spirits" (*Nigimitama)
of Uwazututno'o, Nakazutsuno'o,
and Sokozutsuno'o (the three
Sumiyoshi kami; see *Sumiyoshi
shinkō) (the origins of Hirota,
Nagata, and Sumiyoshi shrines).
(Nihon shoki)
239

285 Ōjin 16

300 Ōjin 31

310 Ōjin 41 2.-: Achino Omi, an ancestor of

the Yamatoaya clan, arrived in
Tsukushi from Wu. The services
of weaver Ehime are offered to
the three Munakata goddesses
(see *Munakata shinkō) at their
request. (Nihon shoki)
372 Nintoku 60

404 Richū 5 10.11: The imperial court makes

a gift of the cart keepers

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6.-: Queen Himiko of Wa, who was said to

have "dealt with spirits" (kidō; see also
*Ancient Shintō), sends envoys to the Wei
Dynasty.
12.-: Emperor Ming of Wei confers upon her
the title "Queen of Wa Friendly to Wei,"
together with a gold seal with purple ribbon
decoration. (Wei Zhi Wo ren chuan [Records
of Wei, account of the Wa people])
-.-: Wani of Baekje, Korea, offers ten
volumes of the Analects of Confucius and one
volume of the Thousand Character Classic.
(Kojiki; Nihon shoki)
-.-: Keyhole-shaped burial mounds (zenpō-
kōen fun) including the Sakurai Chausu
Yama, Hashihaka, Shikin Zan, and Tsubai
Ōtsuka Yama kofun built from the end of
3CE to 4CE.

-.-: Korean kingdom of Baekje makes

presents of the *shichishitō (also nanatsusaya
no tachi) and nanatsuko ("seven-little-one")
mirror. (The shichishitō is housed in
Isonokami Shrine. The sword was made in
369 according to its inscription. Nihon shoki
records this event as taking place in the 52th
year of Empress Jingū’s reign, or 252.)

6
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
professional group
(kurumamochi-be) to Munakata
Shrine in response to a divine
oracle and a calamity believed to
have been cause by an evil spirit
(*Tatari). (Nihon shoki)
415 Ingyō 4

478 Yūryaku 22 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine built.

(Toyukegūgishikichō;
Houkihonki)

507 Keitai 1 1.-: Emperor Buretsu dies

without a successor.
Consequently, Ōdono kimi, a
fifth-generation grandson of
Emperor Ōjin, comes from
Echizen and ascends the throne
to become Emperor Keitai.
(Nihon shoki)
527 Keitai 27

538 Senka 3

552 Kinmei 13

554 Kinmei 15

593 Suiko 1

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9.28: A divination by ordeal ceremony

(*Kukatachi) is performed at Umakashino no
Oka to sort out confusion over lineages
(Nihon shoki).
5.-: Bu, the king of Wa, sends tribute to the
Liu Song Dynasty and petitions to be
officially confirmed in his title by the
Chinese court. (Songshu, Woguoyun zhuan
[History of the Liu Song dynasty, account on
the Wa people])

6.3: Expeditionary force dispatched to

Mimana (Inna, on the Korean Peninsula).
While they are en route, Governor Iwai of
Tsukushi Province launches a revolt. His
rebellion ends the 11th month of the
following year (the Iwai Rebellion). (Nihon
shoki)
-.-: King Seong of Baekje sends presents of
an image of Shakyamuni and several sutras
(transmission of Buddhism to Japan) (see
also *Shintō and Buddhism). (Jōgū Shōtoku
hōō teisetsu)
10.-: King Seong of Baekje presents an image
of Shakyamuni to the Emperor. (transmission
of Buddhism to Japan) Mononobe no
Ōmuraji Okoshi and Nakatomi no Muraji
Kamako contend with Soga no Iname over
the reception of Buddhism. (Nihon shoki)
2.-: Kingdom of Baekje sends to Japan
scholars (hakase) of Confucianism,
divination, calendars, and medicine, as well
as herbalists and musicians. (Nihon shoki)
4.10: Prince Shōtoku appointed regent.
(Nihon shoki)

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
594 Suiko 2

603 Suiko 11 12.5: Twelve-level cap- rank

system established. (Nihon
shoki)
604 Suiko 12 4.3: Prince Shōtoku
promulgates the Seventeen-
Article Constitution. (Nihon
shoki)
9.-: Court rituals are revised.
(Nihon shoki)
607 Suiko 15 2.9: Decree ordering that deities
be worshipped (*Jingiryō) are
issued. (Nihon shoki)

620 Suiko 28

624 Suiko 32

630 Jomei 2

639 Jomei 11 1.11: Emperor eats from the

year’s first harvest (first
mention of the *Niiname sai).
(Nihon shoki)
642 Kōgyoku 1

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2.1: Emperor orders Prince Shōtoku to
promote the prosperity of Buddhism. (Nihon
shoki)

1.1: The Chinese calendar adopted on this

day. (Seiji yoryaku)

7.3: Ono no Imoko sent to China as an

emissary. Sui Emperor Yangdi is displeased
at passage in official correspondence that
reads "From the Son of Heaven in the Land
of the Rising Sun . . ." (the salutation implies
the Japanese and Chinese monarchs are
equal, hence the Sui Emperor’s displeasure).
(Suishu, Woguo zhuan [History of the Sui,
account on the Wa people])
-.-: Prince Shōtoku and Soga no Umako
produce three, no-longer extant works (or
possibly one single work in three parts) titled
Tennōki, Kokki, and Omi no muraji tomo no
miyatsuko kuni no miyatsuko momoyaso tomo
narabini kōminara no hongi (see also *Kojiki
and Nihon shoki). (Nihon shoki)
-.-: Organizational structure for monks and
nuns formulated. (7.17: Administrative
positions such as sōjō (high priest) and sōzu
(senior priest) created, and monks and nuns
put under their control. 9.3: Survey of monks
and nuns conducted; information recorded
includes temple foundation dates, reasons
why individuals entered vocations, and the
dates they entered such. Survey shows there
are 46 temples, 816 monks, and 569 nuns).
(Nihon shoki)
8.5: Inugami no mitasuki is sent as emissary
to Tang China (first of the Japanese missions
to Tang-dynasty China [kentōshi]). (Nihon
shoki)

8.1: Major drought around this time. Prayers

for rainfall (*Kiu) are offered using various

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

644 Kōgyoku 3

645 Taika 1 6.19: Era name (gengō) system

is instituted. First name chosen
is Taika. (Nihon shoki)

646 Taika 2 3.22: Regulations are instituted

regarding ill-considered funeral
rituals, bond servants,
marriages, and purification
rites. (Nihon shoki)
649 Taika 5 -.-: Shrine manors start to be
referred to as mikuriya (see
*Shinryō). First chief priest for
Ise Shrine appointed. (Jingū
nenpyō)
650 Hakuchi 1

659 Saimei 5 -.-: This year, the Izumo

provincial governor-ritualist
(*Izumo kokusō) is ordered to
build a shrine for a kami
(Kumano Shrine, built in the Iu
district; , other accounts say it
was Kitsuki Shrine). (Nihon
shoki)
662 Tenji 1 -.-: Title for the chief
administrator of the Grand
Shrines of Ise changed to "master
of religious rites" (*saishu).
Nakatomi no Ōshima first person
appointed to position. (Jingū
nenpyō)

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methods (entreating river deities, sacrificing
animals at shrines, and relocating markets)
and sutras are read, but none have the desired
effect. Consequently, the emperor goes to
Kawakami at Nabuchi to pray for rain. It then
rains heavily. (Nihon shoki)
7.-: Oofube no Oo from the Fuji River area in
Suruga invites his neighbors to worship an
insect he calls Tokoyo-no-kami. The belief
becomes very popular. Hata no kawakatsu
suppresses it (see *Hayarigami Shinkō).
(Nihon shoki)
6.12: Prince Naka-no-ōe assassinates Soga no
Iruka. His father Soga-no-emishi commits
suicide (Isshi Incident [Isshi no hen]). Emishi
tries to burn the Tennōki and Kokki (early
chronicles of Japan; see also *Kojiki and
Nihon shoki) at the moment of his suicide;
however, Fune-no-fubito-esaka rescues Kokki
from the fire. (Nihon shoki)
1.1: Reform edicts (the so-called Taika
Reforms) promulgated. (Nihon shoki)

2.15: Era name changed to Hakuchi ("white

pheasant") due to a good omen (governor of
Nagato Province gives a white pheasant to
the imperial court as a gift). (Nihon shoki)

12
 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
670 Tenji 9 3.9: Close to Mii ("sacred
well," present-day site of Mii
Temple just outside Kyoto in
Shiga Prefecture), places are set
out for worshipping the kami
with ritual offerings (*Heihaku)
spread before them (some argue
this is the first appearance of
the *Kinensai). (Nihon shoki)
671 Tenji 10 -.-: , Miwa no kami of Yamato is
enshrined at Mt. Hiei in Ōmi
during the reign of this emperor
(Emperor Tenji). (Yōtenki)
672 Tenmu 1

673 Tenmu 2 4.14: Ōku-no-himemiko

undertakes a purification rite
(*Kessai) at Hatsuse Shrine so
she can serve at Ise Shrine. The
following year on 10.19 she
goes to Ise (first mention of the
"consecrated princess" [*Saigū]
supported by historical
documentation). (Nihon shoki)
12.5 The Nakatomi and Inbe
clans; priests (shinkan); and the
heads of the Harima and Tanba
districts receive emoluments for
having performed the *Daijōsai
("the Great Thanksgiving
festival," held to accompany a
new emperor’s accession to the
throne) (this suggests that the
daijōsai for Emperor Tenmu
had already taken place).
(Nihon shoki)
675 Tenmu 4 1.23: Ritual wands (hei or nusa; 4.10: The wind kami of Tatsuta
see *Onusa) offered to shrines and the Ōimi-no-kami of Hirose
(said to be the beginning of are worshipped. (First mention of
public *Kinensai. Other sources Hirose-Tatsuta festivals [see also
say this took place in the 2nd *Ōimi no matsuri]. This is event
month that year, or else in Tenji is also said to mark the founding
9). (Nihon shoki) of the Hirose and Tatsuta
shrines). (Nihon shoki)

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6.-: The Jinshin War breaks out this month. It

ends the following month. (Nihon shoki)

1.1: Officials from various bureaus including

the Bureau of Divination present medicine to
the emperor (first mentions of a medicine
ceremony [here involving o-toso, or
medicinal sake] and of the Bureau of
Divination; see also *Shintō and Onmyōdō).
(Nihon shoki)

4.17: An imperial proclamation is sent to

every province restricting methods for fishing
and hunting, and the times when those
activities are allowed. It also prohibits the
consumption of beef, horse, monkey, and

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

676 Tenmu 5 10.3: Ritual offerings

(*Heihaku) presented to all
deities (*Jingi) (first mention of
*Ainame sai). (Nihon shoki).
678 Tenmu 7 1.-: Emperor Tenmu performs a
purification ceremony (*Ōharae)
to worship the "kami of heaven
and earth" (*Tenjinchigi), and
builds a palace (*Saigū) for the
consecrated princess at Kurahashi
Kawakami. An imperial
procession and festival were to
have taken place in the 4th
month; however, plans are
suspended due to the death of
Princess Tōchi no himemiko.
(Nihon shoki)
681 Tenmu 10 1.19: Provinces in the Kinai
region (the area around Nara
and Kyoto) and elsewhere are
ordered to repair shrine
buildings. (Nihon shoki)
683 Tenmu 12

684 Tenmu 13 10.1: Eight hereditary clan titles

[yakusa no kabane] instituted.
(Nihon shoki)
685 Tenmu 14 11.24: Ceremony to "invite the 9.10: System instituted for
spirits" performed for the rebuilding and reconsecrating the
emperor (origins of the "festival Grand Shrines of Ise, which
for the pacification of the spirit" entails transferring the enshrined
[*Chinkon-sai]). (Nihon shoki) deity from an old shrine building
to a newly constructed one (see
*Shikinensengū). (Dai jingū sho
zōjiki)
686 Shuchō 1 6.10: Emperor becomes ill. A
divination reveals it to be a curse
from the sword Kusanagi
(Kusanagi no tsurugi; see also
*Sanshu no shinki), so the
emperor sends the sword back to
Atsuta Shrine. (Nihon shoki)
687 Jitō 1

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poultry. (Nihon shoki)

3.2: "High priests" (sōjō), "senior priests"

(sōzu), and "Vinaya masters" (risshi) are
appointed to oversee monks and nuns (marks
the establishment of a hierarchical structure
for Buddhist officials [sōgō]). (Nihon shoki)

7.20: Era name changed to Shuch㿘

("vermilion bird") due to a vermilion
pheasant appearing, which was seen as a
good omen. (Nihon shoki)

9.9: National mourning (kokki) ceremonies

held at temples in the capital for Emperor
Tenmu first mention of a Buddhist style

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

689 Jitō 3 8.2: All government officials

gather at the *Jingikan for talks
on matters involving the kami
of heaven and earth
(*Tenjinchigi). (Nihon shoki)
690 Jitō 4 -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
deity transferred
(*Shikinensengū) (some argue
that this is the first time that the
shikinensengū for Ise Inner
Shrine was ever mentioned). (Dai
jingū sho zōjiki)
691 Jitō 5 11.1 *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Jitō. (Nihon shoki)
692 Jitō 6 12.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
deity transferred
(*Shikinensengū) (said to be first
mention of a shikinensengū
performed for the Ise Outer
Shrine). (Dai jingū sho zōjiki)
698 Monmu 2 11.23: *Daijōsai ceremony held 12.29: Ta’ke Shrine transferred to
to accompany accession of Watarai District in Ise Province.
Emperor Monmu. (Shoku- (Shoku-nihongi)
nihongi)
699 Monmu 3

700 Monmu 4

701 Taihō 1 -.-: Hata no Tori builds Matsu-no-

o Shrine in Yamashiro Province
this year. (Honcho getsurei)

702 Taihō 2 7.8: The shrine to

Honoikazuchi-no-kami of
Yamashiro-otokuni District is
added to the shrines where both
ritual purification wands
(*Ōnusa) and monthly imperial
tributes (tsukinami no nusa) are
officially offered (first mention

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memorial day mourning ceremony [kokki] for
an emperor). (Nihon shoki)

5.24: *En no Ozunu of Mt. Katsuragi is

exiled to Izu on a charge of making
misleading prophecies. (Shoku-nihongi)
3.10: The monk Dōshō cremated in
accordance with his written will (first
mention of cremation in Japan) (see
*Shinsōsai [Shinto Funeral Rites]). (Shoku-
nihongi)
3.21: Era name changed to Taihō due to good
omens (gold offerings from Tsushima,
completion of the Taihō legal code). (Shoku-
nihongi)
8.3: Completed Taihō legal code presented as
offering to the emperor. (Shoku-nihongi)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
of additions being made to
ranks of official shrines
[*Kansha] supported by
historical evidence). (Shoku-
nihongi)
704 Keiun 1

706 Keiun 3 2.26: Nineteen shrines in Kai,

Shinano, Etchū, Tajima, and
Tosa provinces are recipients of
the ritual offerings (*Hanpei)
from the *Kinensai. (Shoku-
nihongi)
707 Keiun 4

708 Wadō 1 11.21: *Daijōsai ceremony held 10.2: Royal court reports on
to accompany accession of construction of Heijō-kyō
Emperor Genmei. (Shoku- (present-day Nara) to Ise Inner
nihongi) Shrine. (Shoku-nihongi)
709 Wadō 2 -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
710 Wadō 3

711 Wadō 4 4.20: Governor of Yamashiro 2.-: Hata no Kimi Irogu enshrines
Province ordered to inspect the the kami Inari (see *Inari shinkō)
Kamo festival (festival had at Mitsumine in Kii District,
been growing too boisterous). Yamashiro Province (the first
(Shoku-nihongi) Inari shrine to be built).
(Nenchūgyōji hishō, Shosha
kongen-ki)
-.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
712 Wadō 5

715 Reiki 1 6.-: First mention of the ritual -.-: Following an oracle, Fujiwara
meal eaten by the emperor to no Muchimaro this year
celebrate the imperial ancestors constructs the "shrine temple"
(jinkonjiki; see *Chōtei saishi), (*Jingūji) Kehi in Echizen
according to one tradition. Province (the first mention of a
Another tradition claims the shrine temple in historical
jinkonjiki was first held in 716 accounts). (Tō-shi kaden)
(Reiki 2). (Kuji kongen)
716 Reiki 2 11.19: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of

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5.10: Era name changed to Keiun due to a

good omen (an auspicious cloud appeared in
the imperial court). (Shoku-nihongi)
-.-: Epidemic rages throughout the country,
killing many people. For this reason, a
demon-exorcism rite (taina) is performed
using a clay cow (first mention of taina; also
known as tsuina; see *Oni). (Shoku-nihongi)

2.6: Provinces ordered to perform

purification rite (*Ōharae) due to widespread
epidemic. (Shoku-nihongi)
1.11: Era name changed to Wadō (lit.
"Japanese copper") due to good omens
(copper offerings received from Musashi
Province). (Shoku-nihongi)

3.10: Capital relocated to Heijō-kyō (present-

day Nara).

1.28: Ōno Yasumaro presents Kojiki (see

*Kojiki and Nihon shoki) to the imperial
court. ( Kojiki, "Introduction")
-.-: Harima fudoki written by this year (see 9.2: Era name changed to Reiki due to good
*Fudoki). omen (the offering of a "supernatural turtle"
[reiki] from Sakyō).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Emperor Genshō
717 Yōrō 1 4.23: Begging by both monks 2.1: Ambassador to Tang China
and laypersons is banned, as are Ohono Garuhi worships the
all forms of shamanism and "kami of heaven and earth"
divination other than healing (*Tenjinchigi) south of Mt.
through incantations (shinju) or Mikasa. (Shoku-nihongi)
infusions (tōyaku). The itinerant
activities of Buddhist monk
Gyōki (see *Ryōbu Shintō) also
prohibited at this time. (Shoku-
nihongi)
718 Yōrō 2

719 Yōrō 3 6.19: Officials at the

Department of Divinities
(*Ritsuryō Jingikan) including
those who oversee ceremonies
in the imperial court (miyaji,
see *Jinjashishoku) ordered for
the first time to hold scepters
while performing their duties.
(Shoku-nihongi)
720 Yōrō 4 -.-: This year, following an oracle
a ceremonial release of captive
animals (hōjō-e; see also *Chōtei
saishi) takes place at Usa Shrine
(one tradition claims this was the
first hōjō-e held in the country;
another claims it is the first to be
held at Usa Grand Shrine). (Usa
takusen-shū)
721 Yōrō 5 9.11: Emperor Genshō sends an
envoy to Ise to make offerings
(*Heihaku) (first appearance of
"regular official offerings"
[reihei, see also *Reiheishi]
done at *Kannamesai). (Shoku-
nihongi)
724 Shinki 1 1.27: Izumo governor-ritualist
(*Izumo kokusō) Izumo no omi
Hiroshima delivers the
kamuyogoto incantation (see
also *Norito).
11.23: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Shōmu.
725 Shinki 2 -.-: Following an oracle from the
deity Usa Ōkami, a "shrine
temple" (*Jingūji) is constructed

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 Personalities/Texts Society

11.17: Era name changed to Yōrō due to a

favorable auspice (sake is said to have come
out of a fountain in Mino Province).

5.-: First draft of Hitachi no kuni fudoki

prepared (see *Fudoki).

5.21: Prince Toneri and his collaborators

finish and present to the emperor Nihongi
(Nihon shoki) in 30 volumes, plus a
genealogy (see * Kojiki and Nihon shoki).

2.4: Era name changed to Shinki to mark start

of new era and due to a favorable omen
(offering of a white turtle from Sakyō [the
characters for "Shinki" mean "divine turtle"]).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
at Usa. ( Usatakusenshū )
729 Tenpyō 1 -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)

730 Tenpyō 2 10.29: Offerings from the

Chinese kingdom of Bohai
made to shrines to "eminent
deities" (*Myōjin) in each
province (first mention of
myōjin). (Shoku-nihongi)

732 Tenpyō 4 -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
733 Tenpyō 5

737 Tenpyō 9 8.13: Order issued for shrines

without official status
throughout the country that are
to kami seen as efficacious to
be promoted to status of official
shrines (*Kansha). (Shoku-
nihongi)
740 Tenpyō 12
741 Tenpyō 13

743 Tenpyō 15 5.27: Law promulgated

allowing newly opened, arable
fields to be owned in perpetuity
across the generations.
746 Tenpyō 18 8.-: An oracle from Usa
Hachiman Shrine ordering

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 Personalities/Texts Society

2.12: Prince Nagaya commits suicide after

being falsely accused of studying the "Left
Way" (sadō; i.e., a heresy or black magic)
and plotting treason against the emperor.
(Nagaya-ō no hen, or "the Prince Nagaya
incident"). Subsequently, during the years
when the Chinese-styled administrative
system (i.e., the ritsuryō state) was still in
effect, the government adopted a repressive
stance toward Daoist magic. (Shoku-nihongi)
8.5: Era name changed to Tenpyō due to a
favorable omen (an "auspicious turtle"[zuiki]
was offered from Sakyō).
9.29: Someone from Suō Province recklessly
preaches about good and bad fortune and
worships the spirits of the dead. Another
brings together large masses of people around
capital and spreads groundless rumors (some
traditions say this was the itinerant Buddhist
preacher Gyōki). Both are banned. (Shoku-
nihongi)

2.30: Izumo no kuni fudoki produced (see

*Fudoki). (Introduction to Izumo no kuni
fudoki)
-.-: Hizen no kuni fudoki and Bungo no kuni 8.12: Smallpox rampant. (Shoku-nihongi)
fudoki produced this year (see *Fudoki).

9.-: The revolt of Fujiwara no Hirotsugu.

3.24: Promulgation issued ordering the
construction of official temples and nunneries
in each province (the kokubunji, or provincial
temple, system) (date recorded in Ruiju-
sandai-kyaku as 2.14). (Shoku-nihongi)

24
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
construction of the Great Buddha
for Tōdai Temple. Mutsu
Province gives the shrine an
offering of 120 gold ryō (approx.
4.5 kg of gold). (Tōdaiji yōroku)
747 Tenpyō 19 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
749 Tenpyō- 11.25: *Daijōsai ceremony held 12.18: Divine spirit of Usa
shōhō 1 to accompany accession of Hachiman Shrine comes to the
Emperor Kōken. (Shoku- capital (Heijō-kyō, today’s Nara).
nihongi) Spirit is welcomed with the
construction of shrine buildings
in Nashihara Palace. (The spirit is
said to have come to the capital to
support the construction of the
Great Buddha in Heijō-kyō.)
(Shoku-nihongi)
-.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
752 Tenpyō-
shōhō 4
754 Tenpyō- 11.27: Chief ritualist (miyaji,
shōhō 6 see *Jinjashishoku) of Usa
Hachiman Shrine Ōga no
Tamaro and others for
witchcraft. The governor of
Dazai (Dazai-fu) takes control
of shrine’s estates. (Shoku-
nihongi)
757 Tenpyō-hōji 5.20: The Yōrō Code goes into
1 effect.

6.19: The decision is made that

the imperial envoy (heihakushi,
see *Hōbeishi) to the Grand
Shrines of Ise will be selected
from among members of the
high-ranking Nakatomi clan.
(Shoku-nihongi)

758 Tenpyō-hōji 11.23 *Daijōsai ceremony held 9.-: Two hundred and eighteen
2 to accompany accession of shrine menials (kamiyatsuko) at
Emperor Junnin. Kashima in Hitachi Province are
designated shrine households

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Personalities/Texts Society

4.14: Era name changed to Tenpyō-kanpō

due to favorable auspice (offering of gold
from Mutsu Province).

8.17: Seventeen shamans from the capital

exiled to Izu, Tosa, and Oki. (Shoku-nihongi)

4.4: All households ordered to keep a copy of

Xiao jing (The classic of filial piety). (Shoku-
nihongi)
5.20: Fujiwara no Nakamaro installs himself
as head of the empress-consort’s household
agency (shibi-naishō). He pursues policies
strongly colored by Tang and Confucian
models, such as changing the titles of
government officials to match Tang styles.

8.18: Era name changed to Tenpyō-hōji due

to good omen (appearance of mystical
writing at the imperial court and in Suruga).
(Shoku-nihongi)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(*Kanbe). (Shoku-nihongi)
10.2: Mishima Shrine in Izu is
granted 9 shrine households
(*Kanbe). Another 4 are granted
in the 12th month.
(Shinshōkyakuchokufushō)
759 Tenpyō-hōji
3
765 Tenpyō- 11.16: (22) *Daijōsai ceremony
jingo 1 held to accompany accession of
Emperor Shōtoku.
766 Tenpyō- -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
jingo 2 reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
767 Jingo-keiun
1

768 Jingo-keiun -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

2 reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
769 Jingo-keiun
3

770 Hōki 1

771 Hōki 2 11.21: *Daijōsai ceremony held -.-: The offices of chief priest
to accompany accession of (daigūji) and vice-chief priest
Emperor Kōnin. (shōgūji) created at Usa Shrine
(see *Gūji).
772 Hōki 3 8.6: The shrine temple (*jingūji)
at Ise is transferred from Watarai
District to Ītaka District because
of a curse by the kami
*Tsukuyomi of the Grand Shrines
of Ise (Shoku-nihongi). (The
curse did not abate, so the temple
would be transferred to another
location in 780 on 2.1).
775 Hōki 6 10.13: Feast held to celebrate
the emperor's birthday (first
mention of the *Tenchō-setsu).

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6.22: Unordained monks (shidosō) are

banned. (Ruiju-sandai-kyaku)

8.16: Era name changed to Jingo-keiun due to

good omen (clouds seen as omens of good
luck [keiun] appeared at the imperial court
and Ise).

9.25: Prior to this date, the head priest of

Dazai-fu had reported to the emperor that an
oracle from Usa Hachiman (see *Hachiman
shinkō) called for Dōkyō, a monk, to be made
emperor. The emperor sent Wake no
Kiyomaro to Usa to inquire as to the will of
Hachiman. Kiyomaro reported back that the
previous oracle (*Takusen) was false and for
that reason he was exiled. (Shoku-nihongi)
10.1: Era name changed to Hōki due to start
of new era and a good omen (offering of a
white turtle from Higo). (Shoku-nihongi)

28
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(Shoku-nihongi)
780 Hōki 11 12.14: Activities of shamans
and "worship of heretical
deities" (inshi) banned in the
capital. (Shoku-nihongi)
781 Ten'ō 1 11.13: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Kanmu.

784 Enryaku 3
785 Enryaku 4 11.10: Emperor Kanmu -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
worships the heavenly deities reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(tenjin, see *Tenjinchigi) with a (Nisho Daijingū reibun)
Chinese-style ceremony (Ch.
jiaosi, usually "suburban
sacrifice") at Kashiwara in
Kawachi-katano District.
(Shoku-nihongi)
787 Enryaku 6 -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
788 Enryaku 7 5.2: Envoys sent to the Grand
Shrines of Ise and shrines to
eminent deities (*Myōjin) around
the country to pray for rain.
(Shoku-nihongi)

789 Enryaku 8

791 Enryaku 10 10.27: Crown Prince visits Ise

Grand Shrine. (Shoku-nihongi)

792 Enryaku 11 7.27: Holding large-scale 3.24: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
funerals is banned. (Ruiju- reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū)
sandai-kyaku) on a provisional basis due to fire.
794 Enryaku 13 12.-: Hirano Shrine is built.
(Ichidai-yōki)
798 Enryaku 17 1.24: Terms of office for chief
priests and priestly officials
decided. (Ruijū-sandai-kyaku)
9.7: System for "provincial
offering shrines" (kokuheisha,
see *Shikinaisha) finalized, for
purposes of distributing ritual
offerings (*Hanpei) in such

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 Personalities/Texts Society

1.1: Era name changed to Ten'ō due to a good

omen (appearance of a beautiful cloud at the
palace to the consecrated princess [*Saigū] at
Ise). (Shoku-nihongi)
11.11: Capital transferred to Nagaoka-kyō.

-.-: First appearance of the word *saimon,

meaning a written proclamation read aloud to
the deities. (Shoku-nihongi)
4.16: The emperor himself prays for rain
(*Kiu) due to a nationwide drought.
(according to archival materials, an emperor
had not prayed for rain since 642; such
prayers were hardly ever offered again after
this date). (Shoku-nihongi)
12.-: Enryaku Temple constructed on Mt.
Hiei.
8.-: *Sumiyoshitaishajindaiki presented to the
Settsu Office (Settsu-shiki, a special office
that administered Settsu Province).
9.16: Killing cows in worship of Chinese
deities (karagami) in the provinces of
Echizen, Ōmi, Ise, Mino, Owari, and Kii is
banned. (Shoku-nihongi)

10.24: Capital transferred to Heian-kyō

(present-day Kyoto).
10.4: Music and dancing at night time
festivals in the capital and neighboring
provinces forbidden. (Ruijū-sandai-kyaku)

30
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
festivals as the *Kinensai.
Previously, priests (*Hafuribe)
from all official shrines
(*Kansha) would be brought to
the Department of Divinities
(*Ritsuryō Jingikan) to be
given the distributed ritual
offerings. After this change, in
the case of the more distant
official shrines the governor
(kokushi) of the province in
which the shrine was located
would distribute offerings
themselves. (Ruijū-kokushi).
10.12: In Izumo and Chikuzen
provinces, provincial governor-
ritualists (*Kuni no miyatsuko;
see also *Izumo kokusō )
prohibited from concurrently
holding post of district
governor (gunryō).
Additionally, provincial
governors in those provinces
also serving as shrine ritualists
(*Kannushi) prohibited from
referring to farm girls taken as
concubines as "shrine
attendants" (jingū uneme) and
having them conduct rituals.
(Ruijū-kokushi; Ruijū-sandai-
kyaku)
800 Enryaku 19 12.4: Chief magistrate of
Munakata, Chikuzen Province,
prohibits shrine ritualists
(*Kannushi) from also serving
as district officials (see
*Shingun). (Ruijū-sandai-
kyaku)

801 Enryaku 20 Intercalary 1.17: The position of

jingūji ("chief administrator
priest"; not to be confused with
*Jingūji) in Izumo Province is
abolished. (Ruijū-kokushi)
804 Enryaku 23 6.-: Method for appointing the
chief priests (*Gūji) at the
Hitachi, Kashima, Kehi, Keta,
and Buzen Hachiman shrines

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 Personalities/Texts Society

7.23: It has been decided that the ongoing

misfortunes Emperor Kanmu has been
experiencing around this time are due to a
curse from Crown Prince Sawara, who had
become the sacrificial victim in a fight for
succession (he had been banished and then he
starved to death in custody). Consequently,
on this day the late prince is granted the
posthumous title of Emperor Sudō.
3.14: Presentation of Toyuke-gū gishiki chō
(see *Enryakugishikichō).

8.28: Kōtai-jingū gishiki chō (see

*Enryakugishikichō) produced. (Afterword to
Kōtai-jingū gishiki chō)

32
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
established (Nihon-kōki).
805 Enryaku 24 -.-: One tradition holds that
around this time, during the reign
of Emperor Kanmu, the Kasuga
kami (see *Kasuga shinkō) was
transferred (*Kanjō) to Ōharano
(the foundation of Ōharano
Shrine). (Ōkagami uragaki)
806 Daidō 1

807 Daidō 2 9.28: Shamans and "worship of

heretical deities" (inshi) in the
capital are banned. (Nihon-
kiryaku)

808 Daidō 3 11.14: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Heizei.
810 Kōnin 1 11.19: *Daijōsai ceremony held -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
to accompany accession of reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
Emperor Saga. (Nisho Daijingū reibun)

12.-: Princess Uchiko is

appointed the consecrated
princess of Kamo Shrine
(*Saiin). (This marks the
creation of the position of
Kamo princess)
812 Kōnin 3 9.26: All the provinces were 6.5: The frequency for doing
ordered to investigate oracles rebuilding work at shrines in
(shintaku; see also Sumiyoshi, Katori, and Kashima
*Kamigakari, takusen). Orders is set at 20 years for the main
are also issued that prohibit building (seiden, see *Honden)
reckless preaching about good alone. (Nihonkōki)
and bad fortune (kafuku) and
that provincial governors
(kokushi) are to report oracles
remarkably good in nature to
the court. (Nihonkōki)
-.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Jingū nenpyō)
814 Kōnin 5

815 Kōnin 6 11.21: Issuing decisions on

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 Personalities/Texts Society

6.8: Buddhist monk Saichō (also known as

Dengyō Daishi) returns from China to found
the Tendai Buddhist sect.

10.22: Buddhist monk Kūkai (also known as

Kōbō Daishi) returns from China to found the
Shingon Buddhist sect.
2.13: Inbe no Hironari presents to the court 2.24: The emperor offers prayers to eminent
*Kogoshūi. (Kogoshūi dedication). deities (*Myōjin) at the imperial palace
(Divergent opinions exist). audience hall (Daigokuden) in response to the
spread of an epidemic (offering invocations
[*Kitō] to eminent deities starts to become
popular from around this time).
(Nihongiryaku)

9.12: The Kusuko Incident (Kusuko no hen, a

failed coup attempt meant to restore the now-
retired Emperor Heizei to the throne).
(Nihonkōki)

6.1: Prince Manda presents *Shinsen

shōjiroku to the imperial court. (Some argue
it was completed in the 7th month.)

34
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
death sentences during festivals
prohibited. (Nihonkōki)
816 Kōnin 7 6.22: Chief priest (*Gūji) at the
Grand Shrines of Ise is
removed from his position for
causing pollution (*Kegare) by
performing Buddhist rites.
(Ruijū-kokushi)
817 Kōnin 8 12.25: The chief priest (*Gūji)
of the Grand Shrines of Ise is
granted authority over the
special districts providing
services to Ise (*Shingun).
(Ruijū-sandai-kyaku)
818 Kōnin 9 -.-: An administrative office for
the Kamo consecrated princess
(saiinshi, see *Saiin) is
established.
819 Kōnin 10 3.16: The Kamo Shrine festival 5.17: Imperial tributes (*Hōbei)
[kamosai] is grouped with other offered to the kami of Kibune as a
medium-scale shrine rites prayer for rain (*Kiu). (Kyoto’s
(chūshi, see *Chūsai) placing it Kibune Shrine became the main
on par with the *Kinensai, shrine for prayers seeking the
*Niinamesai, and others below start or end of rainfall around this
the *Daijōsai among imperial time, lasting until the medieval
court rituals. (This may indicate period). (Nihongiryaku)
the first time that the Kamo
festival was officially
acknowledged as a court
festival).
820 Kōnin 11

822 Kōnin 13

823 Kōnin 14 11.17: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Junna.
827 Tenchō 4 1.19: Emperor Junna becomes ill.
The source of his illness is
attributed to a curse from Inari

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 Personalities/Texts Society

4.21: Kōnin kyakushiki (see *Policies and

Institutions of the Classical Period) presented
to the imperial court. (The document—a
compilation of protocols and procedures—
would be presented again in 830 before going
into force in 840).
1.30: Dairishiki (a compilation of protocols
for the imperial palace) presented to the
imperial court.
-.-: Keikai (also known as Kyōkai) produces
Nihon ryōiki [A record of miraculous events
in Japan] around this time (see, for example,
*Fugeki).

7.12: A major earthquake occurs. Frequent

earthquakes follow. (Nihongiryaku)

36
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Shrine, so the deity of that shrine
is granted the rank (*Shin’i,
shinkai) of junior fifth lower
grade (jugoi’ge). (Nihongiryaku)
829 Tenchō 6 -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
830 Tenchō 7

831 Tenchō 8 -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
833 Tenchō 10 11.15: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Ninmei.
839 Jōwa 6 Intercalary 1.23: Villages are 11.5: Fire at the palace of the
ordered to worship kami consecrated princess of Ise
associated with disasters and (*Saigū) burns down more than
misfortune (ekijin or yakujin; 100 official residences.
see *Shintō and Buddhism)
every season to prevent
epidemics from spreading.
2.26: Jurisdiction over Kehi
Shrine in Echizen is transferred
from the provincial governor
(kokushi) to the Department of
Divinities (Jingikan, see
*Ritsuryō Jingikan). (Shoku-
nihonkōki)
840 Jōwa 7

848 Kashō 1

849 Kashō 2 -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Jingū nenpyō)
850 Kashō 3 5.9: Seventy monks (dosha)
assigned to the shrines of
eminent deities (*Myōjin); the
monks are given names that
include the character for kami
(⚄). (Montoku jitsuroku)
851 Ninju 1 1.27: All kami ranked or not are -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
given ranks of senior sixth or reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
higher (see also *Shin’i, (Nisho Daijingū reibun)

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 Personalities/Texts Society

8.11: Urabe Tohotsugu presents to the

imperial court *Shinsen kisōki. (Shinsen
kisōki no kenkyū: honkoku no bu)

2.15: Kiyohara no Natsuno finishes

compiling *Ryōnogige.

12.9: Fujiwara no Otsugu and his

collaborators finish compiling the chronicle
Nihonkōki. (Introduction to the Nihonkōki)
6.13: Era name changed to Kashō due to
favorable auspice (the offering of a white
turtle from Dazaifu).

4.28: Era name changed to Ninju due to start

of new imperial reign and favorable auspices
(reports to the court of a white turtle and

38
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
shinkai). (Montoku jitsuroku)

2.12: System for festivals at

Ōharano Shrine established,
modeled on those of Umemiya
Shrine. (Hereafter, the Ōharano
festival would be held as court
rites). (Montoku-jitsuroku)
11.23: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Montoku.
854 Saikō 1

857 Ten'an 1

859 Jōgan 1 1.27: Ranks assigned to 267 8.-: Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine
shrines around the country en founded. (Another version of its
masse. (Sandai jitsuroku) founding holds that this year the
monk Gyōkyō asked to found the
shrine and the deity was
transferred [*kanjō] there the
following year. In either case, the
shrine subsequently became the
focal point for the Hachiman cult
[see *Hachiman shinkō]).
(Chōyagunsai)
11.16: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Seiwa.
863 Jōgan 5 -.-: This year, Iwashimizu
Hachiman Shrine following on
Usa Hachiman Shrine begins to
hold its Hōjō-e festival (a
Buddhist-derived ceremony
entailing the release of captive
animals; see also *Hachiman
shinkō and *Chōtei saishi).
Iwashimizu Temple is renamed
Gokoku Temple and is made the
"shrine temple" (*Jingūji) of
Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine..
864 Jōgan 6 8.5: The imperial court orders
Kai Province to apologize to
the kami, saying the great

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 Personalities/Texts Society
rainfalls of sweet waters [kanro, associated in
Chinese political thought with benevolent
rule and peaceful lands]).

11.30: Era name changed to Saikō due to

favorable auspice (a report from Iwami of a
spring that produces sweet-tasting waters
[reisen]).
2.21: Era name changed to Ten'an due to
favorable auspices (reports from Mimasaka
and Hitachi of white deer and of conjoined
trees [renri; considered to be lucky]).
8.-: The word suijaku ("temporary
manifestation;" see *Honjisuijakusetsu) is
used with reference to the kami in a
document submitted to the imperial court
(jōhyōbun) by the monk Eryō of Enryaku
Temple, who was requesting that annual
ordinands (nendosha or nenbundosha) from
the Tendai sect be sent to the Kamo and
Kasuga shrines (see also *Shintō and
Buddhism). (Sandai jitsuroku)

5.20: Ritual to placate the spirits that cause

calamities (goryō-e, see *Goryō and *Goryō
shinkō) held at the garden Shinsen’en in
Kyoto to appease the vengeful spirits of
Emperor Sudō, Prince Iyo, Fujiwara no
Yoshiko, Fujiwa no Nakanari, Tachibana no
Hayanari, and Fun'ya no Miyatamaro.
(Sandai jitsuroku)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
eruption of Mt. Fuji that
occurred in the 5th month did
so because the priests (*Negi
and *Hafuri) of Sengen Myōjin
Shrine were insincere when it
came to rites. (Sandai jitsuroku)
865 Jōgan 7 6.14: People banned from
gathering on the pretense of
holding rituals to placate the
spirits that cause calamities
(goryō-e, see *Goryō and
*Goryō shinkō) in order to
actually hold horseback races
and archery contests. (Sandai
jitsuroku)
866 Jōgan 8

868 Jōgan 10 6.28: Government officials 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
banned from concurrently being reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
the head of a shrine
(*Kannushi). Kannushi
subsequently placed under the
jurisdiction of provincial
governors (kokushi). Also
women officially allowed to be
appointed as "suppliant priests"
(*Negi). (Ruijū-sandai-kyaku)
Intercalary 12.25: Unmarried
shrine priestesses (itsukime, or
saijo) are assigned to Kasuga and
Ōharano shrines (the practice
soon ceases). (Sandai jitsuroku)
-.-: Sekisan Myōjin Shrine
founded at the foot of Mt. Hiei.
(Sekisan-myōjin engi)
869 Jōgan 11 -.-: Great epidemic. Believing it
due to a curse from *Gozu Tennō
( "ox-headed king of heaven"), 66
halberds are erected in a rite to
appease the deity. (One tradition
holds this is the origin of the
Gion festival; however, Yasaka
Gion Shrine is generally regarded
as having been founded in 876.
See also *Gion matsuri and

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 Personalities/Texts Society

Intercalary 3.1: The emperor observes

peasants at work. The people working the
field performed dances and music of the
common folk (zatsugaku, in contrast with
*Gagaku) (One tradition holds this is the first
mention of *Dengaku). (Sandai jitsuroku)
-.-: Around this time, Koremune no Naomoto
produces *Ryōnoshūge.

4.-: Jōgankyaku (a collection of laws)

compiled. 9.-: The laws go into force.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
*Gion/Tsushima shinkō)
870 Jōgan 12 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
871 Jōgan 13

873 Jōgan 15

876 Jōgan 18 4.8: Celebrations for the -.-: Sometime during the Jōgan
Buddha's birthday in the era, Fujiwara no Yamakage
imperial palace are suspended founds Yoshida Shrine on Mt.
because of shinsai (imperial Yoshida in Yamashiro Province.
household festivals whose rites (Ōkagami [The great mirror])
the emperor himself conducts;
see also *Chokusai) (an early
example of separation of Shinto
and Buddhism in the imperial
palace) (see *Shinto and
Buddhism).
877 Gangyō 1 11.18: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Yōzei.
879 Gangyō 3 7.22: Sumiyoshi Shrine is ordered
to keep a register listing the
shrine’s treasures (shinzaichō, see
also *Shinpō) and to make three
copies of it for each new
provincial governor (kokushi)
when they take office. (Ruijū-
sandai-kyaku)
881 Gangyō 5 3.26: All shrines in the country
are ordered to present to the
imperial court a genealogical
register of *Hafuribe (an
ancient priestly rank) every
three years. (Sandai jitsuroku)
884 Gangyō 8 11.22: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Kōkō.
886 Ninna 2 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
888 Ninna 4 10.19: The emperor worships
"all the deities of heaven and
earth (*Tenjinchigi) of the four
directions" (this marks the
inauguration of the daily
morning worship rite [gohai;
see *Chōtei saishi]).
(Nenchūgyōjihishō)
11.22: *Daijōsai ceremony held

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8.25: Jōganshiki compiled. (see *Policies

and Institutions of the Classical Period)
-.-: First mention of subshrines (*Wakamiya),
in the Sandai jitsuroku.

4.16: Era name changed to Gangyō due to a

favorable auspice (offerings of white
pheasant and white deer received).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
to accompany accession of
Emperor Uda.
889 Kanpyō 1 11. 21: Kamo Rinjisai ("Kamo 3.13: The Īno District in Ise
special annual festival") held Province is granted to the Ise
for the first time. Grand Shrines as a shrine estate
(Nihongiryaku; Fusōryakuki) (*Shinryō). (Nihongiryaku; Ruijū-
sandai-kyaku)
10.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nihongiryaku)
890 Kanpyō 2 1.1: Emperor Uda performs the
ritual of worshipping in the four
directions (shihōhai, see
*Chōga) (first performance of
the shihōhai on New Year's
Day). (Nihongiryaku;
Gōkeshidaishō;
Nenchūgyōjihishō)
892 Kanpyō 4

893 Kanpyō 5 3.2: Provincial governors 11.27: People prohibited from

(kokushi) are ordered to oversee taking up residence in the vicinity
shrine priests (shashi and of Ise Outer Shrine. (Jingū
*Kannushi; see also zatsurei shū)
*Shinshoku) and have them
conduct ceremonies such as the
*Kinensai, *Tsukinamisai, and
*Niinamesai. (Ruijū-sandai-
kyaku)
894 Kanpyō 6

897 Kanpyō 9 11.20: *Daijōsai ceremony held 12.22: The imperial court assigns
to accompany accession of a provincial military-police force
Emperor Daigo. (kebiishi) to the territory of the
Grand Shrines of Ise and gives
them the authority to conduct
police investigations on those
lands. (Ruijū-sandai-kyaku)
12.3: Three hundred and forty
shrines throughout the country
granted promotions of one rank.
(Nihongiryaku; Entairyaku)
898 Shōtai 1 5.8: Offerings are made to 16
shrines including Ise for them
to carry out rainfall rituals
(*Kiu) (the 16-shrine system,
later to become the 22-shrine
system [*Nijūnisha] established

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5.10: Sugawara no Michizane finishes

compiling Ruiju kokushi (see also *Tenjin
shinkō).

9.-: Dispatch of envoys to T'ang China

suspended. (Nihongiryaku; Kankebunsō)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
around this time).
(Nihongiryaku)
901 Engi 1

903 Engi 3

904 Engi 4 12.19: The Imperial court

enshrines *Raijin, "thunder
kami," at Kitano as a prayer for a
good harvest (Raikōsai) (see also
*Shintō and Onmyōdō).
(Seikyūki)
905 Engi 5 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
907 Engi 7 10.2: Cloistered emperor Uda -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
goes on official procession reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(gokō, "imperial progress") to (Nisho Daijingū reibun)
the mountains of Kumano (first
mention of an imperial progress
by an emperor or former
emperor; see also *Kumano
shinkō). (Nihongiryaku)

910 Engi 10

914 Engi 14

916 Engi 16 2.10: Fujiwara no Tadahira, head

of the Fujiwara clan, presents a
race horse (sōme) and a special

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7.15: Era name changed to Engi based on a

submission from Miyoshi Kiyotsura (Miyoshi
argued that era names should be changed
when the year in the Chinese zodiac is shinyū
kakumei, "younger wood cock revolution,"
[the 58th year in the sexagenary cycle] which
is associated with political and social
instability [see also *Ehō])
2.25: Sugawara no Michizane dies (age 59);
see also *Tenjin shinkō). (Nihongiryaku)

9.17: Arakida Motosada, a suppliant priest

(*Negi) of Ise Inner Shrine, and others
present Daijingū negifuzuchō.
(*Kōnojisatabumi).

11.15: Fujiwara no Tokihira and others

present Engikyaku to the imperial court. A
compendium of rules and procedures, it goes
into force the 12th month of the following
year (see *Engishiki).
7.10: Nationwide drought around this time.
The imperial court presents standard
offerings (*Hōbei) and the offerings of living
animals (*Ikenie), to shrines, famous
mountains, and famous rivers around the
country. Orders are also given for abandoned
corpses in various places to be buried and for
fishing and hunting to be banned.
(Nihongiryaku)
-.-: Miyoshi Kiyotsura makes note in Iken
fūji—a memorial he sent to the emperor—of
"disorder" in the regularly performed rites
such as the *Kinensai. (Honchōmonzui)

48
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
horse intended as a votive
offering (*Shinme) to Kasuga
Shrine (first mention of a shinme
envoy from the house of the
imperial regent).
(Nenchūgyōjishō)
919 Engi 19 6.24: Examples are set down on
the rituals to be performed
should some defilement arise
before performing a three-day,
total abstinence rite (chisai, see
*Jingiryō). (Kujō nenchūgyōji)
921 Engi 21 2.7: Cloistered emperor Uda
Hōō makes a pilgrimage
(*Sankei) to Kasuga Shrine
(first mention of an imperial
progress to Kasuga Shrine).
(Mitsune-shū)
922 Engi 22

923 Enchō 1

924 Enchō 2 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
926 Enchō 4 5.27: Provincial governors 4.11: The boundaries for the land
(kokushi) are ordered to handle in which Ise Outer Shrine sits are
offerings used in the rituals for defined. (Jingū-zōreishū)
*kinensai and similar
observance] with the strictest of
care. Also, the Imperial
Household Ministry
(*Kunaishō) within the
Department of Divinities
(Jingikan, see *Ritsuryō
Jingikan) is ordered carry out
repairs to damage at shrines
throughout the country.
(Saigūki)
9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
927 Enchō 5

932 Shōhei 2 11.13: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Suzaku.

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-.-: Mention is made of "field entertainment"

(*Dengaku) in Izumi no kuni Ōtori daimyōjin
gosharyūkichō (first definite appearance of
dengaku in the historical record).
Intercalary 4.11: Era name changed to Enchō
due to calamities (flooding and the death of
the crown prince).

11.25: Scholar of laws and codes (myōhō

hakase) Koremune no Kinkata is ordered to
investigate whether it was acceptable for
individuals under age 7 who were in
mourning to be involved in rituals.
(Gengohiketsu)

12.26: Fujiwara no Tadahira and others

present the 50-volume *Engishiki.

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
934 Shōhei 4 6.26: A practitioner monk
(shugyōsō) builds the Tenjindō
("hall to the kami of heaven";
formally called Gion-Kanjin'in
and also known as Gion-sha;
present-day Yasaka Shrine) at
Gion Temple (other traditions
hold it was built either in 926 or
in 935). (Ichidai-yōki;
Nihongiryaku)
935 Shōhei 5

938 Tengyō 1 8.12: Worshippers from

Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine
attack and destroy a new shrine
built in Yamashina to which the
divided spirit of Iwashmizu
Hachiman had been transferred
(*Kanjō) because the new one
prospered more than the original.
(Honchō-seiki)

940 Tengyō 3 1.6: All of the eminent deities

(*Myōjin) in the country are
promoted one rank (see *Shin’i,
shinkai) as a prayer for the
suppression of the Shōhei-
Tengyō revolt. Estates were
granted to the shrines of those
kami that were already at the
highest rank. (Entairyaku)
942 Tengyō 5 4.29: The emperor visits Kamo 6.21: An azuma-asobi dance (see
Shrine to give thanks for the *Bugaku) and a ritual horse race
suppression of the revolts of (sōme; see also *Kurabe-uma) are
Taira no Masakado and performed at the Gion-Kanjin'in
Fujiwara no Sumitomo (the first (Gion Shrine) as thanksgiving for
mention of an imperial progress the suppression of Shōhei-
to Kamo Shrine). Tengyō revolt. (Nihongiryaku)
(Nihongiryaku)
7.12: Tajihi Ayako enshrines
Sugawara no Michizane at
Shichijō in Kyoto inspired by a
divine message (shintaku; see

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Personalities/Texts Society

2.-: Taira no Masakado wars with his uncle

Taira no Kunika in Hitachi Province
(beginning of the revolt of Masakado
[Masakado no ran], aka the Shōhei-Tengyō
revolt [Shōhei-Tengyō no ran]).
5.22: Era name changed to Tengyō due to
calamities (the revolt of Masakado that had
begun two years prior, earthquake in the 4th
month of this year).

-.-: In autumn, worshipping a pair of male

and female statues called Funado no Kami
and Goryō in the streets Kyoto becomes
popular. (Honchō-seiki)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
also *Kamigakari, takusen) (see
*Tenjin shinkō). (Teiō-hennenki)
943 Tengyō 6 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
945 Tengyō 8 -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)

946 Tengyō 9 11.16: *Daijōsai ceremony held -.-: Around this time (during the
to accompany accession of reign of Emperor Suzaku),
Emperor Murakami. Munakata Shrine in Chikuzen is
granted the rank of bodhisattva
(bosatsu) and establishes the post
of chief shrine priest (*Gūji).
(Munakata daigūji-shidai)
947 Tenryaku 1 6.9: Saichin, a monk of Asahi
Temple, and others build a shrine
to Sugawara no Michizane at
Kitano (the founding of Kitano
Shrine) (see *Tenjin shinkō).
(Nenchūgyōji-hishō)
-.-: The biannual reading of the
complete Lotus Sūtra (niki-
hakkō) is held at Kasuga Shrine
(first mention of the niki-hakkō at
this shrine). (Kasuga-daimyōjin-
shōshaki)
948 Tenryaku 2 10.1: The ritual custom of
reciting the Lotus Sūtra in its
entirety (Hokke-hakkō) is
established at Tōnomine.
(Tōnomine ryakuki)
949 Tenryaku 3

957 Tentoku 1

960 Tentoku 4

961 Ōwa 1 -.-: Ise Shrine chief priest

(daigūji, see *Gūji) Ōnakatomi
no Nakasuke prohibited from

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8.3: Portable shrines (*Shin’yo) from

Shidaragami are brought from Settsu to
Kyoto and installed at Iwashimizu Hachiman
Shrine. Many people accompany the
procession. (Honchō-seiki)

5.23: Jingikan kanmon (a collection of

responses [kanmon] to questions posed by the
emperor; see also *Ritsuryō Jingikan)
published.
10.27: Era name changed to Tentoku due to
calamity (severe drought in the previous
year).
6.10: Sōken engi (formally, Kitano Tenman 9.23: Fire at the imperial palace (First time
Jizai Tenjingu sōken Yamashiro no kuni no for imperial palace to burn down since the
kado no Kamutsuhayashi no gō engi; also move from Nara 167 years before. Palace
known as Kitano Tenmangū konpon-engi), a burns down repeatedly after this.).
chronicle of the founding of Kitano Shrine,
produced (see also *Tenjin Shinkō).
2.16: Era name changed to Ōwa due to
calamities and associations of year with
political and social instability according to

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
privately donating divine rice
fields (shinden) to the shrine
(confirms that the imperial
court had a policy of not
allowing private contributions
to Ise Shrine). (Jingūzōreishū)
962 Ōwa 2 2.27: The Mie District in Ise is 9.17: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
granted to the Grand Shrines of reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
Ise as a special district serving (Jin’nōzōyōsenkiroku)
the shrine (*Shingun) in
gratitude for the building of the
new inner palace having been
completed the previous year
without incident. (Nihongi-
ryaku)
964 Kōhō 1 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine shrine
rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū). (Nisho
Daijingū reibun)

967 Kōhō 4

968 Anna 1 11.24: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Reizei.
969 Anna 2

970 Tenroku 1 6.14: One tradition holds that

the Gion Goryōe (*Gion
matsuri) begins to be included
as an official festival (kōsai)
starting this year (see also
*Goryō shinkō). (Nijūnisha-
chūshiki)
11.17: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Enyū.
971 Tenroku 2 3.8: The Iwashimizu Rinjisai
("special festival") becomes a
regular event. (Nihongiryaku)
973 Ten’en 1

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 Personalities/Texts Society
Chinese zodiac (fire at the imperial
residential compound [dairi] at the palace the
previous year; current year is shinyū kakumei,
"younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
year in the sexagenary cycle) (see also *Ehō).

7.10: Era name changed to Kōhō due to

calamity and associations of year with
political and social instability according to
Chinese zodiac( devastating storm two years
before; current year is kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution," the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) (see also *Ehō).
7.9: *Engishiki is promulgated and goes into
force. (Nihongiryaku; Engishiki; Fusenshō)

3.26: Minamoto no Takaakira exiled on

charge of treason (the Anna Incident, Anna
no hen). Following this, the Fujiwara clan’s
monopoly on politics strengthens.
(Fusōryakuki; Hyakurenshō).

12.20: Era name changed to Ten’en due to

calamity (buildings at the imperial court
devastated by heavy winds and rains on
5.17).

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
974 Ten’en 2 5.7: Gion Kanjin’in (Gion Shrine)
becomes a branch temple
(betsuin) of Enryaku Temple.
(Nihongiryaku)
975 Ten’en 3 6.15: Horse races (sōme, see
*Kurabeuma), court-ordered
music (chokugaku), azuma
asobi dances (see also
*Bugaku) and ritual wands
(*Gohei) are given as offerings
to Gion Shrine (one tradition
holds this is the first instance of
the Gion Rinjisai).
(Nihongiryaku)
976 Jōgen 1

977 Jōgen 2

978 Tengen 1

979 Tengen 2 3.27: The emperor visits

Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine
(first mention of an imperial
progress to the shrine).
(Nihongiryaku; Hyakurenshō)
981 Tengen 4 2.20: The emperor visits Hirano 9.17: Ise Inner Shrine shrine
Shrine. Semui Temple is made rebuilt and reconsecrated
a shrine-temple (*Jingūji) of (*Shikinensengū). (Daijingū
the shrine (first mention of an shozōjiki)
imperial progress to the shrine).
(Nihongiryaku)
983 Eikan 1 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine shrine
rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū).
984 Eikan 2 3.21: In response to the pleas of
the monk Shōkū and others,
Mishima Shrine in Iyo stops
sacrificing deer as offerings (see
also *Ikenie). (Iyo-Mishima-sha
engi)
985 Kanna 1 11.21: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Kazan.

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7.13: Era name changed to Jōgen due to

calamities (fire at the imperial residential
compound [dairi] on 5.11, massive
earthquake on 6.18).
2.22: Kamo no Yasunori (see *Tsuchimikado
Shintō) dies (age 60). (Kamo no Yasunori no
musume shū)
11.29: Era name changed to Tengen due to
calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena;
following year held to be one of misfortune
[Tai yi yang] for emperor based on zodiacal
principles).

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
986 Kanna 2 11.15: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Ichijō.
987 Eien 1 8.5: One tradition holds that
Kitano Shrine festival began
this year. (Nijūnisha-chūshiki)
11.25: Yoshida Shrine festival
is counted among the official
court festivals (kōsai) starting
this year. (Nijūnisha-chūshiki)
988 Eien 2

989 Eiso 1 3.22: An imperial progress is

made to Kasuga Shrine (first
mention of an imperial visit to
the shrine). (Nihongiryaku)
989 Eiso 1

990 Shōryaku 1

993 Shōryaku 4 11.27: An imperial progress is

made to Ōharano Shrine (first
mention of an imperial visit to
the shrine). (Nihongiryaku;
Honchōseiki)
994 Shōryaku 5

995 Chōtoku 1

998 Chōtoku 4

999 Chōhō 1 7.27 (25): A decree of the Great 6.14: Minister of the Left
Council of State (Daijōkanpu) Fujiwara no Michinaga attempts
is handed down consisting of to arrest a performer of
eleven articles including one miscellaneous arts (zatsugeisha)

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-.-: Nenjū gyōji go shōjimon ("popular

edition") produced around this time (see
*Nenjū gyōji).

8.8: Era name changed to Eiso due to

calamites (unusual atmospheric phenomena
including the appearance of a comet).
11.7: Era name changed to Shōryaku due to
calamity (heavy winds and rains on 8.13 the
previous year).

6.27: Epidemic rampant around this time.

From May to June, groundless rumors
freqently went around and peopled believed
them to stay indoors or to seek the water of a
well at Aburakōji. On this day, therefore, the
Royal court had a ceremony for the ekishin,
the kami of pestilence, at Funaoka-yama and
held a Goryō’e. (Nihongiryaku; Honchōseiki)
2.22: Era name changed to Chōtoku due to
calamity (great epidemic persisted from the
previous year; epidemic continues unabated
after the change).
4.10: Brawl breaks out during the *dengaku
in the *Matsu-no-o matsuri resulting in
multiple deaths (first mention of dengaku in
the Matsu-no-o matsuri). (Nihongiryaku)
1.13: Era name changed to Chōhō due to
calamities (epidemic and drought persisting
from the previous year).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
ordering that unprecedented attired as a monk at Gion
shrine and temple rituals be Tenjin’e on the grounds of lèse-
avoided and another ordering majesté for pulling an object
that damage to shrines be resembling the cart (hyō [no
repaired. (Seijiyōryaku) yama]) used in the Daijōsai (first
mention of a festival float
[*Dashi] at the Gion festival).
(Honchōseiki)
1000 Chōhō 2 8.12: The Empress’ Household
Office (Chūgūshiki) procures a
portable shrine (*Shin’yo) from
Iwashimizu Shrine. (Sakakiba-
shū)
9.16: Ise Inner Shrine shrine
rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū).

1002 Chōhō 4 12.29: The ritual dance of the 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
Inner Sanctum (Naishidokoro reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
no mikagura, see *Kagura) is
performed (first mention of the
naishidokoro no mikagura.
Hereafter, it would be
performed every other year).
(Kinpishō; Ichidaiyōki)
1003 Chōhō 5 11.27: Priests from Usa
Hachimangū Shrine go to Kyoto
to accuse senior assistant
governor of Dazai-fu Taira no
Korenaka of despotism. The 12th
month of the following year, he is
dismissed. (Hyakurenshō)
1004 Kankō 1 10.14: An imperial progress is
made to Matsuo Shrine (first
mention of an imperial visit to
the shrine). (Nihongiryaku;
Gonki)
10.21: An imperial progress is
made to Kitano Shrine (first
mention of an imperial visit to
the shrine). (Nihongiryaku;
Gonki)
1005 Kankō 2

1012 Chōwa 1 11.22: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Sanjō.

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-.-: Epidemic rampant. Goryō-e (see *Goryō

shinkō) held at Murasakino (Kujikongen)
(goryō-e were frequently held at Murasakino
thereafter whenever an epidemic broke out).

7.20: Era name changed to Kankō due to

calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena
and natural disaster).

9.-: Abe no Seimei dies (age uncertain, 11.15: Fire at the imperial palace. The sacred
possibly 85) mirror (yatanokagami, see *Sanshu no
shinki) damaged. (Nihongiryaku; Midō
kanpaku-ki; Shōyūki)
2.8: Shidaragami (a group of wandering
deities) are believed to have come to Kyoto
from Cinzei, modern Kyūshū. They are

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

1015 Chōwa 4

1016 Chōwa 5 11.15: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Goichijō.
1019 Kannin 3 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nihongiryaku; Daijingū
shozōjiki)
1020 Kannin 4 11.12: Kamo Shrine and Enryaku
Temple contend with one another
over the borders of their estates
(see also *Shinryō). (Shōyūki)
1021 Jian 1 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Daijingū shozōjiki)

1024 Manju 1 11.2: Priests from Kehi Shrine in

Echizen demonstrate against
Kaga governor (Kaga-no-kami)
Tanba Kimichika. (Shōyūki)

1025 Manju 2 3.12: "Worship lecture" (reihai-

kō) held at Hiyoshi Shrine (first
mention of such an event at the
shrine; see also *Kō). (Yōtenki)
1028 Chōgen 1

1029 Chōgen 2 7.18: The imperial court holds

deliberations regarding Iga
governor (Iga no kami)
Minamoto no Mitsukiyo, who
was the object of protests from
the priests of Ise Shrine. (Others
in Iga Province also protest
against Mitsukiyo, who
eventually is exiled to Izu.)
1031 Chōgen 4 6.17: An oracle (*Takusen)
comes down Aramatsuri Shrine at
Ise to warn that the acting head of

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worshipped at Murasakino (see *Hayarigami
Shinkō). (Hyakurenshō)
6.-: A massive epidemic rages. People build a
shrine sanctuary on the west bank of the
Kamiya River around Hanazono in western
Kyoto in response to an oracle (*Takusen)
from a disease-causing deity (ekishin or
yakujin) and visit it to worship and present
offerings. (Nihongiryaku; Shōyūki)

2.2: Era name changed to Jian as the year in

the Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei,
"younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
year in the sexagenary cycle) is associated
with political and social instability (see also
*Ehō).
7.13: Era name changed to Manju as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution"; the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).

7.25: Era name changed to Chōgen due to

calamities (rampant epidemic, drought).

8.-: Around this time, Emperor Goichijō

secretly visited the Naishidokoro (part of the
Inner Sanctum; see *Kyūchū sanden) every

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
the Bureau of the Consecrated
Princess (saigūryō; see *Saigū)
Fujiwara no Sukemichi and his
wife have been deluding people
by building Ise Shrine treasury
houses inside their own
residence. It also claims that
several recent emperors have
been disrespectful to Ise Shrine
while also relating the "one
hundred kings" theory
(hyakuōsetsu), an idea imported
from China that held the imperial
line would end after 100
successive reigns. (Nihongiryaku;
Shōyūki)
1036 Chōgen 9 11.17: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Gosuzaku.
1038 Chōryaku 2 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Daijingū shozōjiki)
1039 Chōryaku 3 3.13: Suppliant priests (*Negi) 2.15: Suppliant priests (*Negi)
of Ise Shrine prohibited from from Ise Shrine bring shrine
entering Kyoto on their own personnel to Kyoto to make a
initiative. (Daijingū shozōjiki) petition regarding 13
"miscellaneous taxes" (zatsuji).
Suppliant priests from Ise Shrine
would subsequently go on to
repeatedly carry out protest
demonstrations (gōso) until the
middle of 11th century. (Daijingū
shozōjiki)
1040 Chōkyū 1 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū Reibun)

1044 Kantoku 1

1046 Eishō 1 11.15: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Goreizei.
1050 Eishō 5 1.20: Suppliant priests (*Negi)

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night to offer invocations (*Kitō) (some
records suggest he was troubled by the oracle
of Ise Aramaturi Shrine proclaimed this year
on 6:17). (Shōyūki)

9.9: Fire destroys the emperor’s residential

compound (dairi) at the palace. The divine
mirror (yata no kagami, see *Sanshu no
shinki) is also damaged. (Shun-ki;
Hyakurenshō)
11.10: Era name changed to Chōkyū due to
calamities (massive earthquakes in the 9th
and 10th months, fire at the imperial
residential compound).
11.24: Era name changed to Kantoku due to
calamities (epidemic the previous year,
drought).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
from Ise Shrine come to Kyoto
leading more than seven hundred
lower-ranking priests (*Hafuribe)
and shrine personnel to protest
against the master of Ise rites
(*Saishu) (similar incidents
frequently occur after this.).
(Daijingū shozōjiki)
6.-: Nakayama Shrine is founded.
The shrine is dedicated to the
stone deity (iwagami) on the
grounds of Reizei-in, a property
on palace grounds for the retired
emperor (starting three years later
in 1053, the Nakayama Matsuri is
added to the list of public
festivals). (Hyakurenshō)
1052 Eishō 7 9.19: Buddhist high priest
Myōson holds the first *Shinra
Myōjin festival. (Jimon denki
horoku)

1053 Tengi 1 1.6: The residence of Ise Shrine

Head Priest Ōnakatomi no Noritō
catches fire. Fire destroys all
then-existing documents
concerning tenants (*Kanbe) of
lands owned by the shrine.
(Daijingū shozōjiki)
1054 Tengi 2 -.-: Buddhist high priest Myōson
founds Shin-Hiyoshi Shrine
(Nagara Shrine). (Onjōji-denki).
1057 Tengi 5 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Daijingū shozōjiki;
Hyakurenshō)
1058 Kōhei 1

1059 Kōhei 2 9.15: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Daijingū shozōjiki; Ōnakatomi-
uji keizu)
1060 Kōhei 3

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-.-: The idea spreads among the populace that

this year the world entered the Buddhist end-
times (mappō, "the Latter Days of the Law"),
a degenerate age when Buddhist teachings
would not be practiced (ideas about mappō
and Buddhist Pure Lands [jōdo] flourish).
1.11: Era name changed to Tengi due to
calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena,
belief that the age of Buddhist end times
[mappō, "the Latter Days of the Law"] had
begun the previous year).

8.29: Era name changed to Kōhei due to

calamity (fire on 2.26 at the Daigokuden
[Palace Audience Hall]).

5.11: The imperial court deliberates over the

matter of Ise governor (Ise no kami) Fujiwara
no Yoshitaka having set fire to estates
belonging to the Grand Shrines Ise and the
matter of Ōnakatomi no Yoritsune, deputy

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1063 Kōhei 6 8.-: Minamoto no Yoriyoshi

builds a Hachiman shrine at Yui
Town in Sagami Province (the
origins of Tsurugaoka Hachiman
Shrine) (see also *Hachiman
Shinkō).
1065 Jiryaku 1

1066 Jiryaku 2

1068 Jiryaku 4 11.22: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Gosanjō.
1069 Enkyū 1

1070 Enkyū 2 8.15: Imperial envoy

(*Chokushi) sent to the Hōjō-e
festival held at Iwashimizu
Hachiman Shrine (see also
*Shintō in the Early Modern
Period).
1071 Enkyū 3 10.29: The emperor visits 7.24: A divination (boku, see
Hiyoshi Shrine (first mention of *Bokusen) is performed at the
an imperial progress to the imperial court regarding Gion
shrine). (Fusō ryakuki) Shrine having erected a statue of
Dadokuke-no-kami (this deity
was not on the list of officially
recognized deities and was said to
be the personification of
*Yamatanoorochi).
(Koasakumasha shinkyolj
satabumi)
1072 Enkyū 4 3.26: The emperor visits Inari
and Gion shrines (first mention
of an imperial progress to these
two shrines). (Fusō ryakuki)
1074 Jōho 1 11.21: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Shirakawa.
1076 Jōho 3 4.23: The imperial progress to -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
Kamo Shrine is made into an reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
annual event. (Fusō ryakuki)

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for the consecrated princess (*Saishu) having
murdered an oracle (takusensha, see
*Kamigakari, takusen). Yoshitaka would be
exiled in the 8th month. (Hyakurenshō)

8.2: Era name changed to Jiryaku due to

calamities (drought, year deemed unlucky
according to Onmyōdō theory due to sangō
["the alignment of three planets"]).
1.7: A "divine tree" (*Shinboku) from Kasuga
Shrine is brought to Kyoto. (Kōfukuji bettōki)

Intercalary 10.11: Office for the certification

of estate documents (Kiroku shōen
kenkeisho) established (see also *Shinryō).

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1077 Jōryaku 1

1078 Jōryaku 2 -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibun)
1081 Eihō 1 11.-: The imperial court makes
offerings to the Twenty-Two
Shrines (*Nijūnisha). (One
tradition holds that this is when
Hiyoshi Shrine was added to that
grouping, while another holds it
happened in 1039.) (Suisa-ki;
Sotsu-ki; Hyakurenshō)

1082 Eihō 2

1083 Eihō 3

1084 Ōtoku 1

1085 Ōtoku 2

1086 Ōtoku 3 -,-: Around this time, visiting

Kumano Shrine becomes
popular. Retired emperors
Shirakawa, Toba, Go-
Shirakawa and Go-Toba
between them make around 100
trips all told to Kumano Shrine
over the course of the century
during which the system of rule
by retired emperors (insei)
prevailed.
1087 Kanji 1 11.19: *Daijōsai ceremony held

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11.17: Era name changed to Jōryaku due to
calamities (drought, plague).

9.21: Fujiwara no Tamefusa asks a man 2.10: Era name changed to Eihō as the year in
named Kanzō to act as his guide (*Sendatsu) the Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei,
on his visit to Kumano Shrine (first mention "younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
of sendatsu). year in the sexagenary cycle) is associated
with political and social instability (see also
*Ehō).

4.15: Monks from Onjō Temple disrupt the

Hie (Hiyoshi) festival. 4.28: Monks from
Enryaku Temple attack Onjō Temple in
response. (Fusō ryakuki; Tamefusa-kyō-ki)
10.17: Monks from Kumano bring portable
shrines (*Shin’yo) to Kyoto to stage a
demonstration (gōso) (rowdy demonstrations
by monks and shrine priests of this sort occur
frequently from this point forward to the
Kamakura Period). (Fusō ryakuki)
9.-: The Later Three Years’ War (Gosannen
no eki) breaks out. (Azuma-kagami)
2.7: Era name changed to Ōtoku as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution"; the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).
7.-: The practice of building shrines to
worship certain deities known as Fukutoku-
no-kami, Chōfuku-no-kami, and Hakushu-
sha with the accompaniment of group
drinking becomes popular in Kyoto. The
imperial court prohibits the practice as
superstitious and destroys the shrines.
11.26: Emperor Shirakawa abdicates the
throne in favor of his son Prince Taruhito
(later Emperor Horikawa). (The start of the
system of rule by retired emperors [insei].)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
to accompany accession of
Emperor Horikawa.
1088 Kanji 2 11.-: Senior Assistant Governor
General of Dazaifu (Dazai daini)
Fujiwara no Sanemasa is
sentenced to exile after protests
by priests from Usa Hachiman
Shrine. The previous year, he had
quarreled with the priests and
shot arrows at their portable
shrine (*Shin’yo).
1089 Kanji 3

1090 Kanji 4 3.26: The practice of preparing

food offerings (*Shinsen) every
day begins at Kamo Shrine.
Accordingly, imperial envoys
(*Hōbeishi) are dispatched.
(Chūyūki)
1093 Kanji 7

1094 Kahō 1

1095 Kahō 2 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated. Rice tax for
rebuilding the Ise Shrines (Zō-
Daijingū yakubuku mai) levied

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8.19: The imperial court begins deliberations

on a conflict between the priests (shashi, see
*Shinshoku) of Iwashimizu and Matsuo
shrines that resulted in the destruction of the
main building (shaden) at Matsuo.
(Hyakurenshō)

3.18: *Sendatsu from Kumano raid the

imperial palace. (Chūyūki)
8.26: Monks from Kōfuku Temple bring a
sacred tree (*Shinboku) to Kyoto to protest
Ōmi governor Takashinano Tameie. (First
mention of a sacred tree being brought to
Kyoto. Other accounts say this event
occurred in either An’na 1 [968] or Jiryaku 2
[1066]). (Go-nijō moromichi-ki, Honchō
seiki)
10.29: Special envoys (*Hōbeishi) are sent to
22 shrines to report of savage fighting
between monks from the Nara Buddhist sects
and those of the Tendai sect. (Go-nijō
moromichi-ki, Chūyūki)
3.6: The imperial court enters deliberations
over a conflict in Kyoto between priests from
Kurama Temple and Kamo Shrine. (Chūyūki,
Hyakurenshō)
12.15: Era name changed to Kahō due to
calamities (epidemic that began the previous
year).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
throughout the country
(*Shikinensengū). (Chūyūki)
1096 Eichō 1

1097 Shōtoku 1 -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibumi)
1099 Kōwa 1 3.27: Regent (kanpaku) -.-: First written mention of
Fujiwara no Moromichi orders "combined shrine" (*Sōja), in
the head shrine monk (*Bettō) Tokinoriki.
of Kōfuku Temple to ban
people from going to Kasuga
Shrine with the intention of
entreating the kami with prayer
(*Kisei). (Gonijō Moromichi ki)
1103 Kōwa 5

1104 Chōji 1 6.17: Priests from Kehi Shrine in

Echizen protest injustice on the
part of provincial governor
Takashina Tameie. (Chūyūki)

1105 Chōji 2 10.30: Priests from Hie Shrine

and Enryaku Temple launch
protests against Dazai Vice-
Governor Fujiwara no Suenaka
(Suenaka’s men had skirmished
with Enryaku monks sent to
protest at a shrine in Kyushu as
part of the broader power struggle
among shrines, temples, and
retired emperor Shirakawa).
Suenaka is exiled. (Denryaku)
1106 Kajō 1 9.29: Priests from Gion Shrine
launch protests against the
governor of Tanba. (Denryaku)
10.2: Chief administrative monk
(zasu) Eihan is dismissed after

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12.17: Era name changed to Eichō due to

calamities (great earthquake on 11.24).
-.-: Dengaku (see *Sarugaku, Dengaku)
dances popular (the phenomenon is
collectively known as the "great dengaku of
Eichō" [Eichō no ō-dengaku]).
11.21: Era name changed to Shōtoku due to
calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena,
earthquake, typhoon, flooding).
8.28: Era name changed to Kōwa due to
calamities (great fire in Kyoto 2nd month of
previous year, earthquake, epidemic).

3.3: Prophecies about demon kami (kishin)

are rife. The prophecies become prevalent
again in Kyoto in the 7th month. Believing
them, many people shut themselves indoors
and refrain from going out. (Chūyūki)
2.10: Era name changed to Chōji due to
calamity (Kyoto fires the 11th month the
previous year).

-.-: Fujiwara no Munetada records in his

diary, "Shrine priests and temple monks are
acting in overbearing ways, worrying
everyone both high and low." (Chūyūki)

4.9: Era name changed to Kajō due to

calamity (the appearance of a comet).

6.-: Epidemic spreads this month resulting in

many deaths. Craze for *dengaku dances in

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
priests from Gion Shrine make
appeals to "Inner Minister"
(naidaijin) Minamoto no
Masazane. (Denryaku, Eishōki)

1108 Tennin 1 11.21: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Toba.
1110 Ten’ei 1 11.1: Central pillar of Ise Shrine
topples.

1113 Eikyū 1

1114 Eikyū 2 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Denryaku)
-.-: Kasuga Shrine presents
evening offerings at lucky and
unlucky times every day (see
*Daily Aspects [higara] and
Directional Taboos [hōi]) (first
mention of such practices in the
written record). (Kasugasha-ki)
1115 Eikyū 3 4.21: First portable shrine
(*Shin’yo) for "mountain king"
worship (see *Sannō shinkō and
*Sannō Shintō) is made at
Hiyoshi Shrine for Sannomiya,
one of its auxiliary shrines
(*Sessha) (this marks the final
stage in the creation of the seven
sannō shrines; see also *Hie
matsuri). (Yōtenki)
1116 Eikyū 4 9.16: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Sengū jiryaku, Nisho Dainjingū
reibumi)
1118 Gen’ei 1

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Kyoto. Thousands take part and the streets
bustle with noise. (Chūyūki)

12.7: An old woman is arrested for attracting

"lecherous believers" (kōshoku na shinja) to
worship snakes and foxes. (Chūyūki)

7.13: Era name changed to Ten’ei due to

calamities (comet, epidemic that started
previous year).
Intercalary 3.20: Seeking to have Buddhist
statue maker Ensei appointed head shrine
monk (*Bettō) for Kiyomizu Temple, 5,000
monks from Kōfuku Temple protest with
sacred trees (*Shinboku) from Kasuga.
(Denryaku, Chōshūki)
7.13: Era name changed to Eikyū due to
calamities (warfare, epidemic).
11.9: Fighting between priests from
Iwashimizu Hachiman and Gion shrines.
(Chūyūki)

4.3: Era name changed to Gen’ei due to

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

1119 Gen’ei 2

1120 Hōan 1

1122 Hōan 3 3.14: *Kagura performances

begin at Kasuga Shrine. (Kōfukuji
ryakunendai-ki)
1123 Hōan 4 11.18: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Sutoku.

1124 Tenji 1 6.15: The Gion "special annual

festival" (rinjisai) is held for
the first time. (Eishōki,
Hyakurenshō)
1125 Tenji 2 11.9: Retired emperors
Shirakawa and Toba, along
with Toba’s wife Taiken, visit
Kumano Shrine (they visit Hie
Shrine the next year). (Chūyūki
mokuroku)
1126 Daiji 1 7.11: Imperial court deliberates
over issue of purification wands
(*Ōnusa) being offered to
shrines in recent years being
too extravagant. (Chūyūki)
1128 Daiji 3 9.28: A poetry contest (uta
awase) is held at Sumiyoshi
Shrine (see *Sumiyoshi shinkō).
(Sumiyoshi uta awase)
1131 Tenshō 1

1132 Chōshō 1 12.5: Deliberations over

restoration of the sacred meal
(jinkonjiki) at shinsai, i.e.,
festivals where the emperor
leads the rites (shinsai had been
halted prior to this for 25 years)

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calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena,
epidemic).
-.-: Custom of provincial governors (kokushi)
making formal visits (shinpai) to main shrine
in province begins to fade around this time.
4.10: Era name changed to Hōan due to
calamity (bad fortune for emperor).

7.18: Monks from Enryaku temple chase

chief administrator monk (zasu) Kankei off
Mt. Hiei and try to enter Kyoto bearing the
Hie portable shrine (*Shin’yo) (Kankei had
handed over temple workers to the imperial
police [kebiishi] in response to a complaint
from Taira no Tadamori). They are warded
off from doing so by the imperial court, Taira
no Tadamori, and Minamoto no Tameyoshi.
(Hyakurenshō)

12.27: Great fire in Kyoto. The "spine-

tingling festival" for driving out evil spirits
(Kikisai; see *Shintō and Onmyōdō) is held at
each entrance to the imperial palace.

1.22: Era name changed to Daiji due to

calamity (epidemic that started the previous
year).

1.29: Era name changed to Tenshō due to

calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena,
epidemic).
8.11: Era name changed to Chōshō due to
calamities (epidemic, retired emperor’s
palace burns down 7.23).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(see also *Chokusai). (Chūyūki)
1133 Chōshō 2 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Chūyūki)
1135 Hōen 1 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Daijingū reibumi)
1136 Hōen 2 9.17: Kasuga Wakamiya
Festival created (one story
holds that *dengaku and
sangaku [see *Sarugaku]
performances were added the
following year; see also
*Kasuga shinkō). (Chūyūki)
1138 Hōen 4

1140 Hōen 6

1141 Eiji 1

1142 Kōji 1 11.15: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Konoe.
1143 Kōji 2
1144 Ten’yō 1

1145 Kyūan 1 6.11: Orders given to go back

to using old ceremonies for
offerings used in the sacred
meal (jinkonjiki) at the
*Tsukinamisai. (Hyakurenshō)
1146 Kyūan 2 4.7: Hakusan Shrine in Kaga is
made into a branch temple of
Enryaku Temple.
1147 Kyūan 3

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4.27: Era name changed to Hōen due to

calamities (epidemic, flooding, famine).

4.29: Monks from Enryaku Temple bearing

portable shrines (*Shin’yo) enter Kyoto to
lodge protests regarding Kamo Shrine lands
and mounted participants in the Hie festival
(*Hie matsuri). (Hyakurenshō)
Intercalary 5.5: Shintō priests and Buddhist
monks from Chikuzen Ōyama, Kashii, and
Hakozaki in Kyūshū set fire to buildings in
Dazaifu (Fukuoka). (Hyakurenshō)
7.10: Era name changed to Eiji as the year in
the Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei,
"younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
year in the sexagenary cycle) is associated
with political and social instability (see also
*Ehō); emperor also concerned over
prophecy of bad fortune.

2.23: Era name changed to Ten’yō as the year

in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution," the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).
7.22: Era name changed to Kyūan due to
calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena
[comet]).

6.28: Monks from Enryaku Temple bring the

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1148 Kyūan 4 2.20: The cloistered emperor 3.15: Gion issai-kyō e, a festival
holds a Hokke hakkō (eight in which all the sūtra of the
readings of the Lotus Sutra) Buddhist canon are offered up,
festival at Gion Kanjin’in first mentioned in writing.
(present-day Yasaka Shrine) to (Ranshōshō)
apologize for a brawl in the 6th
month the previous year
between Gion priests and the
Taira. Such readings thereafter
become a regular annual event.
(Honchō seiki)
1150 Kyūan 6

1151 Ninpei 1

1152 Ninpei 2 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Sengū jiryaku)
1153 Ninpei 3 9.-: Building shrine sanctuaries
(shadan) in "various places" is
forbidden, as is conducting
"Chinese rites" (kanrei) at
home. (Hyakurenshō)
1154 Kyūju 1 4.-: The yasurai festival (a 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
festival of Kyoto’s Imamiya reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
Shrine that entails worshippers (Nisho daijingū reibumi)
making their visit to the
accompaniment of flutes and
drums; see also *Gechinsai) is
banned. (Hyakurenshō)
12.16: A fudangyō ritual in which
the Lotus Sūtra is read through
without interruption is held at the
Wakamiya subshrine at
Iwashimizau Hachiman Shrine
(first mention). (Taiki)
1155 Kyūju 2 11.23: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
1156 Hōgen 1

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Hie portable shrine (mikoshi, see *Shin’yo),
to Kyoto to protest to both Taira no Kiyomori
and his father Tadamori over a fight that
Kiyomori’s retinue had with priests from
Gion on 6.15. (Taiki)

8.5: One thousand monks from Kōfuku

Temple and more than 200 priests from
Kasuga Shrine enter Kyoto bearing "divine
trees" (*Shinboku) to press claims. (Taiki;
Honchō seiki)
1.26: Era name changed to Ninpei due to
calamities (violent rainstorms and flooding
on 8.4 the previous year).

10.28: Era name changed to Kyūju due to

calamities (typhoon the previous year on
6.20, bad fortune for emperor in present year)

7.11: The Hōgen Rebellion.

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1158 Hōgen 3 12.-: Emperor Go-Shirakawa
abdicates. He subsequently
goes on more than 30 visits to
Hie and Kumano shrines.
(Shosha daiji)
1159 Heiji 1 11.23: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Nijō. (Gyokuyō).
1160 Eiryaku 1 10.16: The Hie deity and the
three Kumano avatars (Kumano
sansho gongen) are transferred to
Higashiyama in Kyoto and
installed in the Imahie and
Imakumano shrines (see also
*Gongen Shinkō). (Hyakurenshō)

1161 Ōhō 1

1163 Chōkan 1 4.7: In connection with the

fighting over levies from
Kumano Shrine lands that
occurred in Kai Province,
deliberations are made over
whether the Ise and Kumano
Gongen shrines are two parts of
the same whole. (It will
eventually be concluded that
they are separate.) (Chōkan
kanmon)
1164 Chōkan 2

1165 Eiman 1

1166 Nin’an 1 11.15: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Rokujō.

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7.-: Resumption of the sumō banquet (sumō
no sechi, or sumai no sechie; see *Sumō).

12.-: The Heiji Rebellion.

1.10: Era name changed to Eiryaku due to

calamities (Heiji Rebellion the previous year,
bad fortune predicted for emperor in present
year).

4.19 (4.29): The karabitsu (a type of chest)

for the "divine mirror" (shinkyō, see *Sanshu
no shinki) at the Naijidokoro (see *Kyūchū
sanden) is rebuilt and a three-day long
*Kagura is performed due to the disturbances
of the Heiji era. (Hyakurenshō)
9.4: Era name changed to Ōhō due to
calamities (epidemic, famine).
3.29: Era name changed to Chōkan due to
calamity (epidemic).

8.26: Emperor Sutoku, who had been exiled

to Sanuki in the Hōgen Rebellion, dies.
Afterward, it is said that he haunts Kyoto (see
also *Magistrate of Temples and Shrines:
Medieval [Jisha bugyō]).
1.21: Minamoto Akihiro (*Prince Akihiro) 6.5: Era name changed to Eiman due to
assumes the position of Superintendent of the calamities (emperor’s illness, unusual
Jingikan (*Jingihaku). (The position atmospheric phenomena, unnatural
thereafter becomes one inherited by phenomena [ke’i]).
descendents of the Shirakawa house.)
(Hakuke kiroku)

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1168 Nin’an 3 11.22: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Takakura.

1169 Kaō 1 2.10: The retired emperor 6.17: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
orders shrines to be on guard reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū)
for fires. (Ise Inner Shrine had on extraordinary basis.
suffered a fire the 12th month (Hyakurenshō)
the previous year.) (Heihanki)

1171 Jōan 1 -.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho daijingū reibumi)

1173 Jōan 3 -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
1174 Jōan 4 3.16: Cloistered ex-emperor
Go-Shirakawa goes on imperial
progress to Itsukushima (see
also *Itsukushima shinkō).
(Gyokuyō)
1175 Angen

1177 Jishō 1 4.28: Great fire in Kyoto. The

Great Audience Hall
(Daigokuden) at the Imperial
Palace burns down and is not
rebuilt. (Gyokuyō)
1179 Jishō 3 2.29: Decision made to hold an
official (government) festival
(kōsai) at Itsukushima Shrine.
(Gyokuyō)
1180 Jishō 4 11.14: Minamoto Yoritomo, 10.-: Minamoto Yoritomo
who in the 8th month had raised transfers the shrine Yui
an army in nearby Izu Province Wakamiya to Kitayama in
(in present-day Shizuoka Kamakura (inscribed on
Prefecture), bans rioting over cornerstone at present-day
shrines and temples in Musashi Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine).
Province (part of present-day
Tokyo). Later, bans repeatedly
issued over trespassing on

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8.-: Taira no Nobunori, a high-ranking
(kuraudonotō) extralegal office (ryogenokan)
official, reports to the throne that due to the
increase in private estates (shōen) granted by
imperial command (and hence exempt from
levies), it has become difficult to collect
goods for use at the yuki ("auspicious east")
ritual lands required for the *Daijōsai.
(Nobunori ki)
12.23: Monks from Enryaku Temple carry a
portable shrine (*shin’yo) to the Imperial
Palace and demonstrate against acting
counselor (gon-chūnagon) Fujiwara no
Narichika. Narichika is exiled the next day.
(Gyokuyō)
4.21: Era name changed to Jōan due to
calamities (disasters, divination predicts bad
fortune, and belief that the world was in a
period during which the Onmyōdō deity
Ten’ichijin was visiting the earth [Ten’ichi
gomyōgo]) (see also *Shintō and Onmyōdō).

7.28: Era name changed to Angen due to

calamities (long rainy spell, epidemic,
populace uneasy).
2.20: Superintendent of Divinities 8.4: Era name changed to Jishō due to
(*Jingihaku) *Prince Akihiro becomes a calamities (great fire in Kyoto, fire at the
Buddhist priest. (Akihiro-ō ki) Great Audience Hall [Daigokuden] in the
imperial palace).

-.-: *Prince Akihiro dies (possibly age 85). 6.2: Capital transferred to Fukuhara-kyō (by
Taira no Kiyomori). 11.-: Kyoto restored as
capital.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
shrine and temple lands by
warriors. (Azuma kagami)

1181 Yōwa 1

1182 Juei 1 11.24: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Antoku.

1183 Juei 2 4.9: Officials from the *Jingikan

are sequestered at 16 shrines
under the Ise Shrine to make
invocations (*Kitō) meant to
pacify the warfare. (Gyokuyō)
7.8: Taira no Munemori tries to
make the deity of Hie Shrine the
clan *kami (*Ujigami) of the
Taira family. The monks of Mt.
Hiei reject the move. (Kikki)
1184 Genryaku 1 2.19: The imperial court bans 4.15: Due to the ongoing warfare,
warriors from trespassing on retired emperor Go-Shirakawa
shrine and temple lands and (now tonsured) builds a shrine to
directs Yoritomo to execute the Emperor Sutoku and Fujiwara no
order. (Gyokuyō) Yorinaga at the site of the Hōgen
Rebellion in Kasuga-kawahara
and transfers their spirits there
(this later becomes Awata
Shrine). (Gyokuyō)
11.18: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Toba.
1185 Bunji 1 10.15: Retired emperor Go-
Shirakawa orders Yoritomo to
ban the levying of goods meant
for the use of the *saigū and
attacks by warriors to seize
lands belonging to the Ise
Shrine. (Azuma kagami)

1187 Bunji 3 8.15: Minamoto Yoritomo

inaugurates the release of captive

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-.-: Around now Nenjū gyōji emaki created

(see also *Nenjū gyōji).
1.4: Monks from Kumano attack Shima in
Ise. They destroy Izawanomiya Shrine, a
branch (*Massha) of Ise Shrine, and spread
fires around the towns of Yamada and Uji
where the Grand Shrines of Ise are located.
(Azuma kagami)
5.27: Era name changed to Juei due to
calamities (warfare continuing from previous
year, epidemic, present year unlucky due to
sangō ["alignment of three planets"]
according to Onmyōdō theory).
7.25: The Taira clan and Emperor Antoku
flee Kyoto, taking the three imperial treasures
(*Sanshu no shinki) with them. Minamoto
(aka Kiso) no Yoshinaka enters Kyoto on the
28th. (Hyakurenshō)

3.24: Downfall of the Taira. Emperor Antoku

plunged into the seas; the sacred sword, one
of the three divine imperial regalia (*Sanshu
no shinki), is lost with him under the waves.
(Gyokuyō)

8.14: Era name changed to Bunji due to

calamities (fire, earthquake, downfall of the
Taira)
7.20: Senior assistant director of divinities
(jingi taifu) Urabe Kanehira is dispatched to

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
animals ritual (hōjōe) at Rokujō
Wakamiya and Tsurugaoka
Hachiman Shrine. Also
inaugurates horseback archery
rites (*Yabusame) to accompany
the hōjōe (see also *Medieval
Shintō). (Azuma kagami)
1188 Bunji 4 2.28: Yoritomo inaugurates the
Tsurugaoka "special festival"
(rinjisai). (Azuma kagami)
1190 Kenkyū 1 9.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Gyokuyō)

1192 Kenkyū 3 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).

11.16: The Awata mausoleum

(Awatabyō) of Emperor Sutoku is
redesignated as the shrine Awata-
miya and a festival is held to
mark the event. (Hyakurenshō)
1193 Kenkyū 4 7.-: Rice tax for rebuilding the
Grand Shrines of Ise (Zō-
Daijingū yakubukumai) goes into
effect throughout the country.
(Kōya-san monjo)
1194 Kenkyū 5 5.4: The bakufu orders general
Nakahara no Suetoki to handle
suits by temples and shrines.
(First mention of the Kamakura
bakufu’s Magistrate of Temples
and Shrine [*Jisha bugyō].)
(Azuma kagami)
12.2: The bakufu appoints a
magistrate for a temple in
Kamakura built at the
emperor’s behest (goganji)
(first appearance of a magistrate
other than the Magistrate of
Temples and Shrines [*Jisha
bugyō]). (Azuma kagami)
1195 Kenkyū 6 9.29: The bakufu bans falconry.
However, an exception is made
for falcons used as offerings to
the kami. (Azuma kagami)
1198 Kenkyū 9 11.22: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of

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Nagato to search for the sacred sword of state
thrown into the sea (lost with the child
emperor Antoku, the culminating incident of
the Genpei War; see also *Sanshu no shinki).
He is unable to find it. (Azuma kagami,
Hyakurenshō)

4.11: Era name changed to Kenkyū due to

calamities (earthquake, coming year deemed
unlucky in accordance with Onmyōdō theory
due to sangō ["alignment of three planets"]).
6.-: Arakida Tadanaka completes *Kōtaijingū 7.12: Minamoto Yoritomo becomes shōgun.
nenjūgyōji (it is revised and expanded by
Fujieda [Arakida] Ujitsune in 1464).
(Daijingū sōsho)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Emperor Tsuchimikado.
(Hyakurenshō)
1201 Ken’nin 1 8.18: The first "head of
instruction" (gakutōshoku) is
appointed for Tsurugaoka
Hachiman Shrine (the first
gakutōshoku appointed for this
particular shrine). (Tōsha
gakutōshoku shidai)
1204 Genkyū 1

1206 Ken’ei 1

1207 Jōgen 1 12.28: The overseer (kengyō) of

the Kumano Sanzan shrines (see
also *Kumano Shinkō) and the
*Sendatsu for imperial progresses
(rinkō or gyōkō) are placed under
the authority of Onjō Temple
(aka Miidera). (Tō’un rokuji)

1208 Jōgen 2 4.-: The bakufu builds a shrine

temple (*Jingūji) at Tsurugaoka
Hachiman Shrine. Services held
there in the 12th month.
(Meigetsuki)
1209 Jōgen 3 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Inokuma kanpaku ki)
1210 Jōgen 4 8.9: The bakufu investigates
conditions surrounding the
restoration of temple and shrine
lands (see also *Shinryō).
(Azuma kagami)
12.5: Retired emperor Go-Toba
designates the divine sword of
Ise to be the sacred sword of
the emperor (see also *Sanshu
no shinki). (Gosokui yoshino
hōhei burui ki)
1211 Kenryaku 1 9.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

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2.20: Era name changed to Genkyū as the

year in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution," the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).
4.27: Era name changed to Ken’ei due to
calamities (epidemic, sudden death of the
regent).
4.29: Tenjiku Kaja of Iyo is imprisoned,
having been accused of erecting shrines to
false gods and leading people astray.
(Meigetsuki)

10.25: Era name changed to Jōgen due to

calamities (epidemic, floods, year deemed
unlucky in accordance with Onmyōdō theory
due to sangō ["alignment of three planets"]).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
1212 Kenryaku 2 3.22: The "new protocols"
(shinsei; see also *Polices and
Institutions of the Classical
Period) comprising 21 articles
are promulgated. They include
calls to revere the kami and
perform rituals. (Hyakurenshō)
9.-: Princess Reishi, *saiin of
Kamo Shrine, retires from
position due to illness. The post
is left unfilled (saiin system
discontinued).
11.13: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Juntoku.
(Hyakurenshō)
1213 Kenpō 1

1219 Jōkyū 1

1222 Jō’ō 1 11.23: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Horikawa.
(Hyakurenshō)
1223 Jō’ō 2 10.-: The Iwashimizu shrine
monk (*Bettō) Sōsei establishes
offices to oversee shrine lands
and the shrine’s temple, as well
as system for construction of
temple buildings. (Tanaka Sōsei
ganmon’an)
1224 Gen’nin 1

1225 Karoku 1 5.22: The bakufu has 1,200

monks perform services at
Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine to
pray for end to drought and

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12.6: Era name changed to Kenpō due to

calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena,
earthquake, great fire in Kyoto on 10.15).
-.-: *Kitanotenjin’engi emaki ("Illustrated 1.27: Shōgun Minamoto Sanetomo is
legends of the Kitano Shrine") completed assassinated while on a visit to Tsurugaoka
around this time. Hachiman Shrine. In the aftermath, the Hōjō
family assumes the authority of the bakufu
while acting as regents (shikken).
4.12: Era name changed to Jōkyū due to
calamities (year deemed unlucky in
accordance with Onmyōdō theory due to
sangō ["alignment of three planets"], unusual
atmospheric phenomena, drought).

11.-: *Yōtenki completed. (Zoku Gunsho

ruijū)

11.20: Era name changed to Gen’nin due to

calamities (unusual atmospheric
phenomenon, drought).
4.20: Era name changed to Karoku due to
calamities (epidemic, "unrest in the land").

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
epidemic. Copies of the "Humane
King sūtra" (Niōkyō) and other
sūtras are also presented to the
highest ranked (*Ichi no miya)
shrine in each province. (Azuma
kagami)
1227 Antei 1

1228 Antei 2 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū)
1229 Kangi 1

1230 Kangi 2 -.-: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū)
1231 Kangi 3 6.9: The imperial court bans
"rowdyism" by "monks of the
mountain" (i.e., from Mt. Hiei)
and shrine priests. (Shinpen
tsuika)
11.3: More "new protocols"
(shinsei; see also *Polices and
Institutions of the Classical
Period) are promulgated,
adding another 42 articles.
They include orders to carry out
festivals and rites at all shrines.
(Minkeiki)
1232 Jōei 1 8.10: Regent Hōjō Yasutoki
promulgates the 51-article
Goseibai shikimoku (see also
*Medieval Shintō).
1234 Bunryaku 1

1235 Katei 1 11.20: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Shijō.
1238 Ryakunin 1

1239 En’ō 1

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12.10: Era name changed to Antei due to

calamities (fire the previous 8.26 at the
documents office [fudono] at the Council of
State [Dajōkan], epidemic during the current
year).

3.5: Era name changed to Kangi due to

calamity (great storm the previous autumn).

11.5: Era name changed to Bunryaku due to

calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena,
earthquake).
9.19: Era name changed to Katei due to
calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena,
earthquake, epidemic in Kyoto).
11.23: Era name changed to Ryakunin due to
calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena)
(the new name is unfavorably received
among the populace as it is a homophone for
characters that mean "abbreviate/omit the
people").
2.22: Retired Emperor Go-Toba dies (age 60) 2.7: Era name changed to En’ō due to
(see also *Mitamaya). (Hyakurenshō) calamities (disaster).

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1240 Ninji 1

1241 Ninji 2 5.29: The bakufu orders shrines

and temples to determine who
exactly is on their staffs owing
to troubles caused by
commoners claiming to be
priests (*Shinshoku). (Azuma
kagami)
1242 Ninji 3 11.13: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Saga. (Heikoki)
1246 Kangen 4 11.24: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Fukakusa.
(Yōkōki)
1247 Hōji 1 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Nisho Dainjingū reibumi)
1249 Kenchō 1 9.26: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
1250 Kenchō 2 7.22: The bakufu investigates
restoring shrines that have been
destroyed. (Azuma kagami)
1252 Kenchō 4 4.5: Munetaka Shinnō, first
shōgun from imperial family,
makes *heihaku offerings
(*Hōbei)—a first for a
shōgun—at 18 shrines in the
general Kyoto region as well as
Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine,
Mishima Shrine, Hakone
Washinomiya Shrine, and the
"first shrine" (sōja, see *Ichi no
miya/Sōja) of each province.
(Azuma kagami)
1254 Kenchō 6

1256 Kōgen 1

1257 Shōka 1

1259 Shōgen 1

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7.16: Era name changed to Ninji due to
calamities (drought, unusual atmospheric
phenomena [comet]).

3.18: Era name changed to Kenchō due to

calamities (fire in the imperial palace).

1.10: Great fire in Kamakura, with many

deaths. The shōgun calls off his pilgrimage to
Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine as a
consequence. (Azuma kagami)
10.5: Era name changed to Kōgen due to
calamities (plagues and epidemics).
3.14: Era name changed to Shōka due to
calamity (2.10: buildings of the Great
Council of State [Dajōkan] burn down).
3.26: Era name changed to Shōgen due to
calamities (famine and epidemics)

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1260 Bun’ō 1 11.16: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Kameyama.
1261 Kōchō 1 2.29: The bakufu orders
temples and shrines in Kantō-
area domains directly held by
the shōgun (Kantō gobunkoku)
to make it a point to carry out
Buddhist and Shintō rites and to
repair temples and shrines.

1263 Kōchō 3 8.13: The Kuge shinsei ("New

protocols for the aristocracy";
see also *Polices and
Institutions of the Classical
Period) are promulgated, with
41 articles. Sets down
stipulations regarding such
items as making *heihaku
offerings (*Hōbei) at shrines.
(Kuge shinsei)
1264 Bun’ei 1 11.12: Laws created regarding
the holding of regular annual
events throughout the country
such as shrine festivals. (Geki
nikki)
1265 Bun’ei 2

1266 Bun’ei 3 3.28: The bakufu bans falconry 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
for everything other than reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
offertory and religious rites.
1268 Bun’ei 5 -.-: An envoy from the Mongols 9.15: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
arrives in 1st month. In the reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
aftermath, concern over a
Mongol invasion stirs many to
offer prayers to the kami and
buddhas , as exemplified by an
edict signed by the emperor
himself in the 4th month
ordering that *heihaku be
offered at the Ise Shrines.
1274 Bun’ei 11 11.19: *Daijōsai ceremony held

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2.20: Era name changed to Kōchō as the year

in the Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei,
"younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
year in the sexagenary cycle) is associated
with political and social instability (see also
*Ehō).

5.12: The bakufu banishes the Buddhist priest

Nichiren to Itō in Izu Province (see also
*Hokke Shintō). (Nichiren shōnin chūgasan)

2.28: Era name changed to Bun’ei as the year

in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakurei,
"elder rat revolution," the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).
Intercalary 4.2: An order from the emperor
stops priests from Hakozaki Shrine from
following through with plans to carry
portable shrines into Kyoto (*Shin’yo). (The
developments follow a report made on 2.11
to the emperor about Hakozaki Shrine having
gone up in flames.) (Geki nikki)

10.5: The first attempted Mongol invasion

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to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Uda.

1275 Kenji 1 3.-: The priest Tsūkai builds the

Hōrakusha hall at Ise Shrine
(*Daijingūsankeiki).
1277 Kenji 3 1.12: The sōjō ("monk superior")
Dōhō from the temple Tō-ji
sequesters himself at the Grand
Shrines of Ise to pray that Japan
be relieved from its foreign
troubles. (Tōji chōja bunin)
1278 Kōan 1

1279 Kōan 2

1281 Kōan 4 7.21: The Hall of Eight Divinities

(*Hasshinden) built at the
Department of Divinities
(Jingikan, see *Jingikandai).
(Moromoriki)
1284 Kōan 7 5.20: The bakufu promulgates a
new, 38-article legal code that
includes instructions related to
shrine and temple lands. (Shin-
goshikimoku)
11.1: The bakufu orders shrines
and temples throughout the
country to pray for the defeat of
the Mongols. (Kanchūki)
1285 Kōan 8 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).

1286 Kōan 9

1287 Kōan 10 9.18: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
1288 Shō’ō 1 11.22: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Fushimi.
1290 Shō’ō 3 2.9: "Extra festival" (rinjisai)
held at Kasuga. (One source
holds that this festival was carried
out as an official state event.)
(Sanemikyō-ki)

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(Bun’ei no eki). The practice of offering
invocations (*Kitō) seeking to expel the
Mongol’s ships from territorial waters
becomes widespread around this time.

2.29: Era name changed to Kōan due to

calamities (ongoing epidemics that began the
year before).
-.-: This year, itinerant Buddhist preacher
Ippen begins his "dancing nenbutsu" (odori
nenbutsu) practice.
Intercalary 7.1: Warships from the Mongol-
installed Yuan and Goryeo regimes on the
Korean Peninsula attacking Kyūshū are sunk
by typhoon rains (see also *Shinkokushisō)
(the second Mongol invasion, Kōan no eki).

-.-: *Watarai Yukitada writes Ise nisho

daijingū shinmei hisho (Secret book of the
names of the deities of the two Great Shrines
of Ise). (Daijingū sōsho)
8.-: Around this time the Buddhist priest
Tsūkai completes *Daijingūsankeiki.

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1293 Einin 1 3.20: The imperial court
commends Kaze-no-miya, an Ise
Shrine branch shrine (*Massha)
whose name had been changed
from Kazenoyashiro by
proclamation the previous year,
by upgrading it to the status of a
detached shrine (*Betsugū) for its
prayers in defense against the
Mongolian Invasions. (Ruiju jingi
hongen)

1296 Einin 4

1298 Einin 6 11.20: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Fushimi.
1300 Shōan 2

1301 Shōan 3 7.22: Office of the retired

emperor issues a declaration
ordering that Jingikanchō (a
Kyoto neighborhood, in what is
now Ukyō Ward) be assigned
to the Superintendent of the
Jingikan (Jingihaku) (see also
*Jingikandai). (Hakke-burui)
11.20: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Nijō.
1303 Kagen 1

1304 Kagen 2 12.22: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt

and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū). (Nisho
Daijingū reibumi)
-.-: The number of suppliant
priests (*Negi) at each Ise Shrine
is set 10 apiece.
1305 Kagen 3

1306 Tokuji 1 12.20: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt

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4.13: Major earthquake in Kamakura that
leaves more than 20,000 dead. (Daigoji nikki)

8.5: Era name changed to Einin due to

calamities (Kantō earthquake and drought).
-.-: Dispute begins between Ise Inner and
Outer Shrines over adding the character kō
("emperor") to the names of shrines at the
latter complex (the affair is known as the Kō-
no-ji ronsō). (Kō-no-ji sata-bumi)

6.-: *Watarai Yukitada writes Korō kujitsu

den (Oral transmissions of the ancient and the
old)

8.5: Era name changed to Kagen due to

calamities (Great fire in Kamakura the
previous 12.11; drought; unusual atmospheric
phenomenon [comet]).

Intercalary 12.27: *Watarai Yukitada dies

(age 70).
12.14: Era name changed to Tokuji due to

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū). (Binran)
1307 Tokuji 2 1.12: The esoteric "pouring water
from the peak" (kechien kanjō)
Buddhist rite is performed at
Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine.
(May mark the start of this long-
running ceremony.) (Ninnaji
goden)
1309 Enkyō 2 11.24: *Daijōsai ceremony held -.-: Kanda Shrine restores shrine
to accompany accession of buildings and adds (Taira)
Emperor Hanazono. Masakado to the *kami
worshipped there.
1311 Ōchō 1

1312 Shōwa 1

1313 Shōwa 2

1317 Bunpō 1

1318 Bunpō 2 11.22: *Daijōsai ceremony held 2.17: Daijingū sankei shōjin-hō, a
to accompany accession of law banning Buddhism and
Emperor Go-Daigo. Buddhist clergy from visiting the
Grand Shrines of Ise, is passed by
order (chōsen) of the office of the
retired emperor. (Bunpōki)
1320 Gen’ō 2

1321 Genkō 1 4.17: The imperial court issues

a 6-article official message
(kansenji) to shrines of all ranks
from the Grand Shrines of Ise
on down that gives orders on
how to observe Shintō rituals
and directions regarding such
matters as clerical work related
to lawsuits. (Gionsha ki)
1323 Genkō 3 9.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).

1324 Shōchū 1

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calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena).

12.-: Takashina Takakane completes Kasuga

myōjin genki (aka *Kasugagongenki, "Record
of the appearances of the Kasuga deity").

4.28: Era name changed to Ōchō (widespread

epidemics).
3.20: Era name changed to Shōwa due to
calamities (unusual atmospheric phenomena,
earthquake).
-.-: Jin’un completes *Hachiman ‘usagū
gotakusenshū.
2.3: Era name changed to Bunpō due to
calamities (epidemic the previous year, great
Kyoto earthquake on 1.3).
4.-: The bakufu proposes that the Daikakuji
and Jimyōin imperial lines hold talks over the
matter of imperial succession.

1.-: *Watarai Ieyuki completes Ruiju jingi

hongen (Rubricated sources on the origins of
the kami, 15 fascicles). (Preface of the same)
2.23: Era name changed to Genkō as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei,
"younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
year in the sexagenary cycle) is associated
with political and social instability (see also
*Ehō).

12.5: Major fire in Kyōto that destroys

around 50 chō (neighborhoods). (Hanazono
tennō shinki)
10.30: The practice of venerating Kasuga

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1325 Shōchū 2 9.16: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
1326 Karyaku 1

1329 Gentoku 1

1331 Genkō 1, 8.24: Emperor Go-Daigo flees

Gentoku 3 from Kyoto with a set of the
imperial regalia (*Sanshu no
shinki). (Taiheiki)
1332 Genkō 2, 11.13: Northern Court,
Shōkei 1 *Daijōsai ceremony held to
accompany accession of
Emperor Kōgon.
1333 Genkō 3, 3.14: Emperor Go-Daigo
Shōkei 2 acquires the sacred sword
(*Sanshu no shinki) from
Kizuki Shrine at Izumo Shrine.
(Senge documents)

1334 Kenmu 1 7.-: Izumo no Noritoki directed to

build Kizuki Grand Shrine.
(Senge documents)

1336 Engen 1, 12.21: Retired emperor

Kenmu 3 (honorific used by Takauji side)
Go-Daigo takes the imperial
regalia (*Sanshu no shinki) and
slips away to Yoshino (event
marks the split into Northern
and Southern imperial courts).
(Kōdai ryakuki; Jinnō shōtōki)
-.-: The consecrated princess
(*Saigū) withdraws from the
*Nonomiya due to social
unrest. Thereafter, the practice
of dispatching consecrated
princesses to Ise Shrine is

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mandala becomes widespread (see *Kasuga
Shinkō) around this time. There are stories
that this was due to an oracle from Kasuga.
(Hanazono tennō shinki)
12.9: Era name changed to Shōchū due to
calamity (a feng shui theory predicted a year
of "instability on earth").

4.26: Era name changed to Kareki due to

calamities (a severe thunderstorm that Kyoto
experienced the previous 6.26, floods, and
epidemics).
8.29: Era name changed to Gentoku due to
calamity (large numbers of deaths due to
epidemic ["the coughing illness"]).
8.9: Southern Court, era name changed to
Genkō owing to calamity (epidemic).

-.-: *Jihen completes Kuji hongi gengi [Deep

significances in the Kuji hongi]. (Shintō
taikei)

4.-: *Jihen completes Tenchi jingi shinchin 5.21 (22): The army of Nitta Yoshisada
yōki [Primary record of the investigation of attacks Kamakura, leading to the fall of the
the manifest deities of the world]. (Shintō Kamakura bakufu.
taikei)

5.-: Kenmu Restoration

1.29: Era name changed to Kenmu to mark
reconsolidation after upheaval (bakufu
collapse the previous year, restoration of
court authority the current year).
2.29: Southern Court, era name changed to
Engen due to calamities (war begun the
previous year).

11.7: The Muromachi bakufu (shogunate) is

established.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
discontinued (cessation of the
consecrated princess system).
1338 Engen 3, Intercalary 7.29: The bakufu
Rekiō 1 gives strict orders to the
military governors (shugo) in
each province to restore any
shrine and temple lands they
have confiscated. (Kenmu irai
tsuika)
11.19: Northern Court,
*daijōsai ceremony held to
accompany accession of
Emperor Kōmyō. (Chūin ippon
ki)
1339 Engen 4,
Rekiō 2

1340 Kōkoku 1, 4.15: The bakufu forbids the 3.18: The vengeful spirit of
Rekio 3 vassal samurai (hikan) of cloistered emperor Sutoku on his
provincial governors (shugo) mind, Ashikaga Takauji is said to
from confiscating shrine and entreat the imperial court to
temple lands. (Kenmu irai venerate the spirit of the late
tsuika) Emperor Go-Daigo. (Gyokuei
kishō)
1342 Kōkoku 3,
Kōei 1

1343 Kōkoku 4, 12.28: Northern Court, the Grand

Kōei 2 Shrines of Ise and Kasuga Shrine
are rebuilt and reconsecrated
(shōsengū , see *Shikinensengū).
(Gukanki)
1344 Kōkoku 5, 1.28: Ashikaga Takauji and
Kōei 3 Ashikaga Tadayoshi make a
pilgrimage to Iwashimizu
Hachiman Shrine (may have been
the first visit to the shrine by an
Ashikaga shōgun). (Entairyaku)
1345 Kōkoku 6, 12.27: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt
Jōwa 1 and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū).
1346 Shōhei 1,
Jōwa 2
1348 Shōhei 3,
Jōwa 4

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7.27: *Watarai Tsuenyoshi dies (age 77).

-.-: *Kitabatake Chikafusa completes Jinnō

shōtōki [Chronicle of the direct descent of
divine emperors] (revised 1343).
9.6: *Jihen writes Toyoashihara jinpūwaki
[Record of the natural deities of Japan, the
land of abundant reed plains and rice fields].
(Shintō taikei)

4.27: Northern Court changes era name to

Kōei due to calamities (natural disaster,
unusual phenomena, epidemics).

10.21: Northern Court changes era name to

Jōwa due to calamities (natural disasters,
flooding, epidemic).
12.8: Southern Court changes era name to
Shōhei due to calamity (warfare).
7.24: Northern Court oversees completion of
Jingi shakkyō [Shintō and Buddhism] in three
volumes. (Entairyaku mokuroku)

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1351 Shōhei 6, 12.23: Southern Court seizes 12.18: Southern Court designates
Kannō 2 the sacred treasures from the Atsuta Shrine to be an official
Northern Court. (Entairyaku) shrine (*Kansha). (Entairyaku)
1352 Shōhei 7,
Bunna 1
1354 Shōhei 9, 11.16: Northern Court:
Bunna 3 *Daijōsai ceremony held to
accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Kōgon.
1356 Shōhei 11,
Enbun 1
1361 Shōhei 16,
Kōan 1

1362 Shōhei 17,

Jōji 1

1364 Shōhei 19, 2.16: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

Jōji 3 reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
(Ni-sho kōtai jingū sengū shidai
ki)
1367 Shōhei 22, 6.27: The bakufu issues special
Jōji 6 decree ordering warriors to
restore lands in Yamashiro
(southern Kyoto) they had
enfeoffed from shrines and
temples. (Moromoriki)

1368 Shōhei 23,

Ōan 1

1369 Shōhei 24, 8.16: Prince Kanenaga (Shinnō)

Ōan 2 stores at Iwashimizu Hachiman
Shrine the copy of the Lotus
Sūtra received at memorial
service for Emperor Go-Daigo.
(Kanenaga Shinnō gyohitsu
Hokekyō)

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8.28: Watarai Ieyuki dies (age 96).

-.-: *Shintōshū completed (some point

between 1352 and 1360).
4.17: *Kitabatake Chikafusa dies (age 62).

3.28: Northern Court changes era name to

Enbun due to calamity (warfare).
3.29: Northern Court changes era name to
Kōan due to calamities (warfare, mysterious
phenomena, epidemic).
9.23: Northern Court changes era name to
Jōji due to calamities (warfare, earthquake,
epidemic).

12.-: *Kitanotenjin engi (Iwamatsu Shrine

version) painted, perhaps this year .
(inscription on first scroll)

-.-: *Inbe no Masamichi completes Jindai no

maki kuketsu.
2.18: Northern Court changes era name to
Ōan due to calamities (warfare, natural
disaster).
2.27: The bakufu forbids lay persons from
dressing in the garb of Buddhist priests.
(Kenmu irai tsuika)

4.20: Warrior monks from Enryaku Temple

bearing portable shrines (*Shin’yo) engage in
protests (over a sectarian conflict with Zen
monks, who their Shingon sect rivals feared
were being favored by the bakufu over other
sects). 7.28: The bakufu responds by
destroying the main gate (rōmon) at Kyoto’s
Rinzai Zen-affiliated Nanzen Temple. 8.7:
All of the senior monks at every Zen temple

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1372 Bunchū 1, 3.12: The bakufu appoints a 10.25: Cloistered emperor Go-
Ōan 5 *Magistrate of Shrines and Kōgon settles dispute over
Temples (Jisha bugyō). (Kaei borders of lands held by
sandai ki) Kamigamo and Kibune shrines in
the former’s favor (see also
*Shinryō).
11.18: The bakufu forbids
"false suits" (ranso) by shrine
priests. (Kaei sandai-ki)
1374 Bunchū 3, -.-: First mention of Kamo tensō
Ōan 7 ("Kamo messenger;" see *Jingū
tensō) position appears, in
Daigeki Moroshige ki.
1375 Tenju 1, 1.29: The bakufu issues a 3-
Eiwa 1 clause law decreeing the kami
should be revered. (Kaei sandai
ki)

11.23: Northern Court,

*Daijōsai ceremony held to
accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Enyū. (Gukanki)
1379 Tenju 5,
Kōryaku 1

1380 Tenju 6, 9.8: Northern Court: Ise Outer

Kōryaku 2 Shrine rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū).
1381 Kōwa 1,
Eitoku 1

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in Kyoto resign.
4.-: Southern Court changes era name to
Bunchū due to calamity (warfare).

2.24: Northern Court grants noble status (the 5.27: Southern Court changes era name to
title of ason) to Yoshida Kanehiro, then- Tenju due to calamity (landslides).
Senior Assistant Director of Divinities
(Jingiken taifu; see *Jingikandai). (Zoku shi
gushō [Ignorant selections on history,
continued])

3.22: Northern Court changes era name to

Kōryaku due to calamities (warfare,
epidemic).
9.20: To express their discontent over delays
in the regular transfer of the shrine’s deity to
newly consecrated shrine (*Shikinensengū),
Ise Outer Shrine suppliant priest (*Negi)
Watarai Tomoteru and others try to bring the
object of worship (*Shintai) from subshrine
Kaze-no-miya to Kyoto. The Northern Court
orders Ise’s master of rites Ōnakatomi
Motonao to pacify Watarai, and shōgun
Ashikaga Yoshimitsu sends an envoy to halt
the protest. (Gekū sengū ki)

2.10: Southern Court changes era name to

Kōwa as the year in the Chinese zodiac
(shinyū kakumei, "younger-wood cock
revolution," the 58th year in the sexagenary
cycle) is associated with political and social
instability (see also *Ehō).
2.24: Northern Court changes era name to
Eitoku due to Chinese zodiac associations of

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

1382 Kōwa 2,
Eitoku 2

1383 Kōwa 3, 11.16: Northern Court:

Eitoku 3 *Daijōsai ceremony held with
accession of Emperor Go-
Komatsu.
1384 Genchū 1,
Shitoku 1

1387 Genchū 4,
Kakyō 1
1388 Genchū 5, 3.3: The bakufu bans
Kakyō 2 monopolization of perilla oil (a
lamp oil taken from the
beefsteak plant, Jp. egoma) sold
under the name of
Sumiyoshisha shinjin
("demigod of Sumiyoshi
Shrine") by residents of Sesshu,
Izuminokuni (see also
*Sumiyoshi shinkō). (Rikyū
Hachimangū documents)
1389 Genchū 6,
Kō’ō 1
1390 Genchū 7,
Meitoku 1

1391 Genchū 8, 12.20: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt

Meitoku 2 and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū).
1392 Genchū 9,
Meitoku 3

1393 Meitoku 4 9.18: Shōgun Ashikaga

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the year in the sexagenary cycle, as above
(see also *Ehō).
9.3: Southern army based at Kitayama in the
Kii district attacks priest and supporters at
Shingū in the Kumano area.

2.27: Northern Court changes era name to

Shitoku due to start of new regime (imperial
succession two years prior) and because the
year in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakurei,
"elder rat revolution"; the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).
4.28: Southern Court changes era name to
Genchū due to Chinese zodiac associations of
the year in the sexagenary cycle, as above.
8.23: Northern Court changes era name to
Kakyō due to calamities (epidemic).

2.9: Northern Court changes era name to

Kō’ō due to calamity (epidemic).
3.26: Northern Court, era name changed to
Meitoku due to calamities (unusual
atmospheric phenomena, warfare).

Intercalary 10.5: Southern Emperor Go-

Kameyama hands the three sacred treasures
(*Sanshu no shinki) over to Northern
Emperor Go-Komatsu, uniting the two
courts. *Kagura performed for three nights at
the Naijidokoro (see *Kyūchū sanden) of the
imperial palace.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Yoshimitsu makes pilgrimage to
the Grand Shrines of Ise. (Kugyō
bunin)
1394 Ōei 1

1400 Ōei 7 2.28: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
1402 Ōei 9 3.16: Shōgun Ashikaga
Yoshimitsu makes pilgrimage to
the Grand Shrines of Ise.
(Yoshida hinamiki)

1411 Ōei 18 12.-: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
1413 Ōei 20 3.6: Kantō Administrator (Kantō
kubō) Ashikaga Mochiuji builds a
great *torii at Yuigahama,
Kamakura. (Kamakura ōzōshi)
1415 Ōei 22 11.21: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Shōkō.
1419 Ōei 26 7.18: Kinenkoku hōhei (a 12.21: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt
ceremony held at 22 shrines and reconsecrated
including Ise to pray for (*Shikinensengū).
bountiful harvest) revived
(unobserved since 1350).
(Kanmon nikki)
1420 Ōei 27 4.22: *Hie matsuri (Hiyoshi
festival) and visits to it by
imperial envoy revived
(Yasutomi ki) (the festival had
gone unobserved since 1380).
1430 Eikyō 2 11.18: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Hanazono.
1431 Eikyō 3 12.20: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt
and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū).
1434 Eikyō 6 9.15: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
1441 Kakitsu 1

1443 Kakitsu 3

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7.5: Era name changed to Ōei due to

calamities (epidemic, drought).

5.3: Yoshida Kanehiro dies (age 55). 1.16: Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu holds
(Yoshida hinamiki) book fair for "non-Buddhist literature"
(getensai; i.e., writings from other traditions
such as Daoism, Confucianism, etc.) at his
villa Kitayama-dai (present-day Kinkaku
Temple). (Yoshida hinamiki)

2.1 onward: Buddhist priest Ryōhen

completes Nihon shoki daiichi monsho
[Lectures on *Nihon shoki] (see *Reikiki).

2.17: Era name changed to Kakitsu as the

year in the Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei,
"younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
year in the sexagenary cycle) is associated
with political and social instability (see also
*Ehō).
9.23: Takahide-ō and other family members

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1444 Bun’an 1

1449 Hōtoku 1

1452 Kyōtoku 1 -.-: Ryūkyū king Shō Kinpuku

builds a shrine to Amaterasu in
Naha. (Nanbei kikō; Okinawa-
shi)

1455 Kōshō 1

1456 Kōshō 2

1457 Chōroku 1

1459 Chōroku 3 8.21: The bakufu razes the old

gates at the seven entrances to
Kyoto and replaces them with
new ones. Tolls collected at the
gates go to construction costs at
major shrines. (Hekizan
nichiroku)
1460 Kanshō 1

1462 Kanshō 3 12.27: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt

and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū) (will not take
place again for 124 years).
1465 Kanshō 6 12.8: The bakufu orders Settsu
military governor (shugo)
Hosokawa Katsumoto to return
the land of Nishinomiya Shrine
to Superintendent of the

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from the Southern Court steal two of the
imperial regalia (*Sanshu no shinki)—the
jewel and the sword—from the imperial court
and flee to Enryaku Temple. The ringleader
is subsequently arrested, but the jewel’s
whereabouts are unknown. (The jewel would
be recovered in 1458 and brought back to the
imperial court.)
2.5: Era name changed to Bun’an as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution," the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).
7.28: Era name changed to Hōtoku due to
calamities (major earthquake in Yamashiro
[southern Kyoto] on 4.12, epidemic).
7.25: Era name changed to Kyōtoku due to
calamities (unlucky year [due to sangō =
"alignment of three stars"] in Onmyōdō
theory, epidemics) (see also *Shintō and
Onmyōdō).
7.25: Era name changed to Kōshō due to
calamities (warriors had requested a new era
name due to ongoing warfare since previous
year).
-.-: Around this time, *Ichijō Kaneyoshi
completes Nihon shoki sanso.
9.28: Era name changed to Chōroku due to
calamities (epidemic, drought, unusual
atmospheric phenomenon [comet]).

12.21: Era name changed to Kanshō due to

calamities (famines, drought, warfare).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Jingikan (jingihaku) Sukemasu-
ō.
1466 Bunshō 1 12.18: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado.
1467 Ōnin 1 5.-: Many shrines damaged
during the course of the Ōnin
War that begins this year, with
buildings burned down and so
forth.

1469 Bunmei 1

1475 Bunmei 7 1.1: Revival of the "obeisance

to the four directions"
(shihōhai; see *Chōga) rite
(stopped since 1468). (Sanetaka
kōki)
1476 Bunmei 8 1.28: Revival of the Kamo
sōjihajime rite (an imperial
rite). (Chikanaga kyōki)
1477 Bunmei 9

1478 Bunmei 10 7.27: Jingikan Superintendent

Sukemasu-ō and other
*Jingikan officials petition for
reconstruction of the Hall of
Eight Deities (*Hasshinden).
(Kaneaki kyōki bekki)
1479 Bunmei 11 4.22: The Hiyoshi Festival (*Hie
matsuri) is said to have been
revived on this date.
1480 Bunmei 12 2.28: The bakufu bans common
people from attending festivals,
viewing *sarugaku and *sumō,
and participating in temple and
shrine fairs. (Ninagawa
documents)
1481 Bunmei 13

1484 Bunmei 16 11.24: Senior Assistant Director

of Divinities (jingiken taifu)

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3.5: Era name changed to Ōnin due to

calamities (ongoing warfare since previous
year).

5.-: Start of the Ōnin War. (Marks the onset

of Japan’s Sengoku, or "Warring States,"
Period.)
4.28: Era name changed to Bunmei due to
calamities (warfare since the previous year,
unusual atmospheric phenomena).

8.13: First mention of *Yoshida Kanetomo as

"Head of Divinities" (Jingi chōjō).
(Chikanaga kyōki)
-.-: This year, *Yoshida Kanetomo argues in 11.-:End of the Ōnin War
a lecture on *Nihon shoki that the origins of
Buddhism and Confucianism lie in Shintō.

12.-: *Yoshida Kanetomo completes *Daijōe

no koto.

2.11: *Yoshida Kanetomo delivers lecture in

emperor’s presence on Nakatomi harae ("the
Nakatomi purification formula"; see also
*Harae). (Sanetaka kōki)
4.2: *Ichijō Kaneyoshi dies (age 80).
-.-: Around this time, *Yoshida Kanetomo
writes *Yuiitsushintō myōhōyōshū [Essentials

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Yoshida Kanetomo builds a ritual
space at Kaguragaoka in
Yamashiro and transfers deity
(senza; see *Taisai) to site.
(Sanetaka kōki)
-.-: Shimazu Tadamasa orders the
priest Kaneyoshi to rebuild
Kirishima Shrine and grants it
100-koku worth of land. (Dazai
kannai-shi)
1485 Bunmei 17

1486 Bunmei 18 12.22: Ise provincial governor

Kitabatake Kichika aids Ise clan
(uji; see *Ujiko) shrine workers
(*jinin) by attacking their
counterparts from Ise Yamada;
Ise Outer Shrine set on fire.
(Naikū chūshin-ki)
1487 Chōkyō 1 4.19: The emperor orders Senior
Assistant Director of Divinities
*Yoshida Kanetomo to visually
confirm the status of the Ise Outer
Shrine’s object of worship
(*Shintai) after the shrine burned
down in fire and summons the
Imperial Jingū Messenger
(*Jingū tensō) for consultations.
(Oyudono no ue no nikki [Diary
of the ladies from the imperial
bath])
1488 Chōkyō 2 4.-: Matsuosai ("Matsuo festival,"
see *Imperial Court Rituals)
revived, portable shrine
(*Shin’yo) abandoned on the road
amid fighting. (Go-hōkōin ki)

1489 Entoku 1 6.22: Shrine workers (*Jinin)

from Ise Yamada attack
counterparts from Uji; Ise Inner
Shrine burned, but the main
building is spared. (Daijōin jisha
zōjiki)

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on the name and the law of the one and only
Shintō].

8.-: Uprisings (ikki) in Yamashiro (southern

Kyoto).
-.-: Writing of *Shintō tai’i [Outline of
Shintō]. (Yoshida sōsho)

7.20: Era name changed to Chōkyō due to

calamities (fires the previous year at the
Kyoto temple Tōji and at Ise Outer Shrine).

6.9: Ikkō ikki ("leagues of the single-

minded") Buddhist uprising in Kaga; the
200,000-strong force attacks Takao Castle,
the base of military governor (shugo) Togashi
Masachika; Togashi commits suicide.
(Inryōken nichiroku [Daily record of the
Inryōken])
11:19: *Yoshida Kanetomo reports to 8:21: Era name changed to Entoku due to
emperor that the divine treasures (*Shinki) of calamities (celestial omen of two planets in
Ise Shrine have descended to the Yoshida alignment, major fire in Kyoto on 5.8, and
Saijōsho (the ceremonial site and shrine on burning down of Ise Inner Shrine on 6.22).
Mt. Yoshida in Kyoto). Imperial Court goes
to the gijōsho ("decision-making place"),
orders their enshrinement at Taigen Shrine
("shrine of the great origin"). (Oyudono no ue
no nikki [Diary of the ladies from the
imperial bath])
11.29: *Yoshida Kanetomo gives the

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1490 Entoku 2 1.1: Two imperial palace 3.21: The bakufu attacks peasant
ceremonies (kochōhai and protestors holed up in Kitano
sechie) revived (both had gone Shrine, with all shrine buildings
unobserved since 1468). burnt down as a result. (Inryōken
nichiroku)
Intercalary 8.25: Court orders
restoration of Jingikan (see
*Ritsuryō Jingikan) territories
to the Superintendent of the
Jingikan (Jingihaku).
(Nobuhide kyōki)
11.28: The bakufu grants
permission to rebuild Jingikan
at request of the Superintendent
of the Jingikan (Jingihaku).
(Ukagaigoto kiroku)
1491 Entoku 3 12:30: Emperor orders *Yoshida
Kanetomo to make object of
worship (*Shintai) for Kamo
Shrine. (Chikanaga kyōki)
1492 Meiō 1

1493 Meiō 2 12.23: Imperial court bestows

divine rank (*Shin’i, shinkai) on
the Yoshida Saijōsho. (Oyudono
no ue no nikki [Diary of the ladies
from the imperial bath])
1496 Meiō 5 Intercalary 2.13: The bakufu
grants Gion Shrine permission
to solicit funds in the provinces
for repairs to buildings and to
revive the Gion Festival
(Gion’e, see *Gion matsuri; the
festival resumed from 1500).
(Gionsha ki)
1497 Meiō 6

1500 Meiō 9 6.7: Gion Festival (*Gion

matsuri) resumes. (Tadatomiō ki)
1501 Bunki 1

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emperor instruction on Shintō. (Oyudono no
ue no nikki [Diary of the ladies from the
imperial bath])

7.19: Era name changed to Meiō due to

calamities (epidemic).

2.6: Yoshida Kanetomo raises issue of the

"30 tutelary deities" (*Sanjūbanshin) of the
Nichiren sect with Nichiren temples
Myōhonji (or Myōkenji), Myōrenji, and
Honkokuji (see also *Hokke Shintō).
(Myōkenji documents)
7.28: Major fire in Kyoto, 20,000 households
burned down. (Go-hōkōin ki)
3.11: Jingikan Superintendent (Jingihaku) 2.29: Era name changed to Bunki to mark
Shirakawa Tadatomiō delivers lecture before start of new reign and because the year in the
the emperor titled "Shintō hiketsu" ("The Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei, "younger-

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1504 Eishō 1

1505 Eishō 2

1507 Eishō 4 8.-: This month, the Daijingūchō

(Agency of the Grand Shrines)
grants permission to assistant
senior supervisor (Gondaisōzu)
Shinkei to solicit funds for
rebuilding the temples at the
shrine. (Kōtaijingū hikitsuke)
1511 Eishō 8

1512 Eishō 9 4.21: The bakufu establishes

time limit for lawsuits
regarding Shintō rituals.
(Kenmu irai tsuika [Supplement
to the Kenmu shikimoku])
1513 Eishō 10 10.22: The bakufu resolves feud
between Ise Inner and Outer
Shrines over which should
undertake its rebuilding and
reconsecration (*Shikinensengū)
ceremony first by deciding both
should build temporary shrines
simultaneously, with Inner Shrine
then holding ceremonies first.
(Naigū hikitsuke)
1517 Eishō 14

1521 Daiei 1

1522 Daiei 2 9.-: Hōjō Ujitsuna rebuilds

Samukawa Shrine in Sagami.
(Samukawa jinja munafuda)
1527 Daiei 7 5.6: Emperor Go-Nara is

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mysteries of Shintō") (see also *Ritsuryō wood cock revolution," the 58th year in the
Jingikan). (Tadatomiō ki) sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability. (see also *Ehō)
2.30: Era name changed to Eishō because the
year in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder-wood rat revolution," the 1st year in
the sexagenary cycle) is associated with
political and social instability (see also
*Ehō).
7.18: Obon dancing (bon-odori; see also
*Senzo saishi) popular in Kyoto; the bakufu
issues a ban. (Sanetaka kōki)

2.19: *Yoshida Kanetomo dies (age 77).

(Sanetaka kōki)

2.9: Arakida Moritoki, a priest (negi) at Ise

Inner Shrine, completes Eishōki.

12.22: The bakufu rebukes Yoshida

Kanemitsu to resolve dispute pitting
Kanemitsu against his uncle Yoshida
Kanenaga, a caretaker of Hirano Shrine, over
leadership of Yoshida house (see also
*Yoshida Kanemigi). (Nobutane kyōki)
8.23: Era name changed to Daiei due to
calamities (warfare, unusual atmospheric
phenomena).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
instructed in the gohai rite by
Superintendent of the Jingikan
(Jingihaku) and performs it for
the first time since his
accession to the throne
(Oyudono no ue no nikki [Diary
of the ladies from the imperial
bath])
1528 Kyōroku 1 6.12: *Jingū Densō Kikutei
Kinhiko petitions the emperor
to restore the Ise Shrine’s
territories (Oyudono no ue no
nikki [Diary of the ladies from
the imperial bath])
1532 Tenbun 1

1533 Tenbun 2 12.30: Following precedent, the

Imperial court approves
Jingikan Junior Vice- Director
(Jingi shōfuku, see *Ritsuryō
Jingikan) *Yoshida Kanemigi,
the adopted son of Yoshida
Kanemitsu (who died in 1528),
to be head of the "only-one
original Shintō" (yuiitsu sōgen
Shintō, see *Yoshida Shintō).
(Documents in the
Higashiyama collection)
1534 Tenbun 3

1535 Tenbun 4 4.28: Kamo Shrine resumes

liturgical *kagura. (Go-Nara
tennō shinki)
1543 Tenbun 12 6.30: Priests (*Kannushi) from
Ise Inner and Outer Shrines fight
with one another. (Kawasakishi
nendaiki)
1545 Tenbun 14 8.-: Prayers of apology are
offering at Ise Shrine for not
having performed the *daijōsai

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7.29: Era name changed to Tenbun due to

calamity (shōgun requested the change due to
long years of warfare).

8.-: Senior Assistant Director of Divinities

(jingi taifu) Yoshida Kanenaga petitions the
imperial court to halt *Yoshida Kanemigi
from being the head of the "only-one original
Shintō" (yuiitsu sōgen Shintō, see *Yoshida
Shintō). Kanemigi countersues, and court
resolves the dispute 11.19 by dismissing
Kanenaga’s suit. (Kyoto University
documents; Oyudono no ue no nikki [Diary of
the ladies from the imperial bath])

8.25: Portuguese trading ship lands at

Tanegashima, delivers firearms. (Nanpo
bunshū)

8.3: *Yoshida Kanemigi delivers lecture

before the emperor on the Nihon shoki and on
8.13 gives him instruction on Shintō. (Tenbun

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(for Emperor Go-Nara Tennō).
(Higashiyama bunko kiroku)
1549 Tenbun 18

1550 Tenbun 19

1555 Kōji 1

1557 Kōji 3 11.27: Oda Nobunaga grants

Atsuta Shrine in Owari the right
to refuse tax collectors and
constabulary (shugo fu’nyū) from
entering its lands. (Tajima
documents)
1560 Eiroku 3 12.-: With no prospect of
performing the *Daijōsai in
sight, Emperor Ōgimachi, who
had ascended to the throne in
1557, calls off holding other
regular rites as well.
1563 Eiroku 6 9.23: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).

1566 Eiroku 9
1568 Eiroku 11

1570 Genki 1

1571 Genki 2

1572 Genki 3 2.21: *Keikōin Shūyō, a nun in

Ise, goes on fund-raising trip
(kanjin) through the provinces
and works to get the "provisional
hall" (*Karidono) at Ise Inner
Shrine rebuilt. (Keikōin
documents)
1573 Tenshō 1

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14-nen nikki; Oyudono no ue no nikki [Diary
of the ladies from the imperial bath])
8.8: *Arakida Moritake dies (age 77). 7.3: Jesuit missionary Francis Xavier arrives
(Arakida-shi keizu) in Kagoshima (introduction of Christianity to
Japan). (Iezusu-kaishi Nihon tsūshin)
7.12: *Kiyohara Nobukata dies (age 76).
(Tamon’in nikki)
10.23: Era name changed to Kōji due to
calamity (warfare).

-.-: The word "Shintō" (Xintǒ) makes its first

appearance in a Christian document, coming
in the correspondence of Japanese Christian
Lourenço.
4.3: *Keikōin Seijun dies.
-.-: Daimyō Ōmura Sumitada builds hall for
the Jesuits in Nagasaki. (Nihon Yasokai
nenpō)
2.28: Era name changed to Genki due to
calamity (warfare).
9.12: Oda Nobunaga burns down Enryaku
Temple and Hiyoshi Shrine as a reproach for
each having sided with the Asakura clan in its
conflict with Oda. (Tōdai-ki)

1.10: *Yoshida Kanemigi dies (age 58). 7.18: Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiaki is deposed
(Kugyō bunin) by Oda Nobunaga, marking the end of
Muromachi bakufu (shogunate).
7.28: Era name changed to Tenshō due to
calamities (warfare, banishment on 7.19 of
the Ashikaga shōgun).

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1574 Tenshō 2

1579 Tenshō 7

1580 Tenshō 8

1582 Tenshō 10 1.25: Responding to requests

from the priests (*Kannushi) of
Ise Shrine, Oda Nobunaga
donates rebuilding costs and
appoints magistrate (bugyō).
(Gekū hikitsuke)

1583 Tenshō 11 10.-: Suppliant priests (*negi)

from Ise Inner Shrine give
Toyotomi Hideyoshi gift of an
invocation amulet (kitō taima, see
*Jingū taima). They also request
that chief nun *Keikōin Shūyō be
assigned to oversee the shrine’s
rebuilding and reconsecration
(shōsengū, see *Shikinensengū).
(Jingū hikitsuke)
12.-: Kikkawa Motoharu (a
general and eventual ally of
Toyotomi Hideyoshi) rebuilds
numerous shrines in Hōki
Province (present-day western
Tottori Prefecture).
1585 Tenshō 13 10.13: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt
and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū). (Zoku shi
gushō [Ignorant selections on
history, continued]). 10.15: Ise
Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated. (Sengū shidai-ki)
1586 Tenshō 14 -.-: Konda Hachiman Shrine
buildings burned in battle. (Ōsaka
shiseki hōkoku)
-.-: Grand hall (Nishihongū at
Hiyoshi Shrine) built for the Ōmi
Sannō avatar.
1587 Tenshō 15 5.-: Toyotomi Hideyoshi 10.1: Toyotomi Hideyoshi holds
confiscates most domains a great tea party at Kyoto’s
belonging to shrines in Kyūshū. Kitano Shrine, donates small

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1.-: Ikkō ikki ("leagues of the single-minded")
Buddhist uprising in Echizen. (Esshū gunki;
Shinchō kōki [Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga])
-.-: *Yoshida Kanemi first earns court rank as —
a result of report to emperor from Nobunaga.
(Bonshun nikki [Diary of *Bonshun])
Intercalary 3.5: Hongan Temple priest
Ken’nyo and Oda Nobunaga reach peace
agreement. Battle of Ishiyama ends.
6.2: Oda Nobunaga slain (Honnō-ji no hen,
"the incident at Honnō Temple").

7.-: Toyotomi Hideyoshi begins conducting

cadastral surveys.

6.19: Toyotomi Hideyoshi bans forced

conversions to Christianity and buying and
selling of Japanese slaves, orders that

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(Chikuzen zoku-fudoki) bunrin-style tea caddies and
1,000 koku of rice. (Kitanosha ki)
1590 Tenshō 18 4.18: Hall of Eight Deities
(*Hasshinden) at Department
of Divinities (*Jingikan)
relocated to Yoshida Shrine
precincts. (Zoku shi gushō
[Ignorant selections on history,
continued])
1591 Tenshō 19 11.28: Tokugawa Ieyasu grants
an estate (*Shinryō) to
Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine.
-.-: Kobayakawa Takakage
rebuilds Chikuzen Dazaifu
Shrine.
1592 Bunroku 1 -.-: Suppliant priests (*Negi) from
Grand Shrines of Ise petition for
estates to be donated to the
shrines (see *Shinryō) because
shrine holdings had declined due
to cadastral surveys in the
provinces, resulting in income
declines and inability to do shrine
business. (Jingū nenpyō)
1593 Bunroku 3 9.21: Hideyoshi donates land to
Grand Shrines of Ise. (Ise Shrine
library documents)
1596 Keichō 1 8.-: Shirayama Hime Shrine in
Kaga Province rebuilt by Maeda
Toshie and reconsecrated
(shōsengū, see *Shikinensengū).
(Shirayama hime jinja ryaku-ki)

1597 Keichō 2

1598 Keichō 3 2.-: Kami from the Grand Shrines

of Ise called upon (*Kanjō) to
impart part of their presence
(*Bunrei) at the Yoshida Shrine’s
Daigengū building in Yamashiro.
(Bonshun nikki [Diary of
*Bonshun])
4.16: Completion of temporary
mausoleum in Kyoto where
Toyotomi Hideyoshi laid to rest.
4.17: Hideyoshi given
posthumous Shintō name of
Hōkoku Daimyōjin. 4.18:

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missionaries be expelled from the country.
(Bateren tsuihōrei)
5.18: Buddhist priest Nichikō writes Shintō 7.13: Toyotomi Hideyoshi takes Odawara
dōitsu kanmi shō [Selections on Shintō of the Castle after a three-month siege. He
universal salty taste] (see also *Hokke subsequently grants the eight provinces of the
Shintō). Kantō region (present-day Tokyo and
neighboring prefectures) to Tokugawa Ieyasu
(development marks the completion of
Hideyoshi’s conquest of all Japan).

3.-: First dispatch of expeditionary forces to

Korea (Bunroku no eki) begins.

10.27: Era name changed to Keichō due to

calamity (natural disasters).

12.19: 26 Christian missionaries executed in

Nagasaki ("Martyrdom of the 26 Saints").
1.-: Second dispatch of expeditionary forces
to Korea (Keichō no eki) begins.
8.18: Toyotomi Hideyoshi dies (age 63).

Intercalary 3.3: Imperial court-ordered copy

of the "Age of the Gods" (Jindai) scrolls of
Nihon shoki produced, followed on 3.8 by a
copy of Daigaku (Great learning) and on 3.17
of Chūyō (Doctrine of the mean). The "Age
of the Gods" scrolls are presented to Ise and

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Mausoleum reconsecrated
(shōsengū, see *Shikinensengū).
(Toyotomi kafu)
1600 Keichō 5 5.25: Tokugawa Ieyasu donates
estate (see *Shinryō) to
Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine,
family succession granted and
endorsed by vermilion seal
(shuin, see also *Shuinchi).
(Tanaka family documents)
-.-: Tokugawa Ieyasu has the
*Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine built
in Musashi Ōmiya. (Shinpen
Musashi fudoki kō)
-.-: Tokugawa Ieyasu has Atsuta
Shrine built in Owari Province
(present-day western Aichi
Prefecture). (Chōshū fushi)
1603 Keichō 8 9.-: Tokugawa Ieyasu issues Ise 9.-: The bakufu transfers the spirit
Ordinance (Ise hatto), granting (*Kanjō) of Atago avatar (see
two villages of Kōdai Shrine *Atago shinkō) to Shiba (part of
right to refuse entry of tax present-day Saitama Prefecture).
collectors and constabulary into (Bukō nenpyō)
territory (shugo fu’nyū) and
right of pilgrims to work as
shrine guides in their desired
locations. (Jingū nenpyō;
Tokugawa kinreikō)
11.-: The bakufu establishes the 9.-: Following precedent, Ieyasu
Yamada magistrate (Yamada decides to assign responsibility
bugyō, see *Magistrate of for rebuilding and reconsecration
Temples and Shrines: Pre- (shōsengū, see *Shikinensengū)
modern). (Some sources say the of Ise Shrine buildings to chief
event occurred in 1600.) (Jingū nun *Keikōin Shūyō. (Keikōin
nenpyō) yuishosho)
1604 Keichō 9 2.-: The bakufu builds various
shrines and temples in Kantō
(area centered around present-
day Tokyo) region. (Tōdai-ki)
1605 Keichō 10 12.-: Ieyasu builds Utsunomiya
Futarasan Shrine. (Records of
shrine construction bills)
1607 Keichō 12

1608 Keichō 13

1609 Keichō 14 5.1: The bakufu hands down the 2.-: Ieyasu donates 60,000 bales
Ordinance for Shugendō of rice to Ise Shrine for rebuilding

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Kasuga Shrines. (Jingū nenpyō)

9.15: The Battle of Sekigahara (decisive

victory of Tokugawa Ieyasu’s forces,
bringing the Sengoku ["Warring States"]
Period to a close).

2.12: Tokugwa Ieyasu received the title of

shōgun and establishes his bakufu (i.e.,
shogunate) in Edo.

4.-: Izumo no Okuni (reputedly a priestess

from Izumo Shrine) holds her first
performance of kabuki (see also *Shibai) in
Kyoto. (Tōdai-ki)

-.-: Japanese Christian apostate Fabian Fucan

completes Myōtei mondo [The myōtei
dialogue].
-.-: The dispatch of ambassadorial envoys
from Korea (Chōsen tsūshinshi) begins this
year (some believe it began in 1605).
-.-: Buddhist priest Taichū completes
*Ryūkyū shintōki

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(Shugendō hatto, see *Shinto and reconsecration
and Shugendō) to Shogoin (*Shikinensengū) expenses.
Monzeki Temple. (Tōdai-ki )
9.21: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū);
9.27: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated. (Jingū binran)
9.-: Suppliant priests (*Negi) of
Ise’s Inner and Outer shrines
argue over which shrine to be
rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū) first; Imperial
court decides on Inner Shrine.
(Oyudono no ue no nikki [Diary
of the ladies from the imperial
bath]; Jingū nenpyō)
1610 Keichō 15 9.25: The bakufu sets down
regulations covering
Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine.
(Shrine documents)
1611 Keichō 16 9.-: The bakufu donates territory
to shrines throughout Echigo.
(Yabiko shrine documents)
1612 Keichō 17 5.1: The bakufu donates and
endorses assignment of shrine
domain to Shinano Togakushi
Shrine, and sets down
Togakushi-yama Ordinance
(Togakushiyama hatto).
(Tokugawa jikki)
1613 Keichō 18 5.21: Ordinance of Shugendō
(Shugendō hatto, see *Shinto
and Shugendō) and "new
obligations (i.e., taxes and
levies) for the Kantō region"
(Kantō shingi) proclaimed
(Tokugawa jikki)
6.16: Tokugawa Ieyasu
promulgates ordinances for
noble families (Kuge shohatto)
and regulations on Buddhism.
(Chokkyo shie hōki).
1614 Keichō 19 1.-: .Tokugawa Ieyasu receives
new year’s greetings from shrines
throughout the land. (Honkō-
kokushi nikki)

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9.2: *Yoshida Kanemi dies (age 76)

4.16: *Keikōin Shūyō dies (age unknown)

-.-: Two-volume Omorosōshi completed (see 3.21: The bakufu bans Christianity and orders
*Ryūkyū mythology). destruction of cathedral in Kyoto. (Kinkyōrei)

12.-: Emperor Goyōzei sends for Yoshida 12.19: The bakufu bans Christianity
Kaneharu and Shinryūin *Bonshun to ask throughout the country.
about Shintō, receives instruction in methods
of "original Shintō" (sōgen Shintō, see
*Yoshida Shintō) and the Shintō daigoma
rite. (Bonshun nikki [Diary of Bonshun])

-.-: Tokugawa Ieyasu appoints Tenkai the

shrine monk (*Bettō) of the Nikkō shrine
complex (see also *Nikkōsan shinkō)..

9.24: Ecstatic religious dancing known as Ise

odori (Ise Dance, see also *Okagemairi)
suddenly spreads around Japan, occasioned
by false rumors that the Grand Shrines will
be moved. On this day, it even occurs in the
imperial household (Kinchū). (Jingū nenpyō;
Tokugawa jikki)

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1615 Gen’na 1 7.27: Tokugawa Ieyasu secures 5.7: Siege of Osaka, death of the
shrine and temple lands Toyotomi family. Fires related to
throughout the Kinai district the fighting destroy numerous
(area centered on Kyoto). shrines, including Ikukunitama
(Goshuinchō [Red stamp book Shrine. (Zoku-shi-gushō [Ignorant
for pilgrims]) selections on history, continued])
7.-: The bakufu issues 6.15: *Sannōsai (Sannō Festival)
ordinances for warrior families held (festival floats [*Dashi and
on 7.7, for imperial court and nerimono] permitted to enter
aristocratic families on 7.17, grounds of Edo Castle for the first
and for the head temples of all time). (Bukō nenpyō)
Buddhist sects on 7.24
7.9: Hōkoku Shrine, built to
enshrine Toyotomi Hideyoshi,
disestablished. The shrine
buildings are moved to Hōkō
Temple and Hideyoshi is given
posthumous Buddhist name of
Kokutai Yūshōin. Memorial
services for Hideyoshi held
according to Buddhist rites.
(Bonshun kyūki [Ancient diary of
*Bonshun])
1616 Gen’na 2 4.17: Tokugawa Ieyasu dies (age
75), asking in his will that a
Shintō-style funeral be held for
him at Mt. Kunō (in present-day
Shizuoka Prefecture). The bakufu
establishes a temporary shrine on
Mt. Kunō (this marks the origins
of Kunōzan Tōshō Shrine) and
memorializes him in a *Yoshida
Shintō-based Shintō funeral rite.
(Tokugawa jikki)
10.-: The bakufu dispatches
*Tenkai to Nikkō to begin
construction on a mausoleum for
Tokugawa Ieyasu. Work is
completed in the 3rd month of the
following year, with the
reconsecration of the shrine
(shōsengū, see *Shikinensengū)
taking place in the 4th month (the
origin of Nikkō Tōshō Shrine).
(Tōbu jitsuroku)
10.-: The shrines Hizen
Kawakamisha and
Chikuriyamasha bring a fight
over which has top status (*ichi

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7.13: Era name changed to Gen’na due to
start of new reign and secular events (5.8: fall
of Osaka Castle)

5.3: Conflict over posthumous divine name 8.8: Christianity is banned, and foreign ships
for Ieyasu, pitting *Bonshun from the are restricted to Hirado in Nagasaki as their
Yoshida Shintō faction advocating Daimyōjin port of call.
and *Tenkai from the Sannō Ichijitsu Shintō
faction calling for Daigongen. Tenkai
prevails, and Ieyasu receives the name
Daigongen the following 2.21. (Tokugawa
jikki; Tokugawa kinreikō)

-.-: The Okayama domain consolidates

temples and shrines, and begins suppression
of the Fuju Fuse sect of Nichiren Buddhism.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
no miya) in Hizen province to the
imperial court. Shrine officials
from Hizen Kawakami Shrine
arrive in Kyoto in response to an
order from Emperor Goyōzei to
present evidence. (Bonshun
kyūki)
-.-: Kanda Myōjin Shrine is
moved from its location on the
Edo castle side of the Kanda
bridge to Yushima (an area on the
other side of the Kanda bridge).
(Bukō nenpyō)
1617 Gen’na 3 6.-: The bakufu issues the Buke
shohatto (Laws for warrior
houses) and issues notice that
shrine and temples in all
provinces should remain
undivided. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
7.-: The bakufu grants private
lands to shrines and temples in
the Kantō region. (Goshuinchō
see *Shuinchi)
1618 Gen’na 4 4.17: Transfer of the divided
spirit (*kanjō) of Tōshō
Daigongen (Tokugawa Ieyasu’s
posthumous name) to Edo Castle.
(Momijiyama Tōshōgū)
1619 Gen’na 5 5.-: Yoshinao of the Owari
Tokugawa clan constructs Owari
Tōshō Shrine. (Chōshūfu shi)
6.-: Maeda Toshimitsu
(Toshitsune), lord of Kanazawa
Castle in Kaga province,
constructs Kaga Hakusan Shrine.
(Maeda documents)
12.-: Tokugawa Hidetada
constructs the shingū ("new
sanctuary") at Nikkō’s Futarasan
Shrine. (Nikkōsan dōsha konryū
ki)
1620 Gen’na 6

1622 Gen’na 8

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1.-: The bakufu issues ban forbidding fund-

raising drives through the province by
individuals pretending to be shrine officials
from Ise and apprentices from Atago. (Tōbu
jitsuroku)
9.12: Fujiwara Seika dies (age 59) (see 8.29: More than 60 Christians are burned at
*Shintō in the Early Modern Period (2)). the stake in Kyoto at Shichijō-kawara.

-.-: A strange illness known in Edo as

tsukitaoshi spreads. *Hasegawa Kakugyō,
practitioner of *Fuji Shinkō, allegedly heals
victims with a practice known as ofusegi. The
bakufu holds him for thorough questioning,
but he is soon released. (Gotaigyō no maki)
8.5: 55 Christians are executed in Nagasaki
(the "Great Martyrdom" of Nagasaki).

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1623 Gen’na 9 -.-: Tendai abbot *Tenkai
constructs Tōshō Shrine on the
grounds of Hiyoshi Shrine in Ōmi
Province.
1624 Kan’ei 1

1625 Kan’ei 2 11.-: Daimyō Tōdō Takatora

builds Ueno Tōshō Shrine,
*Tenkai builds Sanjūban and
Sannō shrines with his own
money. (Jigen daishi den)
1626 Kan’ei 3 5.27: On shōgun’s arrival in -.-: Kameido Tenman Shrine in
Kyoto the bakufu issues orders Edo is dedicated (chinza). It will
governing retinue’s behavior be moved to its present-day
while in Kyoto, forbidding location during the Kanbun era
members from going on (1661-1673). (Bukō nenpyō)
pilgrimages to temples and
shrines. (Tokugawa kinrei-kō)
1627 Kan’ei 4
1628 Kan’ei 5 1.-: Shōgun Tokugawa Iemitsu
makes pilgrimage to Momijiyama
Tōshō Shrine. Makes regular
visits from the 2nd month
onward.
1629 Kan’ei 6 9.21: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
9.23: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated. (Jingū binran)
1630 Kan’ei 7 8.-: Work completed on Edo’s
Sannō Shrine. (Tōbu jitsuroku)

-.-: Work completed on Izumo

Shrine. The bakufu spends
500,000 ryō (taels) and appoints
provincial governor Matsudaira
Tadamasa as overseer. (Gahō
bunshū)
1631 Kan’ei 8 -.-: The practice of rebuilding and
reconsecrating (*shikinensengū)
shrines resumes at the Ise Inner
Shrine subshrines of
Aramatsurinomiya,
Tsukuyominomiya (᭶ㄞᐑ), and

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-.-: Omorosōshi written (volume 3 onward) 10.13: The bakufu executes numerous
(see *Ryūkyū mythology). Christians at Shiba in Edo (similar
punishments are meted out in other domains).

2.30: Era name changed to Kan’ei as the year

in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakurei,
"elder rat revolution," the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).
2.-: Ise dances (Ise-odori, see *Okagemairi)
popular; the bakufu issues a ban. (Kan’ei
jiseki roku)

11.-: Mt. Fuji erupts.

-.-: The use of fumie (a Christian image that a

person is made to step on to prove they are
not a Christian) begins in Nagasaki around
this time.
-.-: This year, importation of 32 kinds of
Chinese texts and books related to
Christianity is banned.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Kazahinominomiya, and at the
Ise Outer Shrine subshrines of
Takanomiya, Tsuchinomiya,
Tsukuyominomiya (᭶ኪぢᐑ),
and Kazenomiya. (Jingū nenpyō)
1632 Kan’ei 9 4.17: The bakufu orders that the
mourning codes (bukkiryō)
used henceforth at the Nikkō
mountains will be changed
from the Sannō codes to the
Jingitō codes (see also
*Nikkōsan shinkō). (Tokugawa
jikki)
1633 Kan’ei 10 5.19: The bakufu grants 6.-: The bakufu grants the Ise
permission for a fund-raising shrines a 2,000-koku domain (see
trip to raise money for also *Shinryō).
construction at Fukagawa
Hachiman Shrine in Edo.
(Kan’ei nikki)

7.19: The bakufu establishes a 12.17: *Tenkai supervises the

system of laws for government transfer of the divided spirit
courts; under it, suits that (*Kanjō) from Tōshōsha to the
involve temple and shrine lands Ninomaru keep at Edo Castle.
will be taken up first with local Imperial messengers and envoys
magistrates. (Tokugawa jikki) (*chokushi, *hōbeishi, and inshi)
attend. (Zoku shi gushō. [Ignorant
selections on history, continued])
1634 Kan’ei 11 3.3: The bakufu establishes 5.2: The bakufu sets down the
positions of "elder" (rōjū) and provisions for formalities on
"junior elder" (wakadoshiyori). Nikkōsan and rules for Nikkō
(Provisions include references Tōshō Shrine, also granting
to shrine building and shrines Nikkō Tōshō Shrine lands valued
and temples more generally.) at 7,000 koku. (Nikkō zatsuwa)
(Tokugawa jikki)
-.-: The *Sannōsai becomes a
"great festival" (daisairei) this
year. (Bukō nenpyō)
1635 Kan’ei 12 6.21: The bakufu revises the 7.26: The bakufu issues a
Buke shohatto (they now mandate (gejijō) ordering that
include an article that prohibits existing rules be maintained when
seizing shrine lands). it comes to lawsuits involving the
(Tokugawa kinrei kō) Ise Inner Shrine. (Tokugawa
kinrei kō)
11.9: The bakufu appoints a
*magistrate for temples and
shrines (jisha bugyō). (Richō
betsuroku)
1636 Kan’ei 13 11.9: "Vermillion seal" licenses 1.-: Envoys from the Grand

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1.18: *Bonshun dies (age 80).

2.28: The bakufu forbids any ships other than

those granted special permission (the so-
called hōshobune, meaning a ship with
official orders) from going overseas, and
forbids anyone who has lived more than 5
years abroad from returning to Japan (first of
the "closed country" [sakoku] laws)
-.-: Shintō brought to the Ryūkyū Islands.
(Okinawashi)

-.-: The temple registration system (terauke

seido) instituted nationwide for commoners
(see *Shintō in the Early Modern Period (1))
around this time.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
issued granting lands to shrines Shrines of Ise fight over which
and temples in all provinces one should offer New Year’s
(*Shuinchi, Kokuinchi). greetings to the bakufu first. The
bakufu and imperial court are
divided, and in the end greetings
to the Inner Shrine come first.
(Jingū nenpyō)
1637 Kan’ei 14

1638 Kan’ei 15 -.-: Suppliant priests (*negi) and

lower-ranking provisional
suppliant priests (gonnegi) are
exempted from the Christian
inquisition (Kirishitan aratame)
this year, a practice that thereafter
becomes customary. (Jingū
nenpyō)
1639 Kan’ei 16

1640 Kan’ei 17 6.-: Position of shūmon

aratameyaku (official who
handles punishment of
Christians) created (see *Shintō
in the Early Modern Period
(1)).
1641 Kan’ei 18 -.-: The Haguro *Shugendō
lineage affiliates its temples with
Tōeizan Kan’ei Temple,
associating itself with the Tendai
Buddhist sect. A conflict
develops when it attempts to put
Mt. Yudono (see *Dewasanzan
Shinkō) under its control, but the
connection of Mt. Yudono with
the Shingon Buddhist sect is
maintained.
1642 Kan’ei 19 5.-: The bakufu issues the
Gōson shohatto (laws for
villages). Orders farmers to be
frugal when it comes to
clothing, festivals, and
Buddhist rites. Forbids making
and selling liquor, as well as
making manjū (bean jam-filled
buns) and tōfu, in farm villages.

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10.25: Shimabara Rebellion takes place (see

*Shintō in the Early Modern Period (1)).
-.-: *Hayashi Razan completes sometime -.-: *Okagemairi (pilgrimages to the Grand
after this year Honchō jinjakō (A study of Shrines of Ise) prevalent from summer to the
shrines in our land). following spring

-.-: *Tenkai completes Tōshō Daigongen 7.4: Portuguese are expelled from Nagasaki
engi. and their ships are forbidden to come to
Japan (final element to create sakoku, or
"closed country," conditions in place)
-.-: *Yamazaki Ansai completes Sankyō itchi-
ron [On the harmony of the three doctrines].
-.-: Nihongi jindaishō published.

8.-: *Hayashi Razan completes Jindai keizu 8.-: *Furyū dances popular.

-.-: The Great Kan’ei Famine.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Also forbids charity missions
from entering villages to solicit
funds for shrines or temples.
(Tokugawa kinrei kō)
1643 Kan’ei 20 7.-: The Korean ambassador
makes a pilgrimage to Nikkō
Tōshō Shrine. He reads a paean
written by the king and offers a
mirror. (Tokugawa jikki)
1644 Shōhō 1 4.5: Shōgun Tokugawa Iemitsu -.-: The bakufu builds "places for
orders chief nun Keikōin distant worship" (yōhaijo) for
Shūchō to carry out the each branch shrine on the
rebuilding and reconsecration grounds of the Ise Inner and
(*Shikinensengū) at Ise Shrine Outer Shrines. (Jingū nenpyō)
(it would take place in 1647)
based on precedents. (Jingū
nenpyō)
12.23: The bakufu establishes
regulations and provisions
regarding annual rites and the
allotment of increases or
decreases in shrine lands for the
three Tōshō shrines of
Nikkōzan, Tōeizan, and
Kawagoe Senba. (Tokugawa
jikki)
1645 Shōhō 2 11.11: Imperial court grants an
official name (gūgō) to Nikkō
Tōshō Shrine. (Tokugawa kinrei
kō)
1646 Shōhō 3 3.10: Imperial court dispatches -.-: Residents of Nagasaki in
an envoy bearing offerings Hizen Province ask to relocate
(*hōbeishi) to Nikkō at the Shinmei Shrine. The "suppliant
request of shōgun Iemitsu. priests" (*negi) of both Ise
(First mention of the Nikkō shrines reject the request. (Jingū
hōbeishi. Other stories put the nenpyō)
appearance in 1645.)
-.-: Retired emperor holds
ceremony in imperial palace to
summon the Ise, Hachiman, and
Kasuga deities. (Jingū nenpyō)
1647 Shōhō 4 9.-: System of dispatching
imperial envoys to Ise
(*reiheishi) reinstituted. (Jingū
nenpyō) (Had been halted since
the Bunsei era in the 1460s. Other
sources say the system was
reinstated in 1645 or 1646.)
1648 Keian 1 3.-: Shōgun Iemitsu gives 3.-: Interim "offering-bearing

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10.-: *Tenkai dies (age 108).

-.-: *Hayashi Razan completes *Shintō denju.

6.3: *Hasegawa Kakugyō believed to have

died on Mt. Fuji (age 106).

-.-: *Tokugawa Yoshinao compiles Jingi

hōten. (Jingi zensho)

8.25: *Nakae Tōju dies (age 41). 2.15: Era name changed to Keian due to

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
official vermilion seal (shuin) envoy" (*Hōbeishi) is dispatched
of approval to temple and on the occasion of a festival
shrine lands that had not been marking the 33rd anniversary of
so approved by his Tōshō Shrine. (Zoku shi gushō
predecessors—issuing [Ignorant selections on history,
approvals for 182 in all. In the continued])
10th month, he so confirms
land rights for another 1,036
shrine and temples throughout
the country. (Tokugawa jikki)
9.-: Ōtahime Inari Shrine in Edo
built. (Bukō nenpyō)
1649 Keian 2 6.-: The bakufu issues 9.25: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
ordinances for artisans and reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
merchants (machibure) that 9.27: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
include instructions on the route deity transferred. (Jingū binran)
pilgrims to the Sannō Festival
(*San’nōsai) are to take and
how they should behave when
attending. (Tokugawa jikki)
-.-: The suppliant priests (*Negi)
of both Ise shrines forbid
"crossing the forbidden river"
(i.e., forbid the priests from
leaving the shrine grounds as
demarcated by the Miya River)
and going outside. (Jingū nenpyō)
1650 Keian 3

1651 Keian 4

1652 Jōō 1 1.-: *Magistrate of Temples and

Shrines (jisha bugyō) sets down
rules regarding regular Edo
visits by priests (*shinshoku).
(Keian-nendo gohatto-gaki)
1653 Jōō 2 10.-: Ambassador from the
Ryūkyū kingdom makes a
pilgrimage to Nikkō Tōshōgū.

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rumors (rumors were going around Kyoto
that there would be many fire deaths during
the Shōhō era ["Shōhō" being a near
homophone to the word for "death by fire," or
shōbō])

12.28: *Deguchi Nobuyoshi founds the

library Toyomiyazaki Bunko.
-.-: Buddhist priest Taichū publishes *Ryūkyū 2.26: Promulgation of Keian no ofuregaki
shintōki. ["Ordinances of the Keian era," a set of
mandates dictating how peasants were to live
their lives] and cadastral survey ordinances.

5.7: Tokugawa Yoshinao dies (age 51).

-.-: Mythology of the Ryūkyū court, Chūzan
seikan, published (see *Ryūkyū mythology).
3.-: Making pilgrimages to Ise (Isemairi, see
*Okagemairi) becomes popular. Many
pilgrims come from Edo in particular; the
Hakone check point records nearly 1,500
people as having passed through between the
20th and 25th of that month. (Tokugawa
jikki)
7.23: Rogue samurai Marubashi Chūya and
cohorts captured (the Keian Uprising or
Rebellion; also known as the Yui Shōsetsu
Incident, named for its organizer)
9.18: Era name changed to Jōō due to the
death of former shōgun Iemitsu (an event
known as the Kantō kyōji, "the Kantō
calamity")

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(Tokugawa jikki)
1654 Jōō 3

1655 Meireki 1

1656 Meireki 2

1657 Meireki 3

1658 Manji 1

1659 Manji 2 5.3: The bakufu promulgates the

Edo Sannō gojōmoku, a set of
legal codes covering priests at
Sannō Shrine (the code and
similar regulations individual to
specific major shrines would later
be subsumed by the *Shosha negi
kannushi hatto in 1665).
(Tokugawa kinrei kō)
11.25: Emergency rebuilding and
transfer of deity at Ise Inner
Shrine following fire in the
sanctuary (seiden, see *Honden).
(Jingū binran)
1660 Manji 3
1661 Kanbun 1

1662 Kanbun 2 6.7: Shogunate establishes the 10.17: The bakufu gives 2,000
manner by which the four ryō in gold and 100 kanme in
*sarugaku Nō guilds will hold silver to Miwa Shrine in Yamato
performances (takigi nō, province and Hirota Shrine in
"torchlight Nō") at the two Settsu province to repair shrine
Kasuga festivals. It also front courtyards (shatō).
provides 500 koku of rice to (Tokugawa jikki)
cover costs at both festivals.

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2.2: Official notices posted banning

Christianity and increasing the reward for
informants on Christians.
-.-: *Yamazaki Ansai begins lecturing in
Kyoto.
3.-: *Yoshikawa Koretari initiated into
*Yoshida Shintō by *Hagiwara Kaneyori.
(Aremidō-sensei gyōjō)
1.23: *Hayashi Razan dies (age 75). (Kōgi 1.18: Nearly 300 Edo shrines and temples
nikki) including Sannō Shrine burn down in the
Great Fire of Meireki (also known as the
Furisode Fire). The main keep (honmaru) of
Edo Castle also burns down. (Ochiboshū
tsuika)
2.27: Daimyō *Tokugawa Mitsukuni begins
compiling Dai Nihonshi.
7.23: Era name changed to Manji due to
calamity (the great fire in Edo of the previous
year).

11.10: *Hagiwara Kaneyori dies (age 73)

12.-: *Yoshikawa Koretari lectures daimyō 2.-: Pilgrimages to Ise (Isemairi, see
*Hoshina Masayuki on Shintō writings. *okagemairi) popular. (Bukō nenpyō)
(Kasei jikki)
4.25: Era name changed to Kanbun due to
calamities (imperial palace catches fire on
1.15)
11.-: Tōnomine engi in two scrolls -.-: Fund-raising sumō (kanjin sumō) events
(manuscript and illustrated scroll of the for shrines and temples performed annually
origins of the Tōnomine) completed. starting this year. (Bukō nenpyō)

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(Tokugawa jikki)
10.13: Go and shōgi players are -.-: This year, Ise Izawanomiya
put under the jurisdiction of the Shrine files a suit at the imperial
*Magistrate of Temples and court in a fight with Ise Inner
Shrines (see also *Shintō in the Shrine over abstinences
Early Modern Period). performed by uchibito (a priestly
(Tokugawa jikki) rank; see *shinshoku) at Ise
Izawanomiya and over shrine
construction issues, arguing it has
superior status over the two Ise
shrines. The court rules that
Izawanomiya, in accordance with
precedent, is regarded as an
auxiliary (*Betsugū) shrine of Ise
Inner Shrine, and the two parties
should work together to carry out
the work of rebuilding and
reconsecration (zōtai sengū, see
*Shikinensengū). (Jingū nenpyō)
10.-: The bakufu orders that a
survey be made of Buddhist
priests and *Shugendō
practitioners living in towns. In
the 11th month, these Shugendō
practitioners are orders to
submit requests to the town
administrators (toshiyori) to
receive permits for holding
their monthly rites. (Ofuregaki
shūsei)
1663 Kanbun 3 -.-: Iwazanomiya Shrine protests
directly to shōgun Tokugawa
Ietsuna claiming its superior
status over the two Ise shrines.
Forty shrine workers (*Jinin) are
punished. (Jingū nenpyō)
-.-: Ise shrine senior chief priest
(daigūji, see *Gūji) Ōnakatomi
Kiyonaga encourages tenants on
shrine lands to make
contributions as he rebuilds 40
auxiliary shrines (*Sessha) of
both Ise institutions that had been
dismantled since around Heian
times. (Kanbun sessha saikōki)
1664 Kanbun 4 12.-: Daimyō Tokugawa
Mitsutomo rebuilds Wakamiya
Hachiman Shrine in Owari
domain, abolishes Buddhist

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-.-: *Tachibana Mitsuyoshi publishes

Nakatomi no *harae shūsetsu.

11.-: Law banning Christianity promulgated

once again.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
priests who perform Buddhist
rites at shrines (*Shasō), and
appoints a shrine priest
(*Shinshoku). (Nihon shaji
taikan)
-.-: The antler-trimming rite for
the deer at Kasuga Shrine begins
this year.
1665 Kanbun 5 7.-: The bakufu issues the
*Shosha negi kannushi hatto.
(Tokugawa kinrei kō)

10.14: Buddhist priests,

mountain ascetics (yamabushi,
see also *Introduction: Belief
and Practice), mendicant
monk-performers (gannin), and
ascetics (gyōnin) are forbidden
from erecting large Buddhist
home altars in the houses of
townsmen. (Tokugawa kinrei
kō; (Ofuregaki shūsei)
1666 Kanbun 6 3.-: The Magistrate of Temples
and Shrines (*Jisha bugyō)
issues a memorandum ordering
the houses of hereditary shrine
priests (*Shake) and Shugendō
practitioners to not encroach on
one another’s jurisdictions.
(Nabeki documents)

1667 Kanbun 7 10.28: The bakufu hands down Intercalary 2.15: Izumo Shrine
an ordinance forbidding the completed. (The bakufu provides
borrowing of land from temples 500,000 ryō [taels] in silver for
and shrines for constructing restoration work.) 3.-: Deity
buildings. (Tokugawa jikki) transfer completed (shōsengū, see
*Shikinensengū).
1668 Kanbun 8 3.-: The bakufu issues a 4.22: The bakufu hands down a
sumptuary edict (kenyakurei) decision in response to a suit that
that, among other things, had been filed by the *Oshi (a
forbids extravagance in festival specific type of functionary) at
rites. (Ofuregaki shūsei) Ise Shrine over their lay patrons
(dan’otsu). (Tokugawa jikki)
-.-: The Grand Shrines of Ise
forbid anyone other than the Ise
shrines themselves from
publishing books about the kami

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11.-: The bakufu bans Pure Land

confraternities (nenbutsukō, see *Kō) and
Lotus confraternities (daimokukō), in towns.
(Tokugawa kinrei kō)
12.-: Tokugawa Mitsukuni appoints a
*Magistrate of Temples and Shrines (Jisha
bugyō) for his domain, codifies regulations
for such institutions, and destroys some 3,000
locations established to be shrines dedicated
to evil gods (inshi). (Tōgen iji)

5.-: Ikeda Mitsumasa, daimyō of Bizen

Province, razes more than 10,000 of the
shrines in his territory said to be dedicated to
evil gods, and designates more than 70 others
as orthodox. (Bizen ryakushi)

7.-: Tokugawa Mitsukuni demolishes 997

new temples while also restoring old and
dilapidated ones.
7.29: Use of pine decorations at New Year’s
banned. (Tokugawa jikki)

12.-: *Yamazaki Ansai goes to Ise and hears 10.-: Building of new temples and shrines is
*Deguchi Nobuyoshi’s theories about Shintō. banned once again (a similar ban had been
(Sōjōshū) issued 38 years before). (Tokugawa kinrei-
kō)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(shinsho) of the two shrines.
(Jingū nenpyō)
1669 Kanbun 9 9.26: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
9.28: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated.

1670 Kanbun 10 8.13: The bakufu imposes 11.24: Major fire in Ise destroys
restrictions on the lifestyles of 5,000 homes. The
peasants (nōmin) and townsmen Tsukiyominomiya, one of the
(chōnin). These include orders detached shrines (*Betsugū) of
for shrine and temple rites to Ise Outer Shrine, goes up in
not go beyond levels flames. (Zoku-shigushō [Ignorant
appropriate to a person’s social selections on history, continued];
class. Jingū nenpyō)
1671 Kanbun 11 5.1: The bakufu issues provisions
on the regular rebuilding and
reconsecration rites
(*Shikinensengū) at the Grand
Shrines of Ise. (Jingū nenpyō)
1672 Kanbun 12 2.-: The bakufu bans renting
lodging for fund-raising
(kanjin) street entertainments
(daikagura, a distant offshoot
of *Kagura) performances.
(Bukkō nenpyō)
1673 Enpō 1

1674 Enpō 2 8.17: The bakufu rules the

Yoshida family does not have
an exclusive right to intercede
(shissō) at the imperial court on
behalf of shrine priests
(shanin), even if those priests
are not connected to one of the
special court families known as
"messenger families" (tensōke).
However, the Yoshida family
retains the right (as set down in
regulations issued in 1665) to
determine the attire of priests
without court rank (see also
*Shintō in the Early Modern
Period (1)). (Tokugawa jikki)
1677 Enpō 5 2.1: Shrine visits by court
envoys (chōshi under the
Benkan, Board of Controllers)

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-.-: *Yoshida Kanetomo’s work, Nihon shoki 4.3: The bakufu orders that temples
jindai no maki shō (Comments on the divine associated with the Nichiren Fuju Fuse sect
age chapter of Nihon shoki), is published. that have not submitted registration
documents to the authorities be excluded
from the temple registration (terauke) system,
(this in effect bans the sect). (Tokugawa jikki)
-.-: Shirai Sōin produces *Jinja keimō in 7
scrolls. (Jinja keimō)

-.-: This year, *Yamazaki Ansai receives the 10.-: Creation of the Shūshi ninbetsu-chō (a
"spirit-shrine name" (reisha-gō) of Suika registry of people’s religious affiliations; also
Reisha from *Yoshikawa Koretari and known as Shūshi ninbetsu aratamechō) is
founds *Suika Shintō. (Suika bunshū, ordered (see also *Shintō in the Early
Yamazaki-kafu) Modern Period).
12.18: *Hoshina Masayuki passes away (age
62).

9.21: Era name changed to Enpō due to

calamities (major Kyoto fire on 5.8 burns the
imperial palace).
2.-: Official notice boards (kōsatsu) posted
announcing the ban on Christianity and
people encouraged to be informants on those
who defy the ban.

-.-: Cult of Kishimojin (Skt. Hariti; goddess

of childbirth and children) becomes popular
in Edo.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
to the Kasuga Festival are
resumed. (Zoku-shigushō
[Ignorant selections on history,
continued])
1679 Enpō 7 8.15: The "releasing of life" ritual
(hōjō-e, a ceremony in which
captive birds and fish are
released) resumes at Iwashimizu
Hachiman Shrine (see also
*Shinto and Buddhism). (Kugyō
bunin)
1680 Enpō 8

1681 Tenna 1

1682 Tenna 2 1.-: The court revives the 12.-: Kanda *Myōjin Shrine in
sōjihajime (an imperial rite) at Edo is relocated from Surugadai
both Kamo shrines in Kyoto. (a locale within the Kanda
(Motokazu kyōki) district) to Kanda. (Nihon shaji
taikan)

1683 Tenna 3 6.-: The bakufu forbids the 3.10: Ise Inner Shrine is
people riding on festival floats temporarily relocated (rinji
(nerimono) and bringing sengū, see *Shikinensengū)
offerings (gokū) from wearing owing to a fire at the main
showy attire, and onlookers sanctuary (seiden, see *Honden).

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10.-: The main, 38-volume portion of the 72-

volume *Sendaikujihongitaiseikyō (aka Kuji
taisekyō) is published.

6.-: Masataka Ō compiles Kasetsu ryakki (see

*Hakke Shintō). (*Hakkeburui)
10.-: *Ōgimachi Kinmichi becomes disciple
of *Suika Shintō. (Nenpu)
9.29: Era name changed to Tenna as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei,
"younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
year in the sexagenary cycle) is associated
with political and social instability (see also
*Ehō).
-.-: This year, the bakufu declares Kuji
taisekyō to be a forgery (i.e., makes it a
forbidden work), destroys the printing blocks
for it, and punishes Chō’on Dōkai and others
involved in its production (see
*Sendaikujihongitaiseikyō). (Jingū nenpyō)
5.22: *Ikeda Mitsumasa passes away (age 5.-: The bakufu posts notice boards (kōsatsu)
74). in all provinces promoting loyalty and filial
piety (chūkō) and announcing bans on
extravagance and Christianity.

9.16: *Yamazaki Ansai passes away (age 65). 12.28: Major fire in Edo. (The Great Fire of
(Shinzanshū) Tenna. Blaze starts from Daien Temple in the
Komagome neighborhood. Known for its
tragic impact on a young woman named
Yaoya Oshichi ["the greengrocer’s daughter
Oshichi"], whose story later becomes the
subject of plays and stories. Famed poet
Matsuo Bashō’s hut in Fukagawa is among
the homes that burn.)
12.25: *Yoshikawa Koretari becomes "Shintō
councilor" (Shintō kata) for the bakufu.
(Yoshikawa aremidō-ki)
12.-: *Deguchi Nobuyoshi compiles Deguchi
Nobuyoshi Shintō-sho.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
from wearing their finery. (Jingū binran)
(Ofuregaki shūsei)
7.25: The bakufu revises its
Buke shohatto (Laws for
warrior houses). Among other
things, the laws ban warriors
from seizing shrine and temple
lands, and from building
shrines and temples on newly
opened lands. (Ofuregaki
shūsei)
9.25: The Tsuchimikado clan—
which in the 4th month had
received a personal note from
the imperial court saying they
should be put in charge of
Onmyōdō specialists in all
provinces—receives from the
bakufu as additional
confirmation of such a
vermilion seal-stamped license
(shuinjō) (see *Tsuchimikado
Shintō).
1684 Jōkyō 1 2.30: The bakufu issues 4.-: The Grand Shrines of Ise ban
regulations regarding the period people from wearing "peculiar
of mourning following the clothing" (iyō na funsō) when
death of an emperor (bukkiryō). making a pilgrimage to either of
the shrines (the reference
specifically mentions people on
their "nana-tabi-mairi" or "[one
of their] seven pilgrimages," it
being an article of faith at the
time that people should visit Ise
seven times in their lives). (Jingū
nenpyō)
7.-: The bakufu bans itinerant
merchants, monks and priests
soliciting funds for temple and
shrine building (kanjin), and
people on pilgrimages from
entering the three inner
compounds (kaku) at Edo
Castle. Also, Buddhist priests
(shukke), mountain ascetics
(yamabushi, see *Shintō and
Shugendō), and supplicants
(gannin) seeking donations are
forbidden from loitering around
while chanting the Buddha’s

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2.21: Era name changed to Jōkyō as the year

in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution," the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).

4.-: The bakufu imprisons people who

publish without permission regulations
regarding the period of mourning following
the death of an emperor (bukkiryō).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
name (nenbutsu). (Tokugawa
jikki)

1685 Jōkyō 2 6.-: The bakufu grants shrine

lands to shrines in the Kinai and
Yamashiro districts (combined,
the two roughly comprise
present-day Kyoto and the
surrounding region). (Kyoto
oyakushomuki taigai oboegaki)
11.-: The bakufu bans people
traveling in large numbers to
other provinces in the name of
the Akiha festival (see *Akiha
Shinkō). It also bans the
creation of new festivals
(sairei). (Tokugawa kinreikō;
Ofuregaki shūsei)
1687 Jōkyō 4 11.16: *Daijōsai ceremony held -.-: As a gift marking the
to accompany accession of accession of the new emperor
Emperor Higashiyama (marks (daihajime-shō), all of the
the revival of the daijōsai rite, suppliant priests (*Negi) at the
which had not been held since Grand Shrines of Ise are
1466). (Motokazu kyōki) promoted to 1st rank (first
mention in historical record of
existence of two upper classes of
negi). (Jingū nenpyō)
-.-: This year, Shintō priests
(*Shinshoku) are exempted
from the temple registration
system (terauke seido) and
switched to a system exclusive
to shrine priests (shinshoku-
uke) (see *Shinto in the Early
Modern Period (1)).
-.-: The sōjihajime ceremony
(an imperial rite) at the Grand
Shrines of Ise is again revived
(it previously had been revived
in the Genna era, 1615–24).

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7.-: The *Jisha bugyō (*Magistrate of

Temples and Shrines: Early Modern)
banishes 7 members of the shrine priest
family at Hiyoshi Shrine in Ōmi Province
(present-day Shiga Prefecture) to a remote
island.
10.29: Use of the Chinese calendar ends and
a new Japanese calendar (known as the
Jōkyō-reki, or Jōkyō calendar) goes into
effect.
9.26: *Yamaga Sokō passes away (age 64).

1.28: The bakufu issues edict protecting all

living things (focuses especially on dogs; the
bakufu will continue to frequently reissue
such laws).

10.-: The bakufu settles a lawsuit between

two classes of Mt. Kōya religionists, the
scholarly monks (gakuryokata) and the
temple administrative staff (gyōninkata).
They are ordered to follow precedents set
down during the Genna era (1615–24).
(Tokugawa jikki)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(Jingū nenpyō)
1688 during
Jōkyō

1688 Genroku 1 9.-: Kanda *Myōjin festival (first

time that portable shrines
[*Shin’yo] and festival floats
[nerimono] are allowed inside
Edo Castle). (Bukō nenpyō)
1689 Genroku 2 9.10: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
9.13: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated. (Jingū nenpyō)
(This occasion marks the start of
the practice of carrying out this
ritual rebuilding for the Outer
Shrine three days after that at the
Inner Shrine.)
1690 Genroku 3 -.-: Priests at the Grand Shrines of
Ise who have been granted a
peerage (joshakunin) are
forbidden from taking the tonsure
(i.e., becoming a Buddhist priest).
(Jingū nenpyō)

1691 Genroku 4 6.-: The imperial court begins

holding a kiyoharai purification
rite to replace the tsugomori-
no-ōharae purification rite that
had been on held 6.12 until it
fell out of practice in medieval
times (see also *Ōharae). The
new rite is performed regularly
hereafter. (Motokazu kyōki)

1692 Genroku 5 12.-: The imperial court resumes

the monthly presentation of
offerings (jingu) and daily
rotating appointment (ketsuban)
of priests (shashi, see
*Shinshoku) at Kamo Shrine.

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-.-: Fund-raising *sumō (kanjin-zumō) are

allowed to resume around this time in
response to petitions from sumō elder
(toshiyori) Ikazuchi Gondayū and others. The
matches had been banned in the early years
of the Edo period because fights were prone
to break out on site.
8.29: *Kawabe Kiyonaga passes away (age
88).

1.16: *Deguchi Nobuyoshi passes away (age

76). (Zoku shoka jinbutsushi)

-.-: Asari Futokata publishes Nakatomi no

harae taizen (see *Nakatominoharae).
8.17: *Kumazawa Banzan passes away (age 4.28: The bakufu bans the Hiden school of
73). Nichiren Buddhism.

10.24: As a part of its animal protection

regulations, the bakufu bans exhibitions
(misemono) of snakes, dogs, cats, rats, and
other animals.
5.-: Designating those temples and shrines
that had heretofore been regarded as newly-
laid out to be historical sites, the bakufu bans
new temple and shrine construction.
(Tokugawa jikki)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(Motohiro kyō ki)

1693 Genroku 6

1694 Genroku 7 10.-: In Edo, the exhibition of 4.18: The shōgun contributes
shrine and temple treasures saiden (rice paddies that generate
(kaichō) and soliciting income to be used specifically to
donations for shrines and cover the costs of holding a
temples (kanjin) at meetings of festival; not to be confused with
Pure Land confraternities *Saiden) to Kamo Shrine in
(nenbutsukō, see *Kō), Lotus Kyoto so that the Aoi (hollyhock)
confraternities (daimokukō), Festival (Aoi matsuri, aka Kamo
and in merchant households matsuri) can be resumed (festival
(chōka or machiya) is was last held in 1467).
forbidden. (Ofuregaki shūsei) (Tokugawa kinreikō)
1695 Genroku 8

1696 Genroku 9

1697 Genroku 10 9.-: The bakufu decides on a

lawsuit between a priest (shikan,
see *Shinkan) from Iwashimizu
Hachiman Shrine and a priest
(shanin, see *Shinshoku) from its
predecessor Ōyamazaki
Hachiman Shrine. Ōyamazaki is
banned from naming its
Iwashimizu and instead renamed
Rikyū Hachiman Shrine.
(Motohiro kyōki)
9.-: The Imperial Court orders
that rites at Kamedo Tenman
Shrine be carried out based on
examples from Dazaifu rather
than those of the Shirakawa or
Yoshida houses. (See also
*Shintō in the Early Modern
Period (1) and *Tenjin shinkō)
(Bukō nenpyō)

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9.-: The bakufu banishes 627 of the temple

administrative staffers (gyōninkata) on Mt.
Kōya. (Tokugawa jikki)
6.-: Census conducted of Edo’s population
(size of townsmen [chōnin] population put at
353,588).
11.16: *Yoshikawa Koretari passes away
(age 79). (Kokugakusha denki shūsei)

2.8: Major fire in Edo (begins at Denmachō

in the Yotsuya neighborhood). Many temples
and shrines burn down.
-.-: The Mito domain razes 73 Hachiman
shrines (see *Hachiman shinkō), replaces the
Buddhist statuary used as the objects of
worship (*Shintai) with ritual purification
wands (nusa, see *Ōnusa), and establishes
555 tutelaries (chinju, see *Chinjugami)
throughout its territory (much of present-day
Ibaraki Prefecture).
10.12: Major earthquake in the Kantō region
(the greater Tokyo area). The great gate
(*Torii) at Tsuruoka Hachiman Shrine (in
Kamakura) collapses.

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1698 Genroku 11

1699 Genroku 12 -.-: This year, the Grand Shrines

of Ise revive the *Kinensai rites
and, for the first time in over 300
years, the *Kanmisosai rite.
(Jingū nenpyō)
1700 Genroku 13
1701 Genroku 14
1702 Genroku 15 2.-: The Imperial Court revives
the position of Ise zōgūshi (an
official who monitors
construction work in the
rebuilding of the Grand Shrines
of Ise). (Kuge bunin)
1703 Genroku 16

1704 Hōei 1 2.13: The bakufu orders the 4.11: The bakufu grants the funds
Jisha bugyō (*Magistrate of to cover reconstruction costs for
Temples and Shrines: shrines and temples destroyed by
Medieval) to ensure that fire the previous year (Nishikubo
festivals, rites, and services at Hachiman Shrine and Kanda
temples and shrines be Shrine each receive 1,000 ryō [a
conducted in a plain fashion. currency unit], while Yushima
(Ofuregaki shūsei) Tenjin Shrine receives 500 ryō).
(Tokugawa jikki)

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9.6: Major fire in Edo. The conflagration is
known as the Great Chokugaku Fire
(Chokugaku kaji) because it broke out right
after a framed (gaku) specimen of calligraphy
done by Emperor Reigen arrived at Kan’ei
Temple to which he had bestowed (choku) it
for display in its central hall (chūdō).
1.17: *Nakanishi Nobuyoshi dies (age 69).

12.6: *Tokugawa Mitsukuni dies (age 72).

-.-: *Keichū dies (age 61).
-.-: A miracle (reigen) occurs at Takadamizu
Inari Shrine (in Edo), attracting large
numbers of people.

3.7: *Tachibana Mitsuyoshi dies (age 69). 11.29: Major fire in Edo (preceded a week
earlier by the Genroku Earthquake). The fire
starts at the Mito mansion in Koishikawa, and
so is also known as the Mito-sama Fire
(Mitosama kaji). Numerous buildings and
sites are destroyed include Yushima Tenjin
Shrine, Shōheizaka Gakumonjo (an official
Confucian academy run by the shogunate;
also known as Shōheikō), Taiseiden (a
Confucian temple in Tokyo’s Yushima
district), and Kanda Myōjin Shrine.
3.20: *Izumoji Nobunao of Kyoto’s Shimo
Goryō Shrine dies (age 53).
12.7: Shinto scholar Matsushita Kenrin dies
(age 67) (see also *Kaibara Ekiken).
-.-: *Tanigawa Kotosuga completes *Nihon 1.1: Eruptions at Mt. Fuji (Mt. Asama) that
shoki tsūshō. (Suikabunshū) had begun the previous year continue into the
new one, lasting until the 3rd month.

3.13: Era name changed to Hōei due to

calamities (Kantō-area earthquake on 11.22
the previous year).
7.-: Women-only shrine pilgrimages and Pure
Land (nenbutsu) confraternities (*Kō) are

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1705 Hōei 2

1706 Hōei 3

1707

1708 Hōei 5 5.10: The bakufu exiles (onru)

Sasa Iori of the kobushin (a
lower government office
originally responsible for
furnishing manual labor for
minor repairs) over the
possibility that he made a secret
pilgrimage to Ise Shrine. His
brother-in-law and relatives are
also censured. (Tokugawa jikki)
1709 Hōei 6 9.2: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (see
*Shikinensengū). 9.5: Ise Outer
Shrine rebuilt and reconsecrated.
(Jingū binran)
11.-: The Grand Shrines of Ise
make a request to conduct
invocations (*Kitō) for the
bakufu.

1710 Hōei 7 4.-: The bakufu revises the

Laws for Military Households
(Buke shohatto). Among other

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banned in Edo.
-.-: Mass pilgrimages to Ise Shrine
(*Okagemairi) are popular this year. (Bukō
nenpyō)
4.7: Kuriyama Senpō (sometimes rendered 9.15: Major earthquake in Edo.
Senbō) dies (age 36) (see *Mitogaku).
-.-: *Yoshimi Yoshikazu becomes a follower 12.19: The Mishima school of the Nichiren
of *Ōgimachi Shintō. (Kinmichi-monjin Buddhist sect is banned and 43 of its priests
shingaku seij㿘) are executed.
2.22: The bakufu bans "loose talk" (zassetsu),
rumor-mongering (ryūgen), graffiti
(rakugaki), and anonymous handbills and
letters of grievance (sutebumi). (Tokugawa
jikki)
10.-: Major earthquake strikes the Nankai and
Tōkai regions (stretching along the Pacific
Coast from modern-day Shizuoka to Osaka).
Around 10,000 homes are destroyed and
3,000 people killed in Osaka. A tsunami hits
Tosa Province (along the Pacific Coast side
of Shikoku), causing massive damage; many
shrines are washed away there, including
Kamo Shrine in the province’s Hata District.
11.23: Major eruption of Mt. Fuji, resulting
in the emergence of a second peak on its
eastern flank that is given the name Mt. Hōei.
3.8: Great fire in Kyoto. Among the 13,370
residences and 69 shrines and temples
destroyed are the imperial residential wing
(dairi) and the mansion of the retired
emperor (sentō) at the imperial palace.

11.13: *Nakanishi Naokata dies (age 76). 1.20: Tokugawa Tsunayoshi’s law
prohibiting the eating of animals is rescinded.

1.-: Tokugawa Ienobu becomes shogun, upon

which *Arai Hakuseki is appointed to the
post of shogunal tutor (marks the start of
what are known as the Shōtoku no chi ["rule
of the just and benevolent"] reforms).
-.-: Epidemics rampant throughout the Hōei
era. This year, a man named Kihachi in Edo’s
Komagome district makes stylized snakes

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changes, it bans daimyō from
confiscating the lands held by
shrines and temples in their
provinces. Also, even though
the construction of new shrines
and temples is prohibited, if it
is desired permission is granted
to pass such requests on to the
shōgun for consideration.
1711 Shōtoku 1
1712 Shōtoku 2 9.12: The bakufu decides that, 9.-: The officer in charge of
from this year forward on the miscellaneous affairs (zasshō) for
day of the Kanda Myōjin the house of the Superintendent
festival, the shōgun’s retainers of the Jingikan (jingihaku, see
(kashin) will no longer pay *Hakke Shintō) issues a mandate
their respects to the shōgun on to Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine
the occasion of the to revive the practice of daily
*tsukinamisai. (Tokugawa jikki; offerings (nichigu). (Kada
Ofuregaki shūsei) Azumamaro nichigu saikō ki)
1713 Shōtoku 3 7.-: The bakufu orders that, 5.5: The bakufu decides that the
excepting special respective festivals celebrating
circumstances, reconstruction the San’nō avatar (San’nō
work on shrines and temples gongen, see *San’nōsai), the
that had been suspended will Nezu avatar (Nezu gongen), and
again be halted. (Shokuji the Kanda *myōjin will rotate
sodekagami) among one another in three-year
cycles, starting with the
upcoming three-year Chinese
zodiacal sequence of the years of
the snake, horse, and sheep.
(Manabe nikki)
1714 Shōtoku 4 3.16: The bakufu reinstates -.-: This year only, the festival of
prohibitions on *sarugaku, the Nezu avatar is not
sekkyō (Buddhist storytelling, accompanied by its customary
done to musical parade of festival floats
accompaniment), and zatsugeki throughout the streets of Edo (see
("miscellaneous drama," also *San’nōsai).
usually Chinese in origin).
They had been banned during
the Genroku era, but the ban
was relaxed. 3.19: The bakufu
bans the construction of
brothels near the front gates of
temples and shrines. (Tokugawa
jikki)

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from barley straw and offers them at the
marketplace by the Fuji (Fujizuka, see *Fuji
shinkō) in Komagome. They come to be
regarded as a memento of Mt. Fuji itself, with
the people who have purchased them
protected from illness. (Bukō nenpyō)

12. 1: *Asami Keisai dies (age 60).

3.17: Ōyama Tameoki of Kyoto’s Fushimi 5.-: Rumors spread that the object of worship
Inari Shrine dies (age 63). (*Shintai) at a minor shrine (*Wakamiya) at
Kasuga Shrine is being projected on a
bamboo blind at the shrine. Many go on
pilgrimages to the shrine.

8.21: *Deguchi Nobutsune dies (age 58).

8.25: *Kaibara Ekiken dies (age 85).

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1715 Shōtoku 5 12.-: The practice of the
emperor offering daily prayers
is revived. The superintendent
of the Jingikan (jingihaku; see
*Jingikandai) attends the
emperor. (Terumitsu kyōki)

1716 Kyōhō 1 11.12: The bakufu orders that

construction of a temporary altar
for the Nezu avatar in Edo’s
Yokkaichō neighborhood be
halted, and that festivals be
conducted in a plain fashion. It
also imposes a ban on festival
processions leaving the vicinity
of whatever shrine is celebrating
the festival. (Tokugawa jikki)

1717 Kyōhō 2

1718 Kyōhō 3 6.-: The bakufu decides that the

Sannō festival (*San’nōsai) and
Kanda *myōjin festival should be
alternate with one another year to
year as had previously been
customary. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
1719 Kyōhō 4

1720 Kyōhō 5

1721 Kyōhō 6 4.29: The bakufu imposes

restrictions on festival floats
(nerimono), decorative festival
displays (tsukurimono),
participant numbers, and the
like for the San’nō (see
*San’nō shinkō) and other
festivals. 5.28: Further
restrictions imposed on
performances involving festival
floats. (Tokugawa kinrei kō;
Ofuregaki shūsei)

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-.-: *Masuho Zankō begins publication of
*Endōtsugan.

10.6: Harumi Shibukawa dies (age 77).

(Kokugakusha denki shūsei)
9.18: *Ōgimachi Kinmichi transmits the 6.22: Era name changed to Kyōhō due to
secret teachings of *Suika Shintō to *Atobe "misfortune in Kantō" (Kantō kyōji, which
Yoshiakira and *Tomobe Yasutaka. here refers to the death of shōgun Tokugawa
Ietsugu on 4.30).

-.-: The first set of the policies known

collectively as the Kyōhō Reforms are
implemented this year.
6.17: *Tsuchimikado Yasutomi dies (age 63).
11.6: *Mano Tokitsuna dies (age 70).
6.30: *Tani Shigetō dies (age 56). -.-: Mass pilgrimages to Ise Shrine
(*Okagemairi) are popular this year. (Bukō
nenpyō)

8.15: Satō Naokata, disciple of *Yamazaki

Ansai, dies (age 70).
9.-: The five-volume Nikkōzan engi is
completed (see *Shintō and Literature).
10.29: The Mito family presents to the
bakufu the completed version of Dainihonshi
(The history of great Japan, see *Mitogaku), a
250-scroll work whose compilation had
originally been ordered by *Tokugawa
Mitsukuni.

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Intercalary 7.23: The bakufu
again imposes a ban on
building small shrine buildings
(shinshi; see, for example,
*Teinaishi and *Yashikigami)
outfitted with Buddhist statues
in villages, as well as on
building new shrines or
temples. (Tokugawa jikki)
-.-: Regulations imposed for
lawsuits involving temples and
shrines. (Tokugawa kinrei kō)
1722 Kyōhō 7 4.-: The bakufu grants permission
to solicit donations from "daimyō
with incomes of 10,000 koku (one
koku = approx. 180 liters) of rice
per year or greater" (n.b., the
language is somewhat redundant
as "an estate holder with an
income of 10,000 koku" met the
basic definition of daimyō) as
assistance for building shrines to
the avatars of the "three
mountains of Kumano" (Kumano
sanzan, see *Kumano Shinkō).
(Ofuregaki shūsei)
1723 Kyōhō 8

1724 Kyōhō 9 3.-: Priests (shanin) from

Iwashimizu Hachiman Shrine get
into a conflict regarding the
manager of the shrine’s fields
(ryōgoku). The Kyoto magistrate
(Kyōto machi bugyō) holds a
hearing on the complaints.
(Tanaka family documents)
1725 Kyōhō 10 9.-: The retired emperor Reigen
goes on a visit to the Yoshida
Shrine’s Saijōsho (ceremonial
hall). (Reigen-in shinki)
11.-: Because the year is one
regarded as unlucky for him
(*Yakudoshi), Shōgun Tokugawa
Yoshimune sends an envoy to the
Grand Shrines of Ise to conduct

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1.29: *Nashiki Sukeyuki of Shimogamo

Shrine dies (age 65).
11.22: *Kokugaku is placed under the
jurisdiction of the then-magistrate of
documents (shomotsu bugyō), Shimoda
Morohisa.
-.-: *Atobe Yoshiakira compiles Sanshu no 3.21: Major fire in Osaka. More than 2,060
shinki hiden (Secrets of the three kinds of people die and Tenman Tenjin Shrine burns
treasures; see also *Sanshu no Shinki). down.

5.19: *Arai Hakuseki dies (age 69).

5.-: Regulations are set down regarding

initiation into *Suika Shintō and being
instructed in its secrets (four levels). (Suika
Shintō no kenkyū)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
magico-religious incantations
(*Kitō).
12.-: The bakufu gives its
permission for contributions to be
solicited out around the country
to pay for construction at Izumo
Shrine. (Tokugawa kinrei-kō)
1726 Kyōhō 11

1727 Kyōhō 12 3.-: The bakufu tells the -.-: The Yamada magistrate (see
*Magistrate of Temples and *Magistrate of Temples and
Shrines that temples and shrines Shrines: Pre-modern) bans
with few parishioners (*Ujiko) priests (shishoku) from
on their lands should be helped distributing calendars (koyomi,
with doing repairs and upkeep see *Jingūreki) to anyone not a
as much as possible, while member of their patron families
those with a great capacity for (danka). (Jingū nenpyō)
such assistance should do so
own their own. (Jisha bugyō
tomegaki)
11.26: The bakufu issues a ban
in all provinces on performing
new rites and festivals.
(Tokugawa jikki; Ofuregaki
shūsei)
1728 Kyōhō 13 4.13: Shōgun Tokugawa
Yoshimune sets off on a
pilgrimage to Nikkō Tōshōgū (the
first shogunal visit to the shrine in
65 years).
1729 Kyōhō 14 9.3: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
9.6: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated. (Jingū binran)
1730 Kyōhō 15 6.20: Major fire in Kyoto (the
Great Nishijin Fire). Fires catch
and burn down 67 temples and
shrines, including Iwagami,
Oimatsu, and Ōmichi shrines.
10.-: The imperial court makes a
donation toward repairs at Konda
Hachiman Shrine in Kawachi (on
the outskirts of present-day
Osaka). The bakufu grants the
shrine permission to solicit
donations for the effort in Edo

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-.-: Worship of Ōsugi *Myōjin becomes

popular in the provinces of Hitachi (most of
present-day Ibaraki Prefecture) and Shimousa
(northern Chiba and southwestern Ibaraki
prefectures).
6.-: People go in droves to the Katori Shrine
in Edo’s Honjo district following stories that
Awa Ōsugi *Daimyōjin had come flying in.
In the 9th month, the bakufu bans people
from worshipping the deity. (Bukō nenpyō,
Sen’yō eikyū-roku)

1.27: *Atobe Yoshiakira dies (age 72).

-.-: Watarai Tomohiko (*Matsuki Tomohiko)

produces *Toyukekōtaijingūnenjūgyōji-
konshiki. (Jingū nenpyō)

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and around the "Five Central
Provinces," i.e., Kyoto and its
neighbors. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
1731 Kyōhō 16 11.10: The bakufu establishes
and simplifies rules for the
mandatory visits to Edo (sanpu)
by senior Buddhist clergy,
Shintō priests, and Shugendō
practitioners. (Tokugawa
kinrei-kō)
1732 Kyōhō 17 10.28: Plague of locusts causes
major crop damage. Orders are
issued for magico-religious
invocations (*Kitō) to be offered
up at Nikkō Tōshōgū, the Grand
Shrines of Ise, Usa, Katori,
Kashima, and other shrines.
(Tokugawa jikki)
11.-: The late Emperor Reigen is
included for joint veneration
(sōden) as a kami at Kyoto’s
Shimo-Goryō Shrine. (Getsudō
kenmonshū)
1733 Kyōhō 18

1736 Genbun 1

1738 Genbun 3 11.19: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Sakuramachi (though

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1.20: *Wakabayashi Kyōsai dies (age 54). -.-: The great Kyōhō famine occurs around
(Suika bunshū) this time.

7.11: *Ōgimachi Kinmichi dies (age 81). 1.25: The Edo home of rice wholesaler
(Kugyō bunin) (some sources suggest the date Takama Denbei is attacked. (The first of the
was the 12th) so-called uchikowashi ["home destroying"]
popular uprisings to occur in the Edo period.)
7.13: *Jikigyō Miroku dies (age 63). (Some 7.-: Epidemics rage in many provinces.
sources suggest he died on the 17th or the People frequently perform a ritual exorcism
18th) of the pestilence deity (ekishin) in which an
effigy of the deity is made out of straw and
sent off to sea from the shore while banging
on bells and drums. (Bukō nenpyō)
9.8: *Amano Sadakage dies (age 71).
11.-:*Kamo no Mabuchi at age 37 becomes a
disciple of *Kada no Azumamaro.
7.2: *Kada no Azumamaro dies (age 68). 4.-: The bakufu orders all temples, shrines,
and peasants first in Suruga Province then in
all provinces who have any documents
related to the Imagawa and Hojo clans to
send copies to the bakufu. (Tokugawa jikki)
7.8: *Tamaki Masahide (sometimes read -.-: Exhibitions of temple and shrine treasures
Tamaki Sei’ei) dies (age 67). (kaichō) start to be held frequently from
around this time.
-.-: *Yoshimi Yoshikazu produces Gobusho
setsuben (Discourse on the five books).
11.-: *Yoshimi Yoshikazu compiles Sōbyō
shashoku tōmon (see also *Ise Shintō).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
the ceremony was revived in
1687, it was foregone for the
preceding emperor,
Nakamikado [r. 1709–35];
production also resumes of
special folding screens from
Yuki [a term that means "all of
Japan from Kyoto to the east"]
and Suki ["all of Japan from
Kyoto to the west"] provinces
created as part of the daijōsai
festival). (Kugyō bunin)
1739 Genbun 4

1740 Genbun 5 3.5: The sending of senior-

noble messengers (kugyō
chokushi, see *Chokushi) to Ise
resumes.
11.24: Holding of the Harvest
Festival (Niinamesai, see
*Chōtei saishi) resumes.
(Kugyō bunin)
1741 Kanpō 1 4.26: The bakufu bans
gambling, raffles, and similar
activities styled as "builder
confraternities" (konryū-kō; see
also *Kō) for temples and
shrines. (Tokugawa jikki)
1742 Kanpō 2 4.-: The Osadamegaki hyakka-
jō is finalized (the second
volume of Kujigata
osadamegaki, this legal text
includes regulations related to
dealing with plaintiffs from
temples and shrines, newly
established rites, and executions
for "outrageous heresies" [kikai
no isetsu]) (see *Outline of
institutions and systems of
medieval and early modern
period).
5.-: The bakufu sets down
regulations concerning fund-
raising drives (kange) for
temples and shrines. (Tokugawa
kinrei-kō)

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12.-: The bakufu halts publication of *Kada

no Arimaro’s Daijōe benmō (Illuminating the
accession ceremony) and puts him under
house arrest.
-.-: *Ishida Baigan publishes Tohi mondō.
7.14: *Tomobe Yasutaka dies (age 74).

1.-: *Yoshimi Yoshikazu produces Ise ryōgū 2.27: Era name changed to Kanpō as the year
ben. in the Chinese zodiac (shinyū kakumei,
"younger wood cock revolution," the 58th
year in the sexagenary cycle) is associated
with political and social instability (see also
*Ehō).
9.26: *Masuho Zankō dies (age 88). 9.-: The magistrate of towns (machi-bugyō)
forbids having sick people drink water said to
be holy water (kajisui) from Mt. Fuji (see
also *Fuji Shinkō). (Tokugawa jikki)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
-.-: The bakufu sets down
ordinances related to
punishments for creating new
Shintō and Buddhist rites.
(Kajō ruiten)
1743 Kanpō 3 4.28: The bakufu orders that
permission to come and go in
and out of villages around the
Kantō (present-day Tokyo and
surroundings) area be granted
to Shugendō practitioners and
shrine clergy (fushuku) who are
carrying pilgrimage placards
(shugyō-fuda). (Ofuregaki
shūsei)
9.-: The bakufu bans making
spectacles on lands held by the
Grand Shrines of Ise of the
remains of people who have
been crucified, immolated, or
gibbeted. (Harigamichō)
1744 Enkyō 1 5.-: Because the year in the -.-: The main worship hall
Chinese zodiac (kinoene (honden, presently a designated
kakurei, "elder rat revolution," National Treasure) of Izumo
the 1st year in the sexagenary Shrine is built this year.
cycle) is associated with
political and social instability
(see also *Ehō), imperial
envoys bearing offerings
(*Hōbeishi) are sent to "the
seven shrines" (shichisha, i.e.,
the top seven in rank among the
*Nijūnisha [The 22 Shrines])
(this marks the first-time that
kinoene prayers have been
offered and hōbeishi have been
sent to the seven shrines since
the Katei era [1235–37])..
9.25: The practice of sending
imperial envoys with offerings
(*Hōbeishi) to Usa and Kashii
shrines is resumed (had been in
abeyance since 1300). (Kugyō
bunin)
1745 Enkyō 2 3.29: The bakufu orders
shrines, temples, and anyone
else who possesses old
documentary materials to
submit an inventory of their

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9.24: *Ishida Baigan dies (age 60). 2.21: Era name changed to Enkyō as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakurei,
"elder rat revolution," the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).

9.-: Worship of Shūzan Jiun Reijin, known as

the deity of hemorrhoids, begins to spread.
(Worship—the practice of which focused
mostly at Nichiren sect temples—was said to
cure the malady in one’s next life.)

-.-: Merchant-class thinker and Shintō critic

Tominaga Nakamoto publishes Shutsujō
gogo.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
holdings. (Tokugawa jikki)
1746 Enkyō 2 3.21: The Laws for Warrior
Houses (Buke shohatto) are
revised. The revision includes
bans on building temples and
shrines on newly opened lands,
and on confiscating the lands of
temples and shrines. (Tokugawa
jikki)

1747 Enkyō 4

1748 Kan'en 1 11.17: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Momozono
(performance of *Kagura songs
during ceremony revived).
1749 Kan'en 2 9.1: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
9.4: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated.

1750 Kan'en 3 4.-: The bakufu prohibits

applying to the *Magistrate of
Temples and Shrines (Jisha
bugyō) for permission to solicit
donations (kange; see also
*Outline of institutions and
systems of medieval and early
modern period) to repair
shrines and temples "heedless
of orders" (meijimidari ni).
1751 Hōreki 1

1752 Hōreki 2

1757 Hōreki 7

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8.28: Tominaga Nakamoto dies (age 32). -.-: Around this time, worship of the kami
Masaki Inari (see *Inari Shinkō) begins to
spread. (Bukō nenpyō)

-.-: *Yoshimi Yoshikazu produces Kokugaku

bengi.
5.30: Confucian scholar Dazai Shundai (see
*Theological Research) dies (age 68).

-.-: This year, Benzai Shrine in Enoshima

opens its doors to display its treasures
(*Kaichō). Large numbers of visitors from
Edo made pilgrimages to the shrine (Bukō
nenpyō).
9.13: *Tada Yoshitoshi dies (age 53). -.-: Starting around this time, the practice of
raising flags to signal when a temple or
shrine is displaying its treasures (*Kaichō)
begins (instances of such displays being held
on an annual basis also begin from around
this time). (Bukō nenpyō)

-.-: *Kada no Arimaro dies (age 46). 10.27: Era name changed to Hōreki due to
"misfortunes" (kyōji) (death of Emperor
Sakuramachi on 4.23 the previous year; death
of former shōgun Tokugawa Yoshimune on
6.20 of the current year).
-.-: *Tanigawa Kotosuga finishes writing the
35-volume *Nihonshoki tsūshō. (Nihonshoki
tsūshō)
3.-: *Motoori Norinaga goes to study with
Hori Keizan at his academy in Kyoto.
12.10: *Matsuki Tomohiko dies (age 74).
8.-: Senior Assistant Director of Divinities
(Jingiken taifu) Yoshida Kaneo makes an
appeal to an imperial messenger (tensō) over
an attempt by Jingikan (see *Jingikandai)
Superintendent (Jingihaku) Shirakawa

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1758 Hōreki 8

1759 Hōreki 9 5.-: Extravagance at religious

festivals in Edo is banned.
6.-: The *Magistrate of
Temples and Shrines (Jisha
bugyō) orders that force not be
used in campaigns to solicit
donations for religious purposes
(kange; see also *Outline of
institutions and systems of
medieval and early modern
period).
8.30: The bakufu has shrines in
every province surveyed at the
behest of the imperial court
(survey connected with
Yoshida house certification of
priests, with registers compiled
that record who the
functionaries are at each shrine;
see also *Shinto in the Early
Modern Period).
1760 Hōreki 10

1761 Hōreki 11 2.21: The bakufu issues

revisions to the Buke shohatto
(Laws for warrior houses). As
before, the document bans
seizing long-held lands from
temples and shrines as well as
building temples and shrines on
newly opened lands.
(Tokugawa jikki)
1763 Hōreki 13 8.-: The bakufu bans long stays
in Edo by visitors who want to
seek funds (kange) for repairing
and rebuilding temples and
shrines in distant provinces
(only the seal of the

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Masatomiō to make all shrine families
(*Shake) throughout Japan subject to the
Shirakawa house (see also *Shinto in the
Early Modern Period and *Outline of
institutions and systems of medieval and
early modern period).
7.23: The bakufu arrests Takenōchi Shikibu
and his fellows. The following day, twenty
aristocrats are formally punished ostensibly
by the emperor (the Hōreki Incident [Hōreki
jiken]).

-.-: *Kamo no Mabuchi completes *Kokuikō

[A study of the idea of the nation].
4.26: *Yoshimi Yukikazu dies (age 89).

5.25: *Kamo no Mabuchi grants a personal

interview with *Motoori Norinaga at
Matsuzaka in Ise (an event known as "the
night in Matsuzaka"). Kamo accepts Motoori
as a disciple in the 12th month.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
*Magistrate of Temples and
Shrines [Jisha bugyō] would
appear on the permits for aitai
kange, as opposed to gomen
kange [see also the entry for the
8th month of 1766]).
10.18: The bakufu renews the
vermilion seal registrations
(shuinjō, i.e., official permits)
for various temples and shrines
(see also *Shuinchi,
Kokuinchi).
1764 Meiwa 1 11.8: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Sakuramachi.

1766 Meiwa 3 8.-: The bakufu orders that

gomen kange be distinguished
from aitai kange carried out in
support of the repair and
rebuilding temples and shrines
(gomen kange were fund-
raising drives for which the
bakufu added its vermilion seal
of approval to that of the
*Magistrate of Temples and
Shrines [Jisha bugyō] to the
permit, which enabled permit
holders to obtain various
special amenities such as free
transportation; the permit for
aitai kange, meanwhile, carried
only the seal of the Magistrate).
(Ofuregaki shūsei)
1767 Meiwa 4 -.-: The bakufu forbids monks,
shugen practitioners (see
*Shinto and Shugendō), and
shrine priests (shake, see
*Shinshoku) lodging in
provinces other than their home
province from building large-
scale shrine (shaden) and
temple (butsudan) structures
and the like at their lodgings on
the pretense of private use and

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6.-: Large numbers of people make

pilgrimages from now until late in the 8th
month to the inari shrine (see *Inari shinkō)
located at the villa of Ōkubo Hōshū, a senior
clerk at the pottery warehouse (wangura) in
Edo’s Fukagawa district, to make offerings of
buckwheat noodles (soba). (Ofuregaki
shūsei)
3.29: Ban imposed on adherents of the Okura
sect of Jōdo Shinshū (True Pure Land)
Buddhism (the sect engaged in shamanistic
practices and was considered heretical by the
bakufu).

12.5: *Takenouchi Shikibu dies (age 56). 8.22: The bakufu puts Confucian scholar
Yamagata Daini and one of his disciples,
Fujii Umon (a member of the Ōgimachi
house [see *Ōgimachi Shintō]), to death on
charges of lese majesty. 12.-: In a related
incident, *Takenouchi Shikibu is banished to
Hachijō Island (he dies en route), while Oda
Nobukuni, the daimyō of the Ueno Obata
domain, is put under house arrest. (Meiwa
Incident)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
then holding gatherings.
(Ofuregaki shūsei)

1768 Meiwa 5 6.7: The bakufu bans the

unauthorized donation of
personal effects marked with
the hollyhock crest (aoimon,
see *Shinmon), and the use of
the hollyhock crest during the
holding of special exhibitions
of shrine and temple treasures
(*Kaichō), shrine rites (shinji),
and Buddhist services (butsue).
(Tokugawa jikki)
1769 Meiwa 6 9.3: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
9.6: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated.
1770 Meiwa 7 8.-: The bakufu orders Kunōzan
Tōshō (see *Nikkōsan shinkō)
Shrine to be frugal given its
scarcity of funds for doing
repairs. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
1771 Meiwa 8 11.19: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Go-Momozono. Rites
led by the emperor (shinsai, see
*Chokusai) also take place.
(Zoku shigushō [Ignorant
selections on history,
continued]).
1772 An’ei 1

1773 An’ei 2 -.-: The bakufu grants permission

to carry out a fund-raising drive
(kange) throughout the country
and to hold lotteries for 10 years
in Osaka in order to raise funds to
help rebuild Taga Shrine in Ōmi
Province. (Taga Shrine records)
1774 An’ei 3 3.-: Working through the 4.-: The court resumes sending an
*Magistrate of Shrines and imperial messenger (*Chokushi)

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11.-: Heterodox "Hiding nenbutsu" (kakure

nenbutsu) groups, offshoots of Jōdo Shinshū
(True Pure Land) Buddhism, in Edo are
exposed.
-.-: *Kamo no Mabuchi completes *Noritokō. 4.-: Great fire centered in Edo’s Yoshiwara
(Kamo no Mabuchi zenshū) district. Fire survivors make pilgrimages to
the district’s Kurōsuke Inari Shrine.

10.30: *Kamo no Mabuchi dies (age 73).

(Okabe-ke fu)

10.9: *Motoori Norinaga completes Naobi no -.-: Going on pilgrimages to Ise Shrine (see
mitama. *Okagemairi) becomes popular this year. The
trend starts from around Kyoto and
neighboring regions (i.e., the Kinai area) and
spreads throughout the country. (Bukō
nenpyō)

11.16: Era name changed to An’ei due to

calamities (major fire and windstorms in
Edo) as well as the accession of Emperor Go-
Momozono.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Temples (Jisha bugyō), the to festivals at Inari Shrine
bakufu sets limits on the (practice had been suspended
locations that can be the objects since the Ōnin period [1467-78]).
of drives to raise funds for (Shrine records)
repairing and rebuilding shrines
and temples to those structures
with historical lineages or of
special natures. (Ofuregaki
shūsei)
1775 An’ei 4

1776 An’ei 5

1777 An’ei 6 5.-: The bakufu sets limits on 4.8: Around this time, it is said
how much can be spent each that festival rites at the Fushimi
year when giving permits for Inari Shrine have "exhausted their
the repair and rebuilding of splendor."
shrines and temples in distant
provinces. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
6.18: The bakufu forbids people
from petitioning to have shrines
and temples mint coins.
(Tokugawa jikki; Tokugawa
kinrei-kō)
1779 An’ei 8 2.-: The bakufu inquires into 1.-: Having rejected a request
the jurisdictions, duties, and from Kumano Hongū (see
social statuses of the *Kumano Shinkō) to rebuild its
individuals whose family Jūnimiya subshrine after it burned
business was that of daikagura down, the bakufu now provides
(see *Kagura). The head of Kumano with 1,000 ryō (taels) to
kagura responds that they are assist with reconstruction and
under the jurisdiction of either grants permission for it to hold a
Ise or Atsuta shrine, that their fund-raising drive throughout the
duties were set by the country. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
*Magistrate of Temples and
Shrines (Jisha bugyō), and that
their social status was that of
townsmen. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
9.-: Festival floats (nerimono)
come out for the Ushi-gozen
festival in Edo. They are
suspended from participation
thereafter. (Bukō nenpyō)
1781 Tenmei 1 3.18: The Asakusa Sanja Gongen
(i.e., Asakusa Shrine) festival is
revived. However, after this it is
suspended once again.
1782 Tenmei 2 2.-: The bakufu obliges priests
(shanin, see *Shinshoku) filing

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-.-: *Tanigawa Kotosuga finishes compiling

all 93 volumes of Wakun no shiori.
10.10: *Tanigawa Kotosuga dies (age 68).
(Kokugaku)

-.-: *Fujitani Nariakira dies (age 42). -.-: Pilgrimages to "Shibamata no

Taishakuten" (i.e., the Nichiren temple
Kyōeizan Daikyō) in Edo’s Katsuhika district
(present-day Katsushika Ward) become
popular this year.

-.-: The Zen ascetic (gyōja) Kakumei breaks

with precedent by bringing ordinary lay

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
lawsuits to have the documents
accompanied by a
supplementary filing (soekan
keitai) from their local
magistrate (daikan), lord
(ryōshu), or estate steward
(jitō). (Ofuregaki shūsei)
10.11: Strong proclamations are
issued declaring that shrine rites
are the exclusive province of
priests (*Kannnushi) attached
to shrines, that shrine personnel
(*Shanin) must obtain
permission for the clothing they
wear from the Yoshida clan
(see *Shinto in the Early
Modern Period (1)), that the
buying and selling of shrine
lands (*Shinryō) is banned, and
that forbid the rites (sairei) at
small village shrines (hokora)
from being performed
extravagantly.
1783 Tenmei 3

1784 Tenmei 4 4.-: The bakufu declares that

*Shintōkata under the
jurisdiction of the *Magistrate
of Temples and Shrines (Jisha
bugyō) are to be treated when
coming to Edo (sanpu) as
having a rank equivalent to that
of a keeper of the castle (jōdai)
for one of the Tokugawa’s three
successional families (sanke).
1785 Tenmei 5
1786 Tenmei 6 6.29: The bakufu drafts a plan -.-: The Shingon monk *Jiun,
to levy money from temples, residing at Kōki Temple on Mt.
shrines, wealthy farmers Katsuragi in Kawachi Province,
(gōnō), and well-to-do begins to preach his doctrine of
merchants (gōshō) and loan it *Unden Shintō.
to daimyō in the form of gold
and silver. The plan is never
implemented and in the 8th
month is abandoned altogether.
(Tokugawa jikki)
11.21: The *Niiname sai is
revived.
1787 Tenmei 7 2.-: The bakufu announces that 10.-: Shōgun Tokugawa Ienari

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persons along to climb Mt. Ontake (see
*Ontake Shinkō).

-.-: From the previous year, famine rages (the

Great Tenmei Famine).
11.3: *Matsuoka Yūen dies (age 83).

1.-: Ise Sadatake produces *Sanshatakusenkō.

-.-: This year, *Motoori Norinaga and Ueda
Akinari engage in a fierce debate over
Japan’s world-historical primacy (the debate
[ronsō] is the subject of Norinaga’s work,
Kagaika, or "Scolding the man from Osaka").

-.-: Publication begins of *Hanawa Hokiichi's

Gunsho ruijū.
-.-: *Motoori Norinaga completes Hihon 6.19: Matsudaira Sadanobu becomes the

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it will grant its vermillion seal dispatches envoys to the Grand
of approval (shuin) without Shrines of Ise, to the Tōshō
regard to the amount of land a shrines at Nikkō and at
shrine or temple holds (see Momijiyama (in Edo Castle)., and
*Shuinchi; Ienari becomes to Sannō Shrine to report to the
shōgun this year). (Tokugawa kami that the emperor has
jikki) formally named Ienari the new
shōgun. (Tokugawa jikki)
11.27: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Kōkaku.
-.-: The bakufu grants estate
proprietors (ryōshu) permission
to carry out punishments of
shrine personnel (shanin, see
*Shinshoku) on their estates at
their own discretion in
instances of misbehavior
regardless of whether the
individuals hold a license from
the Yoshida clan (see *Shintō
in the Early Modern Period
(1)).
1788 Tenmei 8 6.-: Villages in the provinces of
Kai (present-day Yamanashi
Prefecture) and Suruga (central
and eastern Shizuoka) banned
from hindering the travel of
female ritualists (*Miko) and
ascetic practitioners (shugen,
see *Shugendō) in possession
of placards indicating they are
partaking in ascetic practice
(shugyō fuda). (Ofuregaki
shūsei)
7.-: The bakufu again bans
*Shugendō practitioners from
shrine families (*Shake) from
"misleadingly and
extravagantly" (magirawashiku
gyōgyōshiku) erecting shrine
sanctuaries (shaden) at historic
sites in other provinces and
holding religious services.
(Ofuregaki shūsei)
1789 Kansei 1 9.1: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
9.4: Outer Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated.

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tama kushige. bakufu’s chief senior councilor (rōjū). Start
of the Kansei Reforms.

-.-: Many provinces are struck by severe

famine over the spring and summer (the
Great Tenmei Famine).

1.30: Large areas of Kyoto hit by fire (the

Great Fire of Tenmei), destroying the
imperial palace and Nijō Castle, leveling the
city’s Nishijin district, and damaging 220
shrines. (Chigyoroku)

1.25: Era name changed to Kansei due to

calamities (burning of the imperial palace and
fires throughout Kyoto the previous 1.30).

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1790 Kansei 2 12.-: The bakufu bans building 12.-: The Yoshida clan, now
houses for rent on the grounds functioning as the "masters of the
(keidai, see *Keidaichi) of Jingikan" (Jingikanryō, see
temples and shrines. (Ofuregaki *Jingikandai), establishes an
shūsei) office in Kantō (the Edo region).
12.-: The bakufu issues a
proclamation ordering shrines
and temples to repair any light
damage to their facilities
themselves and not to
"recklessly" (midari ni) request
permission to solicit funds
(kange) from the general public
for repairs. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
1791 Kansei 3 4.-: The bakufu issues a 11.-: An inspector for the Kantō
proclamation ordering that yin- council of the Shirakawa Shintō
yang (onmyō, see *Shintō and clan named Sasaki Kenmotsu
Onmyōdō) diviners must be files a report with the *Magistrate
licensed by the Tsuchimikado of Temples and Shrines (Jisha
family (see *Tsuchimikado bugyō) on funeral rites that
Shintō) on the grounds that Shintō priests hold for themselves
there had recently been large (Shintō sōsai; see *Shinsōsai and
numbers of individuals also *Shintō in the Early Modern
practicing Onmyōdō without Period (1)).
permission. (Ofuregaki shūsei)
-.-: The *Magistrate of Temples
and Shrines (Jisha bugyō)
issues its opinion on the matter
of Shintō funeral rites
(*Shinsōsai) for Shintō priests,
saying that only priests who
have received a funerary license
from the Yoshida family and
the sons of those priests can be
exempted from the temple
registration system to arrange
and conduct such rites (see also
*Yoshida Shintō). (Tokugawa
kinreikō)
1792 Kansei 4

1793 Kansei 5 5.-: In response to an inquiry

from an individual named

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-.-: *Motoori Norinaga begins publishing 5.24: The bakufu bans research on "igaku"
*Kojikiden (Exegesis on the Kojiki). (heterodox learning) at Confucian academies
(the policy is known as "the Kansei
prohibition on heterodox studies," Kansei
igaku no kin).
7.22: Acting on an anonymous tip, the
Nagasaki city magistrate's office arrests 19
Christians in the village of Urakami (first
crackdown on Christians in Urakami).

6.26: *Kawamura Hidene dies (age 70).

-.-: *Motoori Norinaga begins to write
*Tamakatsuma. (Motoori Norinaga zenshū)
-.-: *Motoori Norinaga completes Izumo no
kuni no miyatsuko kamu yogoto goshaku
(alternately read as Izumo no kuni no
miyatsuko kan’yogoto goshaku, the volume is
printed in 1796).
7.23: The bakufu grants *Hanawa Hokiichi 3.-: Prior to this time, the bakufu and the
permission to establish his academy, Wagaku imperial court had been at loggerheads over

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Matsudaira Kyūgorō, Itakura
Katsumasa (later Itakura
Katsuaki)—the bakufu’s
military governor for Suō
Province (present-day
southeastern Yamaguchi
Prefecture)—elaborates on the
differences between *miyaza
and shrine personnel
(*Shinshoku), and offers his
opinion that peasants
(hyakushō) are free to be
licensed by the Yoshida family
so long as they have the
permission of their estate
proprietor (ryōshu) (see also
*Yoshida Shintō). (Tokugawa
kinreikō)
1794 Kansei 6

1795 Kansei 7

1796 Kansei 8

1798 Kansei 10 1.-: The bakufu, in an Edo

"town proclamation"
(machibure), prohibits the use
of gaudy new decorations for
festivals.
1799 Kansei 11 2.24: The bakufu bans the
holding of plays and
entertainment spectacles under
the rubric of planting, "insect-
repelling" (mushi okuri), and
"wind-calming" (*Kaza-
matsuri) festivals , a practice
that had been occurring "in
various places in many

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kōdansho, and gives him land on which to awarding the honorific title of daijō tennō
build it. ("abdicated emperor," sometimes read dajō
tennō) to Kaninnomiya Sukehitoshinnō, the
biological father of then-sitting emperor
Kōkaku. This month, the bakufu punishes
gisō (an official who advises the emperor and
transmits his orders to the imperial court and
the bakufu) Nakayama Naruchika and buke
tensō (liaison between the imperial court and
the bakufu) Ōgimachi Kin’aki over the matter
(the pair, among other aristocrats, had
favored granting the title in opposition to the
bakufu’s stance) (Songō jiken, "Songō
Incident").

6.-: *Arakida Suehogi completes Naikū Gekū 1.10: Major fire in Edo (starts in its
no ben. (Naikū Gekū no ben) Kojimachi neighborhood), results in
destruction of Sannō Shrine. (Bukō nenpyō)
-.-: *Motoori Norinaga begins publishing 1.-: Commoners in Edo are banned from
*Tamakatsuma. forming Fuji confraternities (Fujikō, see
*Fuji shinkō and also *Kō).
8.-: The bakufu once again bans the Nichiren
Buddhist Fuju Fuse movement from Kazusa
and Shimōsa provinces (covering parts of
present-day Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures).
8.8: Sixty-nine monks from various Buddhist
sects punished for violating their precepts..
8.14: Englishman William Robert Broughton
travels by boat to Muroran, Hokkaidō, in
order to make sea charts. Over the following
year, he takes measurements along Japan’s
coastline.
6.13: *Motoori Norinaga completes
*Kojikiden.

1.25: The 1,100th anniversary of *En no

Ozunu’s death. Ozunu is granted the
posthumous title of Shinpen bosatsu ("the
deity-transformed bodhisattva"). (Shunkuki)

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provinces." (Tokugawa
kinreikō)
6.-: The bakufu bans the
practice of making shrine gates
(*Torii), stone lanterns, and
Buddhist statuary out of bronze
(karakane, "Chinese metal")
and taking such objects out on
the road to solicit donations.
7.20: The bakufu bans going
around shrines and temples in
Edo to posting the placards of
confraternities (kōjūfuda, see
*Kō) on "thousand-shrine
pilgrimages" (senja-mairi, see
*Senjafuda). (Tokugawa
kinreikō)
1800 Kansei 12

1801 Kyōwa 1

1802 Kyōwa 2 2.-: Kitano Tenman Shrine in

Kyoto celebrates its 900th
anniversary with an imperially
sanctioned memorial service
(chokue) in the courtyard before
the shrine (for Sugawara
Michizane, see *Tenjin shinkō).
(Kugyō bunin)
1803 Kyōwa 3 10.-: The bakufu issues its
opinion that the ranks granted
to kami (*Shin’i) are a matter
done by imperial decree alone
and not one in which the
Yoshida family may involve
itself (see also *Yoshida
Shintō). (Tokugawa kinreikō)

1804 Bunka 1

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-.-: Because the year corresponds to the 57th

in the sexagenary cycle (Kanoenosaru or
Kōshin, "metal-monkey;" see *Kōshin
shinkō), the prohibition on women climbing
Mt. Fuji is relaxed. Many women make the
climb. (Bukō nenpyō)
9.29: *Motoori Norinaga dies (age72). 2.5: Era name changed to Kyōwa as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (shinyū, "younger
wood cock," the 58th year in the sexagenary
cycle) is associated with political and social
instability (see also *Ehō).
-.-: Fuji confraternities (Fujikō, see *Fuji
Shinkō and also *Kō) banned. (Ofuregaki
shūsei)

2.-: Fad develops for the tarō inari (see

*Inari shinkō) enshrined at the villa of the
Tachibana clan in the rice fields of Asakusa
on the outskirts of Edo. (Bukō nenpyō)

-.-: Fad in Osaka to go on circuit pilgrimages

focused on the seven deities of good fortune
(*Shichifukujin). (Settsu nenpyō)
8.14: *Arakida Hisaoyu dies (age 59). 2.5: The bakufu bans "disturbances" (sōjō) at
*Hatsuuma festivals. (Tokugawa jikki)

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1805 Bunka 2

1807 Bunka 4

1808 Bunka 5

1809 Bunka 6 10.16: The Grand Shrines of Ise

rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū) (some
disagreement exists on date).
1810 Bunka 7 4.-: The bakufu grants 1.-: Akiha Shrine in Tōtoumi
permission to the chief Province (present-day western
representative (*Sōdai) of the Shizuoka Prefecture) destroyed
parishioners of Fuji Hongū by fire (rebuilt in 1819) (see also
Sengen Shrine in Suruga *Akiha Shinkō). (Nihon shaji
Province (present-day central taikan)
and northeastern Shizuoka
Prefecture) to solicit funds in
three provinces to help with
rebuilding the shrine (see also
*Fuji/Sengen Shinkō).
(Ofuregaki shūsei)
4.5: Deity of Sumiyoshi Shrine in
Settsu Province (present-day
western Osaka and eastern Hyōgo
prefectures) transferred to a new
shrine building (sengū, see
*Shikinensengū) (main sanctuary
now a National Treasure). That
autumn, the Sumiyoshi dance
(Sumiyoshi odori) is revived (see
also *Sumiyoshi Shinkō). (Settsu
nenpyō)
1811 Bunka 8

1812 Bunka 9

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12.22: *Jiun dies (age 87). 2.11: Era name changed to Bunka as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution"; the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).
9.7: Russian envoy Nikolai Rezanov arrives
at Nagasaki seeking to open trade relations.
3.-: *Arakida Tsunetada dies (age 64).
(Kugyō bunin)
-.-: *Ōkuni Takamasa becomes a student of 8.15: Britain's HMS Phaeton hoists a Dutch
*Hirata Atsutane. flag to slip into Nagasaki harbor, then takes
Dutch hostages to force the Dutch traders
there to provide supplies (the "Nagasaki
Harbor Incident").
9.2: *Katō Chikage dies (age 74) (some
believe he was 72). (Jijitsu bunpen)
-.-: *Hirata Atsutane compiles Amatsu norito
kō.
8.-: Itō Jikigyō, founder of the Miroku (Skt. 2.25: Official interpreters in Nagasaki are
Maitreya) faction (*Jikigyō Miroku) of the ordered to also study Russian and English.
Fuji confraternity (Fujikō), dies (age 64).
(See also *Fuji Shinkō and *Kō)

2.13: *Murata Harumi dies (age 66).

7.8: *Kurita Hijimaro dies (age 75).
-.-: *Hirata Atsutane starts writing Koshi-den.
(Shinshū Hirata Atsutane zenshū)

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1813 Bunka 11 3.15: The special annual festival
(rinjisai) at Iwashimizu
Hachiman shrine is revived (last
held more than 380 years before,
in 1432). (Kugyō bunin;
Tokugawa kinreikō)
3.-: *Shintōkata Yoshikawa
Genjūrō asks for permission to
give protective amulets
(*Mamorifuda) from tutelary
shrines (chinjusha, see
*Chinjugami) on the grounds of
homes and estates (see
*Yashikigami). The bakufu grants
him permission. (Yoshikawa
Shintō no kenkyū)

1814 Bunka 12 12.22: The Kamo special annual

festival (rinjisai) is revived
(Kugyō bunin) (one theory holds
it happened in the 11th month)
(see also *Medieval Shinto).

-.-: In their battle with one

another to control priest
(*Shinshoku) shrine assignments,
the Yoshida and Shirakawa clans
make appeals directly to the
imperial court (see *Shintō in the
Early Modern Period (1)).
1816 Bunka 13

1818 Bunsei 1 11.21: *Daijōsai ceremony held

to accompany accession of
Emperor Ninkō.
1819 Bunsei 2
1821 Bunsei 4

1822 Bunsei 5

1823 Bunsei 6

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6.20: *Uematsu Arinobu dies (age 56).

Intercalary 11.-: *Ban Nobutomo publishes

Engishiki Jinmyōchō.

-.-: *Hirata Atsutane publishes Kodō taii

(True meaning of the ancient way).
11.11: Kurozumi Munetada, aged 35, of 3.-: Warriors are prohibited from
Bizen Province (present-day Okayama participation in ascetic practices related to
Prefecture) has a conversion experience that Mt. Fuji (Fujigyō). The following month, in a
will be described as the "direct receipt of the "town proclamation" (machibure) for a third
heavenly mission" (tenmei jikiju). Begins time the bakufu banned Fuji confraternities
proselytizing the following year through (see *Fuji shinkō and also *Kō). (Ofuregaki
story-telling (kōshaku) and faith healing shūsei)
(majinai) (see *Kurozumikyō).

-.-: The Hakuō Shintō house composes their

doctrinal compendium, Jingi Hakke gakusoku
(see *Hakke Shintō).
-.-: *Oka Kumaomi opens his academy,
Ōinkan.
-.-: Sometime between this year and the next,
*Hirata Atsutane publishes both Koshi seibun
and Koshi-chō.
-.-: Cholera epidemic this year.
9.12: *Hanawa Hokiichi dies (age 76).
(Onkodō Hanawa sensei den)
-.-: Cholera epidemic in western Japan in
autumn of this year.
12.16: *Fujitani Mitsue dies (age 56). (Zoku
shoka jinbutsu den)
-.-: The Yoshida Shintō lineage appoints

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1824 Bunsei 7

1825 Bunsei 8

1826 Bunsei 9
1827 Bunsei 10

1828 Bunsei 11

1829 Bunsei 12 9.2: Ise Inner Grand Shrine

rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū). 9.5: Outer
Grand Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated.
1830 Tenpō 1 2.-: Aramatsuri Shrine, along
with the other detached shrines
(*Betsugū) at Kōtai Shrine, i.e.,
Ise Inner Shrine, destroyed by
fire. (Jingū Nenpyō)

1831 Tenpō 2 1.-: The bakufu conducts

investigation of shrines,
temples, and *Shugendō and
Onmyōdō (see also *Shintō and
Onmyōdō) practitioners on
lands or in residences borrowed
from the bakufu to determine
how many years they have been
in residence, their names, and
the nature of Shintō and
Buddhist decorations used in
transferring the divided spirit of

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*Hirata Atsutane as an instructor of "the
ancient ways" (kodō) for priests (*Shinshoku)
under its jurisdiction. (Tamadasuki nenpu)
3.14: Hattori Nakatsune dies (age 68) (some
argue he died the month before).
-.-: *Hirata Atsutane publishes Kodō taii
("True meaning of the ancient way").
-.-: *Aizawa Seishisai completes Shinron. 2.15: The bakufu issues an edict that any
foreign vessels that appear in Japanese waters
are to be driven off (the order comes in the
wake of an increasing number of random
landings by European and American whaling
vessels in particular).
12.1: *Fujita Yūkoku dies (age 53).
Intercalary 6.-: Kodera Kiyosaki dies (age 80)
(see *Fujii Takanao).
8.16: *Arakida Suehogi dies (age 65). -.-: Japan’s population this year estimated at
27.2 million people (excluding nobles and
samurai).
11.7: *Motoori Haruniwa dies (age 66).
-.-: Tendai monk Jihon completes Ichijitsu
Shintōki (see *Sannō Shintō).

Intercalary 3.-: Going on pilgrimages to Ise

Shrine (Ise-mairi, see *Okagemairi) becomes
popular around western Japan and Awa
(present-day Shikoku) from spring through
autumn. More than 4.6 million people have
taken part by August. (Bunsei zakki)
12.10: Era name changed to Tenpō due to
calamities (great fire in Edo on 3.21 of the
previous year; major earthquake in Kyoto on
7.2 of the present year).
5.7: *Senge Toshizane dies (age 68).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
a kami (see *Kanjō and also
*Teinaisha) in their dwellings.
(Ofuregaki shūsei)
1833 Tenpō 4
1834 Tenpō 5

1835 Tenpō 6

1836 Tenpō 7

1837 Tenpō 8

1838 Tenpō 9 10.26: Nakayama Miki has a

possession experience (the
establishment of *Tenrikyō).
(Tenrikyō jiten)
1839 Tenpō 10 1.-: The bakufu admonishes
Yushima Tenjin Shrine and its
affiliates for holding overly
elaborate festivals and rites
during the previous year. In the
8th month, the bakufu again
bans extravagance in the
clothing and dancers at the
same shrines’ festivals and rites
(Tenpō zakki).
12.30: The bakufu imposes
restraints on participation in
rites involving transferring the
divided spirit of kami (see
*Kanjō) to household shrines

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9.11: *Motoori Ōhira dies (age 78).

-.-: Following on a vision in his dreams the
year before, *Inoue Masakane enters the
Shirakawa clan of Shintō ritualists and
receives a certificate to perform Shintō
ceremonies. (Misogikyō no kenkyū)
12.6: *Aoyagi Tanenobu dies (age 70).
-.-: *Ban Nobutomo compiles *Shirushi no
sugi (The signpost cedar). (Ban Nobutomo
zenshū)
-.-: Nationwide famine this year, the most
extreme impact being felt in the Ōu region
(present-day Tohoku, i.e., northeastern Japan)
where as many as 100,000 die (the Tenpō
Famine).
2.19: Ōshio Heihachirō, formerly a city
police captain (machi yoriki) in the Osaka
city magistrate’s office, launches a rebellion
in that city (the revolt of Ōshio Heihachirō
[Ōshio Heihachirō no ran]).
6.1: *Ikuta Yorozu, a scholar of *Kokugaku
("national learning"), commits suicide at age
37 after his attack—probably inspired by
Oshio Heichachirō’s revolt—on Tokugawa
forces stationed at Kashiwazaki fails (the
revolt of Ikuta Yorozu [Ikuta Yorozu no
ran]).

5.-: Dutch studies (Rangaku) scholars

Watanabe Kazan, Takano Chōei, and their
peers arrested on charges of insurrection (the
Bansha no goku ["imprisonment of the
‘barbarian studies society’"] incident).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(shinshi; see *Teinaisha) at
warrior residences. It also bans
the establishment of new and
restoration of old private
household shrines. (Tokugawa
jikki)
1840 Tenpō 11 8.22: The bakufu enacts
regulations for merchants to go
out on the days of shrine and
temple festivals within the
precincts of Edo. (Tokugawa
jikki)

1841 Tenpō 12 3.27: The bakufu prohibits

okama (transvestite) and inari
(see *Inari shinkō) dances, as
well as meetings of the Taishi
confraternity (Taishikō, see
*Daikunokami and also *Kō).
(Tokugawa jikki)
11.6: Following the precedents
established during the Kansei
era (1789-1801), the bakufu
again prohibits any theatrical
entertainment (*Shibai) being
offered as part of kami rites
(shinji) or festivals (sairei).
(Tokugawa jikki)

1842 Tenpō 13 5.1: The bakufu bans lay people

from engaging in shugen and
yamabushi (see *Shintō and
Shugendō) practices.
(Tokugawa jikki)
6.-: The bakufu orders reforms
and crackdowns on shanin (see
*Shinshoku), shinshoku (shrine
priests), yamabushi and shugen
(see *Shintō and Shugendō),
divination masters (onmyōshi,
see *Shintō and Onmyōdō),
shrine rite dance troupe leaders

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6.18: *Sonoda Moriyoshi dies (age 56).

8.15: *Fujii Takanao dies (age 77).

(Kokugakusha denki shūsei)
12.30: *Hirata Atsutane is forbidden to write
and exiled from Edo.
Intercalary 1.18: *Yashiro Hirokata dies (age 5.-: Bakufu senior councilor (rōjū) Mizuno
84). Tadakuni issues orders for political reform,
seeking a complete overhaul of the
government (the Tenpō Reforms).

9.-: *Fujidō leader Kotani Rokugyō (Sanshi)

dies (age 77).
-.-: *Ōkuni Takamasa opens an academy
named the True Learning School
(Hōhongakusha) in Kyoto.
2.21: The bakufu bans various Shintō and
Buddhist confraternities, including
Mokugyokō and Fujikō (see *Fuji shinkō and
*Kō.).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(shinjimai tayū), and others.
(Tokugawa jikki)
1843 Tenpō 14

1844 Kōka 1

1845 Kōka 2

1846 Kōka 3 -.-: *Kamo no Norikiyo

establishes his private academy
Zuiuen in Edo.

-.-: The rules (osadamegaki) of

*Kurozumikyō are drafted, de
facto establishing the group as a
formal organization.
1847 Kōka 4 4.-: Invocations (*Kitō) are made
at the Iwashimizu special annual
festival (rinjisai) to drive away
foreign threats. (Nonomiya
Sadanaga nikki)
1848 Kaei 1 11.21: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Kōmei. (Kugyōbunin)
1849 Kaei 2 9.2: Ise Inner Grand Shrine
rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū). 9.5: Outer
Grand Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated.

1850 Kaei 3

1851 Kaei 4
1853 Kaei 6 8.-: Due to the arrival of foreign
vessels in Japanese waters,
prayers are offered up through the
ceremonial release of captive
animals (hōjō-e, see *Chōtei
saishi) at Iwashimizu Hachiman
Shrine to ward off foreign threats
and ask for domestic tranquility.
The following month, many
similar invocations were
performed for the same reason at
other shrines throughout the
country. (Kugyōbunin)
1854 Ansei 1 3.-: Shrines are ordered to
perform special invocations
(*kitō) regarding the "barbarian"

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Intercalary 9.11: *Hirata Atsutane dies (age 6.-: *Inoue Masakane exiled to Miyake
68). Island.
12.2: Era name changed to Kōka due to
calamities (fire at Edo Castle on 5.10).
9.21: Kido Chitate dies (age 68) (see *Fujii 5.-: Major fire in Kyoto burns down many
Takanao). shrines and temples. (Nihon sai’i-ki)
10.14: *Ban Nobutomo dies (age 74). 4.-: *Kamo no Norikiyo exiled to Hachijo
(Kokugakusha denki shūsei) Island because his Shintō lecture meetings
(kōshaku) are seen as a challenge to the
bakufu. (Umetsuji ikken no mōshiwatashi)

-.-: *Oka Kumaomi receives official sanction

to revive Shintō funeral ceremonies.

2.18: *Inoue Masakane dies (age 60). 9.-: The bakufu once again bans Fuji
(Kokugakusha denki shūsei) confraternities (Fujikō, see *Fuji shinkō and
*Kō), which had previously been banned in
1814. (Tokugawa jikki)

5.24: *Tachibana Moribe dies (age 69).

1.6: *Satō Nobuhiro dies (age 82).
2.25: *Kurozumi Munetada dies (age 71).
8.6: *Oka Kumaomi dies (age 69).
6.3: Commodore Matthew C. Perry of the
U.S. Navy lands at Uraga, Kanagawa.

3.3: The Treaty of Kanagawa (also known as

the Convention of Kanagawa) concluded
between Japan and the U.S.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
vessels moored in Japanese
waters.

1855 Ansei 2

1856 Ansei 3

1857 Ansei 4

1858 Ansei 5 2.-: The bakufu dispatches

Jushin’in, a shittō (see *Shasō)
from Kan’ei Temple (a
Tokugawa clan temple in Edo), to
Nikkō tōshōgū Shrine to divine
the views (shinryo) of the kami
(i.e., the enshrined spirit of
Tokugawa Ieyasu) on whether or
not a treaty should be concluded
with the Americans. (Matsudaira
Tadakata nikki)
6 -: An imperial envoy
(*Chokushi) with offerings
(*Hōbei) is dispatched by special
request of the emperor to offer
prayers at Iwashimizu Hachiman
and Kamo shrines to ward off
foreign threats and ask for
domestic tranquility.

1859 Ansei 6 6.29: Permission granted for

Sannō Festival and Kanda
Festival parade floats to enter

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8.-: Inari worship (*Inari Shinkō) of various

types including gisuke-inari, hōju-inari, and
koyasu-inari centered on the Ōkubo family of
Edo’s Sotokanda neighborhood becomes
popular.
11.4: Major earthquake and tsunami hit the
Tōkai region, resulting in 10,000 deaths.
11.27: Era name changed to Ansei due to
calamities (fire at the Imperial Palace on 4.6,
earthquake of the 6th month, visits by foreign
vessels in recent years).
10.2: Fujita Tōko dies (age 50) (see 10.2: The Great Ansei Earthquake occurs,
*Mitogaku). doing severe damage to Edo resulting in
collapse of 14,000 buildings and 7,000
deaths. (Fujita Tōko [see *Mitogaku] is
among the dead).
-.-: *Ōkuni Takamasa’s book Hongakukyoyō
compiled. (Ōkuni Takamasa zenshū)
10.20: *Ninomiya Sontoku dies (age 70).
11.5: *Ajiro Hironori dies (age 73).
-.-: *Mutobe Yoshika publishes Ubusunasha
kodenshō. (Kokugaku undō no shisō)
-.-: *Nonoguchi (Ōkuni) Takamasa publishes
Gakutō benron.
6.19: Treaty of Amity and Commerce
between US and Japan signed by shogunate
without imperial ratification.

9.7: The "Ansei Purge" begins.

-.-: Cholera epidemic sweeps Japan this year.

8.24: *Tsurumine Shigenobu dies (age 72). 8.27: Bakufu punishes Tokugawa Yoshinobu,
Tokugawa Nariaki, and others in course of
the Ansei Purge. In addition, many shishi

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Edo Castle to promote the
economy of inner Edo.
(Tokugawa jikki)
1860 Man’en 1

1861 Bunkyū 1

1862 Bunkyū 2 2.24: Akagi Tadaharu and

company establish
*Kurozumikyō's Munetada
Shrine in Kyoto.

1864 Genji 1 11.-: Various practices in the -.-: Around this time, *Tenrikyō
imperial Harvest Festival proselytization begins in earnest.
(Niinamesai, see *Chōtei
saishi) that had fallen into
disuse are restored. (Hikurōdo
nikki)

1865 Keiō 1

1867 Keiō 3 10.14: The bakufu announces 2.22: The Shirakawa Shinto
its decision to return rule to the lineage grants Konkō Daijin,
emperor (taisei hōkan) (see founder of *Konkōkyō,
*Imperial Restoration). permission to proselytize (see
also *Shinto in the Early Modern
Period).

11.17: Hearings (sakumon) held 7.23: The *Yoshida Shintō

on the "reestablishment of lineage grants Nakayama Shūji of
ancient ways" (kyūgi saikō), *Tenrikyō permission to

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("men of high purpose," i.e., anti-bakufu
activists seeking to restore imperial power)
executed.
3.18: Era name changed to Man’en due to
calamities (fire at Edo Castle on 10.17 the
previous year, assassination of shogunal
counselor Ii Naosuke earlier in the month on
3.3).
7.21: *Kamo no Norikiyo dies on Hachijō 2.19: Era name changed to Bunkyū as the
Island (age 64). (Kokugakusha denki shūsei) year in the Chinese zodiac (shinyū, "younger
wood cock," the 58th year in the sexagenary
cycle) is associated with political and social
instability (see also *Ehō)
-.-: *Ōkuni Takamasa produces Kyūjyō 3.9: Sakata Kaneyasu and Sakata Masayasu,
ichiran (Survey of the world). leaders of the banned Tohokami Shintō
(*Misogikyō), are interrogated by the
magistrate of temples and shrines (*Jisha
bugyō) and banished from their residences.
8.15: *Suzuki Shigetane dies (age 52). 7.2: British Fleet enters Satsuma Bay (Anglo-
Satsuma War begins).
11.28: *Mutobe Yoshika dies (age 58).
7.21: *Maki Yasuomi dies (age 52). 2.20: Era name changed to Genji as the year
in the Chinese zodiac (kinoene kakumei,
"elder rat revolution"; the 1st year in the
sexagenary cycle) is associated with political
and social instability (see also *Ehō).

8.5: Combined British, U.S., French, and

Dutch fleet attacks Chōshū domain shore
batteries at Hagi near the Shimonoseki
Straits.
-.-: Akagi Tadaharu of *Kurozumikyō dies 4.7: Era name is changed to Keiō due to
(age 50). calamities (Hamaguri Rebellion of 7.7 the
previous year, social unrest).
-.-: *Nishida Naokai dies (age 73) (alternate 9.17: Yano Mototaka becomes first Japanese
dates are also offered). to be baptized as a Protestant.
8.-: Amulets (fuda) from Ise Shrine and of
many local *kami fall from the skies mainly
along the Tōkaidō circuit road near lodging
facilities around Tōtoumi, Mikawa, and
Owari. Occasioned by the phenomenon,
boisterous "Ee ja nai ka" ("Isn’t it grand?")
dancing among commoners breaks out
mainly in the capital district around Kyoto
starting that autumn and extending into
winter (see *Okagemairi).
12.9: Order on the Restoration of Imperial
Rule (Ōsei fukkō) issued (see *Imperial
Restoration and also *Modern and

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
including reestablishment of the proselytize.
Jingikan (Department of
Divinities, see *The Meiji
Jingikan). (Tatsu-setsuroku)
-.-: Imperial court prohibits
Buddhist rituals from being held
at the palace; imperial princes
who have taken the tonsure are
returned to secular life.
1868 Meiji 1 1.17: The "Three Offices of 4.24: Use of the name "Hachiman
State" (sanshoku) system for Daibosatsu" (Hachiman
dividing up administrative tasks bodhisattva) at shrines in the
of the central government is Iwashimizu Hachiman lineage is
established. stopped and the deity is renamed
Hachiman Daijin (see *Shinbutsu
Bunri and also *Hachiman
Shinkō).
2.3: Government administration 5.10: Japan’s first "spirit-inviting
is revamped, changing its shrine" (*Shōkonsha) is built,
existing seven departments enshrining the "martyrs" (loyalist
(shichika) into eight bureaus, soldiers) of the Meiji Restoration
including bureaus for the (in 1939, becomes Kyōto Ryōzen
presidential office (sōsai), kami Gokoku Shrine) (Dajōkan
rites (jingi), internal affairs, notice).
foreign affairs, and national
defense. (Cabinet notice)
3.13: Department of Divinities
(*The Meiji Jingikan) revived.
Political system aimed at the
unification of rites and rule
(saisei icchi) revived (see
*Fukko Shintō). Shintō house
lineages no longer allowed to
license priests, and all shrines
and priests (*Kannushi) placed
under the authority of the
Department of Divinities (see
*Modern and Contemporary
Shinto). (Cabinet notice)
3.14: Five-Article Charter Oath
(Gokajō no goseimon)
promulgated.
3.17: Individuals who perform
shrine duties as Buddhist priests
are forced to grow out their
tonsure (chikuhatsu saseru) and
renounce their status as
Buddhist clerics (separation of
the Buddhist [sōryo] and Shintō

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Contemporary Shinto).

1.10: Shōgoin-no-miya is officially

designated the head temple (kanryō-no-miya)
for *Shugendō.

Intercalary 4.17: Hidden Christians (Kakure

kirishitan) discovered at Urakami Village
near Nagasaki are removed and dispersed to
domains around the country (see also *Shintō
and Christianity).

6.22: Another five imperial family members

become the head priests (monzeki) at
Buddhist temples following the returns to lay
life of those who had been at Ninnaji , Kajii,
Shōgoin, Kachō, and other temples .(see also
*Haibutsukishaku).

7.17: Edo renamed Tokyo.

9.8: Era name changed to Meiji; decision

made that from now on only one era name
will be used per reign of a given emperor.
(Cabinet notice)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
priesthoods [*shinshoku]) (see
also *Shinbutsu bunri). (Jingi
jimukyoku)
3.18: The "imperial certificates
of transmission" for shrines
(jinja shissō, see *Shinto in the
Early Modern Period) system is
halted and the Bureau of
Divinities (Jingi Jimukyoku,
see *The Meiji Jingikan) takes
over the issuing of licenses.
However, the posts of *Jingū
tensō and Kamō tensō are
unaffected by the decision.
(Cabinet administrative ruling)
3.28: The separation of Shintō
from Buddhism is ordered;
mixing of the two is banned
(*Shinbutsu bunri). (Cabinet
notice)
4.10: Order issued to carry out
the separation of Shinto and
Buddhism (*Shinbutsu bunri)
with caution and remove
Buddhist statuary and
paraphernalia at shrines without
resorting to violent acts.
(Dajōkan ōse’ide, Cabinet
notice)
Intercalary 4.4: Shrine monks
(*Bettō) and Buddhist priests
attached to shrines (*Shasō)
forced to renounce their status
as Buddhist clerics and given
the titles of *kannushi and
shanin ("shrine person," see
*Shinshoku) (see also
*Shinbutsu bunri). (Cabinet
notice; Cabinet administrative
ruling)
Intercalary 4.21: The positions
of "Ise Shrine noble" (jingū
jōkei; ben), "Kamo messenger"
(Kamo tensō; see *Jingū tensō),
and prayer magistrate (oinori
bugyō, see *Magistrate of
Temples and Shrines) are
discontinued.
Intercalary 4.21: The Bureau of

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-.-: This year, the ban on climbing Mt. Fuji to

worship during non-leap years is lifted (see
also *Fuji shinkō). (Kindai minshū shūkyōshi
no kenkū)

-.-: An anti-Buddhism movement (haibutsu

kishaku) emerges in the wake of formal
efforts to separate Buddhism and Shintō
(*Shinbutsu bunri).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Divinities (Jingi Jimukyoku) is
revamped as the Department of
Divinities (Jingikan, see *The
Meiji Jingikan) and given
authority over matters
concerning *hafuribe, rituals
(saishi), and the people
involved in kami rites
(*Kanbe). (Cabinet notice)
Intercalary 4.21: The "three
offices and eight departments of
state" (sanshoku hachika)
system of government
administration is discontinued..
7.20: The Yamada magistrate
(Yamada bugyō, see
*Magistrate of Temples and
Shrines) is abolished.
10.18: The new Japanese
government bans the Nichiren
Buddhist sect from worshipping
*Amaterasu and Hachiman (see
*Hachiman shinkō) among its
thirty tutelaries
(*Sanjūbanshin) and as part of
the sect’s chief object of
worship (gohonzon), the
"mandala of ten worlds" (Jikkai
mandara) (see also *Shinbutsu
bunri). (Gosata)
1869 Meiji 2 2.20: Command issued ordering 3.12: The emperor makes a
that the New Year’s festivals pilgrimage to the Grand Shrines
(*Kinensai) be revived of Ise (the start of imperial
(festivals resume at Ise Shrine pilgrimages to Ise). (Kindai
this year, at all other shrines the Nihon sōgō nenpyō)
following year).
2.24: Dajōkan (Grand Council 6.29: Tokyo *Shōkonsha built in
of State) relocated to Tokyo. the city’s Kudan neighborhood,
All requests and submissions enshrining the soldiers killed in
from shrines and temples the Boshin War of 1868 (later
located in domains west of the becomes Yasukuni Shrine).
Mino-Hida region (in present-
day Gifu Prefecture) including
those in the Kinai, Sanyō,
San’in, Nankai, and Saikai
regions are to be sent to Kyoto.
4.8: Department of Civil 9.4: Ise Inner Grand Shrine
Affairs (Minbukan) created, rebuilt and reconsecrated. 9.7:
establishing six lower status Outer Grand Shrine rebuilt and

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1.-: *Nakayama Miki begins to write 2.19: Tokyo Prefecture issues proclamation
Ofudesaki (completed in 1882). (Tenrikyō on "the correction of public morals" (fūzoku
jiten) kyōsei) (prohibition on mixed bathing, etc.).

6.21: *Kusakado Nobutaka dies (age 52). 2.28: Shrines and temples prohibited from
contributing objects bearing chrysanthemum
emblems (i.e., the symbol of the imperial
family) to prayer halls. Also prohibited from
establishing new places of worship. In the 8th
month, shrines and temples are forbidden
from using the chrysanthemum emblem
without permission.

3.20: Buddhist and Shintō sects unite to

petition that Christianity be prohibited.
(Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
departments under the reconsecrated.
Department of Divinities (see
*The Meiji Jingikan).
7.8: Government administrative 12.17: Imperial edict issued
system revamped, reducing the ordering the Shirakawa and
number of departments to just Yoshida families to welcome the
the *Jingikan and Dajōkan. "Eight Deities" (hasshin) to a
System of official missionaries temporary shrine at *Jingikan
(senkyōshi; see *Taikyō Senpu (Department of Divinities) and
and *Shinto Edification) enshrine the spirits of dead
established. emperors in the same halls as "the
deities of heaven and earth"
(tenshin chigi) (see
*Hasshinden). (Jingishō-kiroku;
Dajōkan-nisshi)
7.8: All existing government
positions (hyakkan) and official
courtesy titles (juryō, titles
granted to outstanding artisans
and other figures not actually in
government employ) revoked.
However, Shintō priests retain
any official aliases (shokugō)
they have been granted, and
Buddhist priests retain any
official posts (sōkan) they hold.
9.17: Bureau of Mausolea
(Shoryōryō) assigned to the
Department of Divinities (*The
Meiji Jingikan; see also
*Ryōbo).
10.9: Senkyōshi (missionaries),
who on 9.29 had formally been
made government officials, are
assigned this day to the
Department of Divinities (*The
Meiji Jingikan; see also
*Taikyō Senpu and *Shinto
Edification). (Dajōkan fukoku)
1870 Meiji 3 1.3: Imperial decree on the
Great Promulgation Campaign
(*Taikyō Senpu no mikotonori)
issued.
5.30: All shrines throughout
Japan that use shinmeigū
(indicating they are a branch
shrine [bunsha] of Ise Shrine)
as part of their name change
that part to daijingū (see also

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6.17: Ownership of daimyō domains is

reassigned to the emperor (hanseki hōkan)
and government appoints 274 domain
governors.

Intercalary 10.12: *Hayashi Ōen dies (age 7.28: Ritual exchange (known as hassaku) of
74)/ gifts between daimyō and their men
abolished.

Intercalary 10.-: *Itō Rokurobei begins

ascetic practices aimed at "achieving unity
and peace with the *kami of the Earth"
(tenchi no kami to dōkon dōtai). He claims
the kami has granted him the title of "Chi no
kami isshin gyōja" ("practitioner united in

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
*Shamei Bunpu). (Jingikan e
shirei)

7.17: Shrines and Temples

Office (Shaji-kakari) is created
in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
(Minbushō e tatsu)
Intercalary 10.17: The
Tsuchimikado family, who
were hereditary court diviners
(see *Shintō and Onmyōdō),
banned from proselytizing
Tensha Shintō (see
*Tsuchimikado Shintō).
(Dajōkan fukoku)
Intercalary 10.20: Shrines and
Temples Office (Shaji-kakari)
in the Ministry of Civil Affairs
reorganized into the Bureau of
Temples (Ji’in-ryō). (Dajōkan
fukoku)
Intercalary 10.28: Regulations
for large and small shrines
standardized; municipal (fu),
domainal (han), and prefectural
governments ordered to draw
up detailed lists of shrines in
their jurisdictions (see *Modern
Shrine Ranking System).
(Dajōkan fukoku)
11.2: With the disbanding of
the Shrines and Temples Office
(Shaji-kakari), shrine-related
matters are made the
jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Civil Affairs while temple-
related matters are entrusted to
the Bureau of Temples.
(Minbushō e shirei)
1871 Meiji 4 1.5: Order issued on
expropriation of shrine and
temple lands (Shaji-ryō jōchi
rei, alternatively Shaji-ryō
agechi rei; see *Modern and
Contemporary Shintō and
*Jōchi rei). (Dajōkan fukoku)
5.14: With shrines now charged
with performing state rites,
heredity priesthood abolished

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 Personalities/Texts Society
mind with the kami of the Earth"), and from
this point forward he asserts that his body is a
tool of the kami.
11.20: *Suzuka Tsuratane dies (age 76).

-.-: *Suzuka Tsuratane publishes Jinja

kakuroku.

8.17: *Ōkuni Takamasa dies (age 80). 4.4: Household Registration Law enacted.
(Dajōkan fukoku)

6.17: Imperial courtesy titles such as

goshogō, monsekigō, inke, and inshitsu
granted to Ninna Temple, Daikaku Temple,

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
and priests subsequently to
receive their posts by
appointment. (See *Modern
and Contemporary Shintō.) The
same day, regulations are also
issued that set the number of
official shrines (kansha),
establish the organizational
structure for priests (shinkan),
and affirm that the costs for
reconstructing and rededicating
(shikinen, see *Shikinensengū)
imperial shrines (kanpeisha)
will be covered using public
funds (see *Modern Shrine
Ranking System). (Dajōkan
fukoku)

7.4: Shrines are forced to hand

over to the state all lands
(*Keidachi) other than those
used by main shrine buildings
(see *Jōchi rei). Shrines also
ordered to report on their
expenses, breaking them down
based on festival costs, shrine
use, stipends paid to hereditary
shrine priest families (*Shake).
(Dajōkan fukoku)
8.8: Department of Divinities
(*The Meiji Jingikan) reduced
in status to become the Ministry
of Divinities (Jingishō).
(Dajōkan fukoku)
9.-: Family registers created for
shrine priests (*Shinkan)
placing those at shrines ranked
as municipal (fu), domainal
(han), and prefectural (ken)
level on par with former
samurai and those at rural-
district shrines (*Gōsha) as
commoners (see *Modern
Shrine Ranking System).
(Ōkurashō-tatsu)

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Personalities/Texts Society
and temples under them due to their
connections to the imperial family (i.e.,
overseen by priests from family sublineages,
hosting retired emperors, and so forth) are
revoked and the temples placed under the
jurisdiction of local governments. The title
and position of bōkan kōnin (a retainer in
residence at such temples who handles the
administrative affairs for the imperial
personage) is revoked, those individuals are
returned to secular life, and they are granted
the status of samurai foot soldiers attached to
local government. The families of assistants
who have been in service for three
generations or more (sandai sō’on) at
monseki and those goshogō temples with
female monks (ama or bikuni; Skt. bhikṣuṇī)
are also granted the same type of samurai
status. All temples are placed under the
jurisdiction of local governments and temple
families no longer make reports to the
imperial throne.
10.3: Shūmon ninbetsu-chō, or "sectarian
registers" (i.e., the temple registration system
[terauke seido]) abolished (see also *Shintō
in the Early Modern Period and *Shintō and
Buddhism).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
11.17: *Daijōsai ceremony held
to accompany accession of
Emperor Meiji.
1872 Meiji 5 2.-: *Kinensai ceremony 5.24: Minatogawa Shrine
established for imperial and becomes the first shrine to be
national shrines (kankoku granted the status of
heisha, see *Modern Shrine "extraordinary imperial shrine"
Ranking System). (bekkaku kanpeisha, see *Modern
Shrine Ranking System).
3.14: Ministry of Divinities 7.-: *Urata Nagatami applies for
disbanded and its functions approval to found a Shintō
shifted to the Ministry of association called Jingūkyōkai.
Religious Education (see (*Jingūkyō)
*Modern and Contemporary
Shintō). (Dajōkan fukoku)
3.23: Office of Ritual
(Shikiburyō) placed in charge of
all festival rites (see *Modern
and Contemporary Shintō).
3.27: Prohibitions on females
entering shrines and temples
relaxed; women are now
allowed to freely visit them for
worship. (Dajōkan fukoku)

1873 Meiji 6 Jan 4: The "five seasonal Aug 31: *Nitta Kuniteru founds
celebrations" (gosekku) are Shūsei Kōsha (becomes *Shintō
eliminated, and holidays Shūseiha in 1876). (Shintō
celebrating the ascension Shūseiha no shinkō)
(*Sokui) of Japan’s mythical
first emperor Jinmu (see
*Kigensetsu) and the current
emperor’s birthday (*Tenchō
setsu) are established. (Dajōkan
fukoku)

NOTE: In 1873 Japan switched from the lunar calendar (inreki, or more properly a lunisolar
calendar, taiin-taiyōreki; subsequently also referred to as the kyūreki, "old calendar") to the
Gregorian calendar (seireki, "Western calendar"; subsequently also referred to as the shinreki,
"new calendar"). Though Japanese will continue to refer to months by ordinal numbers, the
dates now correspond directly to their named equivalent in the Gregorian calendar (i.e., 1st
month = January, 2nd = February, and so forth). Accordingly, the dates from January 1, 1873,
forward are presented in this chronology using their conventional English equivalents.

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8.17: *Tamamatsu Misao dies (age 63). 11.9: Lunar calendar abolished, solar
calendar adopted (the 3rd day of the 12th
month of 1872 is slated to become January 1,
1873) (see explanatory note).

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1873 Meiji 6 Jan 15: Ban imposed on various Oct. -: Religious confraternities
(cont.) (cont.) divination and shamanistic (kōsha) throughout Japan
spirit-invocation practices such associated with Ise Shrine unified
as azusa-miko, ichiko, yori-kitō, under the name Divine Wind
and kitsune-sage that are Religious Association (Shinpū
performed mostly by female Kōsha) (see *Jingūkyō).
ritualists. (Kyōbushō-tatsu)
Jan 30: Order issued -.-: Shimoyama Ōsuke establishes
eliminating higashi ("east") and Ontake Kyōkai (becomes
nishi ("west") as the names of *Ontakekyō in 1882). (Ontakekyō
the two units grouping moral no rekishi)
preceptors (kyōdōshoku, see
*Shinto Edification and
*Taikyō Senpu). However, use
of the word myōgō—which
usually refers to the Buddha’s
name as used, for example, in
prayers—for "name" in the
order’s title in the context of the
government’s anti-Buddhism
campaign (haibutsu kishaku,
see *Shinbutsu bunri) of the
time produces a negative
reaction among the populace as
it led to the popular
misconception that the
government was banning
chanting the Buddha’s name
(the central practice of Shin
["True Pure Land"] Buddhism)
and that all Japanese were to be
forced into Shintō practice (see
also *Shintō and Buddhism).
(Kyōbushō-tatsu)
Feb. 22: Order issued revoking
the conventional practice of
drawing wages for priests
(shikan and the lower-ranked
shishō; see *Shinkan) at rural
district shrines (*Gōsha) from
local taxes. The payment of any
"appropriate wages" (tekigi
kyūyo) left up to the "piety"
(shinkōshin) of the people (see
also *Modern and
Contemporary Shintō).
(Dajōkan fukoku)
July 31: Monthly wages for
priests (*Shinkan) at municipal

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
and prefectural shrines (fusha
and kensha, see *Modern
Shrine Ranking System)
revoked (see also *Modern and
Contemporary Shintō).
(Dajōkan fukoku)
Oct 14: Genshisai ("Festival of
Origins") and other holidays
established as days of rest (see
*Meiji Kokka Saishi). (Dajōkan
fukoku)
1874 Meiji 7 June 7: Directive ordering that Dec 23: *Tenrikyō founder
offering prayers and *Nakayama Miki and others
incantations to ward away called to the offices of the Nara
illness (kinen kitō, see *Kitō) prefectural government and
should not interfere with taking interrogated by officials
medicine and providing other overseeing temples and shrines.
medical care. (Kyōbushō-tatsu) She would be arrested and
investigated more than 10 times
through 1886. (Tenrikyo jiten)
1875 Meiji 8 March -: *Shintō Jimukyoku
(Shintō Office) established.
(Tokyo Daijingū enkakushi)

1876 Meiji 9 Dec 15: In connection with the

compilation of the Meiji period
Jinmyōchō (Register of Deities,
see *Jinja kakuroku and
*Shikinaisha), a directive is
issued ordering estimates
regarding those shrines not yet
ranked (see also *Modern
Shrine Ranking System).
(Kyōbushō-tatsu)
1877 Meiji 10 Jan 11: Ministry of Religious
Education disbanded.
Administrative duties taken
over by the Ministry of Home
Affairs. (Dajōkan fukoku)
1878 Meiji 11 -.-: *Shibata Hanamori founds
Jikkōsha (becomes *Jikkōkyō in
1882).
1879 Meiji 12 Nov 11: The various ranks for June 4: Tokyo *Shōkonsha
*shinkan (priests) at shrines renamed Yasukuni Shrine, made
ranked as of municipal or an "extraordinary imperial shrine"
prefectural level (fusha or (bekkaku kanpeisha, see *Modern
kensha) or below are abolished Shrine Ranking System)
(see also *Modern Shrine (Dajōkan-tatsu).
Ranking System). (Dajōkan

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-.-: *Shishino Nakaba leads the movement to

do away with Buddhist elements (haibutsu
kishaku) from Mt. Fuji (see also *Shinbutsu
Bunri and *Shintō and Buddhism).

April 30: Honganji and its affiliated True

Pure Land temples depart from the Taikyōin
(eventually leading to demise of the Great
Promulgation Campaign, see *Taikyō senpu).

July 11: *Inō Hidenori dies (age 73).

June 13: *Godaiin Mahashira dies (age 75).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
fukoku)
Sept -: *Hirayama Seisai creates
Taisei Kyōkai and becomes its
leader (becomes independent sect
in 1882 with the name of
Taiseikyō; see *Shintō
Taiseikyō). (Seisai nenpu sōan)
1880 Meiji 13 July 6: Regulations on July -: *Sano Tsunehiko
preserving ancient shrines and establishes Shinri Kyōkai
temples set down. (*Shinrikyō; the group becomes
independent sect in 1894).
(Shinrikyōso onisshi)
1881 Meiji 14 October 3: Bans imposed on February 23: Imperial command
conducting funerals and other issued ordering that the *kami to
rites at institutes of religious be venerated (see *Saijin) at the
instruction (kyōin), religious main shrine buildings (shaden) of
meeting places (kyōkaisho), and the *Shintō Jimukyoku be those
mission halls (sekkyōsho), as venerated at the imperial palace’s
well as on the act of people shrines, bringing a close to the
visiting such places for worship so-called "pantheon dispute"
on a regular basis (see *Modern (saijin ronsō).
and Contemporary Shintō).
(Naimushō-tatsu
[administrative ruling])
-.-: Yoshimura Masamochi
founds Shintō Shinshū Kyōkai
(see *Shinshūkyō; the group
becomes an independent Shintō
sect in 1882).
1882 Meiji 15 Jan 23: Conditions settled on April 30: Jingū Kōgakkan
the possibility of constructing (*Kōgakkan University) founded
the buildings to be used for the (Jingū Kōgakkan 50-nen shi).
major kami pacification rites
(shinchinsai) of Shintō moral
preceptors (kyōdōshoku, see
*Taikyō Senpu) as well as for
performing funeral services for
lay believers. (Naimushō-tatsu
[administrative ruling])
Jan 24: Priests from national April -: The Department for the
and imperial shrines (*Shinkan) Study of Classical Culture (Kōten
prohibited from working kōkyūka) breaks off from the
concurrently as moral *Shintō Jimukyoku (see
preceptors (kyōdōshoku, see *Kokugakuin University). (Kōten
*Taikyō Senpu) (see *Modern kōkyūjo 50-nen shi)
and Contemporary Shintō).
(Naimushō-tatsu
[administrative ruling])
May 15: Shintō Jingūha (a

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Oct 25: *Hirata Atsutane dies (age 82).

June 1: *Hatano Takao dies (age 85). April 26: Decision that, starting in 1883
(Meiji 16), the "official calendar" (honreki)
and "abbreviated official calendar"
(ryakuhonreki) will be distributed by the
Grand Shrines of Ise (see *Jingūreki).
(Dajōkan futatsu [publicly posted
administrative ruling])

-.-: Basil Hall Chamberlain’s translation of

*Kojiki published as The Kojiki: Records of
Ancient Matters.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
precursor to *Jingūkyō), Shintō
Taishaha (*Izumo Ōyashirokyō),
Shintō Fusōha (*Fusōkyō),
Shintō Jikkyōha (*Jikkōkyō),
Shintō Taiseiha (*Shintō
Taiseikyō), and Shintō Shinshūha
(*Shinshūkyō) established as
independent Shintō sects (see
*Shintō-Derived Religions and
the entry in this chronology for
Nov. 6, 1882). (Tadasama kyōkai,
Naimushō-tatsu [administrative
ruling])
Aug 23: Center for the Study of
Classical Culture (Kōten kōkyūjo)
established (see *Kokugakuin
University). On Aug 30, decision
made that licensing of priests
(*Shinkan) at prefectural and
lower-ranked shrines will be
limited to those individuals who
can supply a graduation diploma
from the Center, or documents
certifying they have completed
their graduation exams.
(Naimushō-tatsu [administrative
ruling])
Sept 28: Shintō *Ontakekyō
breaks away from *Shintō
Taiseikyō. (Naimushō-tatsu
[administrative ruling])
Nov 6: Eight Shintō schools
(excluding Shūseiha; see the
entry here for May 15, 1882)
submit applications to change the
"ha" (school) in their names to
"kyō" (sect). Applications
approved the same day (see
*Shinto-Derived Religions).
(Naimushō-tatsu [administrative
ruling])
-.-: Kitajima Naganori establishes
Izumo Kitajima Kyōkai as an
entity separate from Izumo
Taishakyō (see *Izumokyō).
(Group documents)
1883 Meiji 16 March 15: Conditions imposed -.-: Kamigamo, Shimogamo, and
on establishing churches, Iwashimizu Hachiman shrines
religious confraternities and added to the list of shrines to

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Jan 2: *Mozume Takayo dies (age 67).

250
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
assemblies, and mission halls which imperial envoys come to
eased (individuals concerned perform rituals (*Chokusaisha).
now need only submit a report (Daijōkan mugō-tatsu
to the local government). [administrative ruling])
(Naimushō-tatsu
[administrative ruling])

1884 Meiji 17 July 7: Peerage System May 19: Organization of offices

Ordinance set down. at Ise Shrine established.
(Naimushō-tatsu [administrative
ruling] bangai)

Aug 11: Moral preceptor -.-: *Inaba Masakuni becomes the

(kyōdōshoku) system, which chief administrator (kanchō) of
was open only to Buddhist and *Shintō Jimukyoku.
Shintō priests, abolished (see
*Taikyō Senpu). Decisions on
the appointment and dismissal
of temple and shrine chief
priests and on promotions and
the like for ordinary priests
entrusted to the chief
administrators (kanchō) of
sects. Sects also made to set
down their respective internal
rules and regulations. (Daijōkan
futatsu [publicly posted
administrative ruling])
1885 Meiji 18 May 23: Shintō Konkō Kyōkai
(*Konkōkyō) founded. (Group
documents)
May 23: *Tenrikyō becomes a
Class 6 religious organization
affiliated with Shintō Honkyoku
(*Shintō Taikyō), thus finally
achieving legal status. (Tenrikyō
jiten)
-.-: Kasuga Shrine becomes a
shrine to which imperial envoys
come to perform rituals
(*Chokusaisha). (Daijōkan
mugō-tatsu [administrative
ruling])
1886 Meiji 19 March 18: Dealing with the Jan 11: *Shintō Jimukyoku
expenses for routine shrine reorganized as Shintō Honkyoku.

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 Personalities/Texts Society

May6: *Furukawa Mitsura dies (age 74).

July 20: *Iwakura Tomomi dies (age 59).
Oct 10: *Konkōkyō founder Konkō Daijin
dies (age 70).
May 13: Shishino Nakaba, head of *Fusōkyō, March 15: Land Tax Law (Chiso jōrei).
dies (age 41). Grounds of prefectural shrines, grounds of
village shrines, and grounds of *shōkonsha
(shines for memorializing the war dead)
exempted from taxes (see also *Modern and
Contemporary Shintō).
Aug 8: *Sawatari Hiromori dies (age 73). -.-: This year, a "world-renewal" (yonaoshi)
movement led by the Mi division of
*Maruyamakyō emerges centered in
Shizuoka Prefecture.

March 23: *Kamei Koremi dies (age 61). Dec 22: The Daijōkan-based system of
government is discontinued, replaced by a
Cabinet-type system.

Jan 24: Prince *Arisugawa no Miya Takahito July -: A divination game known as
Shinnō dies (age 75). "Kokkuri-sama" becomes popular in Kyoto.

252
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
business placed under After receiving "Shintō" as part
jurisdiction of local of its sect name, it was treated as
governments. (Ōkurashō-rei) one of the independent sects of
sectarian Shintō (kyōha Shintō;
see also *Shintō-Derived
Religions).

1887 Meiji 20 Oct 13: Permission given to use March 17: Title of *shinkan for
the names of avatars (gongen- priests at national or imperial
gō) at temples and at shrines shrines (kankoku heisha, see
ranked as imperial or national *Modern Shrine Ranking System)
(kankoku heisha, see *Modern abolished. Title of *shinshoku
Shrine Ranking System) and revived with various grades
below. (Naimushō kunrei) established. (Kakurei)
March 30: Yasukuni Shrine
removed from jurisdiction of
Ministry of Home Affairs and
placed under jurisdiction of the
Army and Navy Ministries.

1888 Meiji 21 April 17: The use of shrine April 10: Governor of Tokyo
names in the names of Prefecture grants recognition to
devotional associations the establishment of Shintō Tenri
affiliated with Sect Shinto Kyōkai (*Tenrikyō).
denominations (kyōkai kōsha)
is prohibited (done to
distinguish between such
associations and those attached
to specific shrines [jinja kōsha])
(Shajikyoku tsūchō).
April 25: City, Town and
Village Regulations
promulgated (shrines and
temples exempted from
municipal taxes; regulations
also set down making Shintō
priests (*shinkan) ineligible to
run for office). (Hōritsu dai-1-
gō)
1889 Meiji 22 Feb 11: Japanese Imperial Oct 2: Ise Inner Grand Shrine
Constitution promulgated. rebuilt and reconsecrated
Imperial Household Law set (*Shikinensengū). Oct 5: Outer
down. House of Grand Shrine rebuilt and
Representatives Election Law reconsecrated.
promulgated (shrine priests

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 Personalities/Texts Society
(Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō)

Feb 16: *Yamaguchi Okinari dies (age 56). -.-: Ministry of Home Affairs issues "secret
orders" to police forces nationwide regarding
*Tenrikyō.
March 5: *Kubo Sueshige dies (age 57).
Feb 18: *Tenrikyō founder *Nakayama Miki
dies (age 90).

May 19: *Yano Harumichi dies (age 65).

June 8: *Gonda Naosuke dies (age 79).

Oct 3: *Hori Hidenari dies (age 69).
June 12: *Nakayama Tadayasu dies (age 80).

254
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
[*shinkan], Buddhist priests
and monks, and Christian
priests deemed ineligible for
office). (Hōritsu dai-3-gō)
1890 Meiji 23 March 13: Specific priests Nov 10: *Kokugakuin University
assigned to shrines for the war founded out of its parent
dead (*shōkonsha) and organization, the Center for the
custodians (kanshu) posted to Study of Classical Culture (Kōten
the graves. (Naimushō kunrei) Kōkyūjo). (Kōten Kōkyūjo 50-
nenshi; Kokugakuin Daigaku 70-
nenshi)
May 17: Prefectural Code
(Fukensei) promulgated. Shintō
and Buddhists priests deemed
ineligible to run for prefectural
assembly offices. (Hōritsu 35-
gō)

1891 Meiji 24 Nov 5: Army Ministry enshrines

1,277 individuals as martyrs of
"Restoration-related matters of
state" (Ishin kokuji) at Yasukuni
Shrine (see also *Shōkonsha).
(Daijōkan fukoku)

1892 Meiji 25 March 17: Standards required Sept 27: Yoshino Shrine
for serving as a priest constructed. The deity venerated
(*Shinkan) at shrines of (*Saijin) is Emperor Go-Daigo.
prefectural rank or lower (Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō)
produced (see *Modern Shrine
Ranking System). (Naimushō
kunrei)
1893 Meiji 26 Aug 12: Ministry of Education
selects music and lyrics to be
used at ceremonies on holidays
and at school festivals, and
announces it in official gazette
(eight songs, including
"Kimigayo," which at the time
of writing is still Japan’s
national anthem).

1894 Meiji 27 Feb 6: Warning issued that Oct 20: *Shinrikyō declares its

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 Personalities/Texts Society

March 18: Sakata Kaneyasu of Shintō Oct 30: Imperial Rescript on Education
*Misogikyō (related to, but distinct from, the (kyōiku chokugo) promulgated.
present-day *Shintō Misogikyō) dies (age 69).

May 9: Watanabe Shigeharu dies (age 60)

(see *Watanabe Ikarimaru).

May 22: Taiseikyō (see *Shintō Taiseikyō)

founder *Hirayama Seisai dies (age 76).
July 11: Shintō *Jikkōkyō founder *Shibata
Hanamori dies (age 81). (Group documents)
Jan 22: *Motoda Nagazane dies (age 74).

Oct 25: Prince *Kuni no Miya Tomoyoshi

Shinnō dies (age 68).
Dec 11: *Aoyama Kagemichi dies (age 73).
Nov 14: *Yamada Akiyoshi dies (age 45). March 4: Tokyo Imperial University
Professor *Kume Kunitake is criticized by
Shintō priests and others and loses his job for
publishing his essay Shintō wa saiten no
kozoku ("Shintō: The Outdated Custom of
Worshipping the Heavens"). (Kindai Nihon
sōgō nenpyō)
March 7: *Izumokyō founder Kitajima
Naganori dies. (Group documents)

Aug 6: *Matsuno Isao dies (age 42).

Oct 26: *Urata Nagatami dies (age 54).
March 30: *Maruyamakyō founder Itō Aug 1: Sino-Japanese War of 1894–1895

256
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
priests and monks should not independence from *Ontakekyō.
take advantage of religious (Naimushō kokuji)
beliefs to involve themselves in
Lower House elections.
(Naimushō kunrei)
Feb 27: Government appoints Oct 20: *Misogikyō declared
priests (*Shinshoku) to shrines independent from *Shintō
ranked prefectural level and Honkyoku. (Naimushō kokuji)
below. (Chokurei [Imperial
ordinance])
Sept 28: Sectarian Shintō
(kyōha Shintō, see *Shintō-
Derived Religions) priests are
forbidden from conducting
festivals at shrines at the
request of representatives
(*Sōdai) of a shrine’s
parishioners (*Ujiko) or others.
(Shajikyoku tsūchō)
1895 Meiji 28 May 30: Orders issued to the March 15: Heian Shrine built to
effect that standards for commemorate the 1,100th
approving priests should be anniversary of ’Japan's capital
included in the regulations and being relocated to Heian-kyō
systems of Shintō and Buddhist (Kyōto). Enshrinement ceremony
sects. Order accompanied by held the same day, with Emperor
model standards. (Naimushō Kammu as the enshrined deity
kunrei) (*Saijin). (Kindai Nihon sōgō
nenpyō). Jidai-matsuri ("festival
of the ages") created and first
held that October.

1896 Meiji 29 April 29: Volumes 1, 2, and 3 Nov 4: Major imperial shrine
of the Meiji Civil Code (kanpei taisha, see *Modern
promulgated. Volume 2 Shrine Ranking System)
includes regulations for Niukawakami Shrine separated
religion-related juridical into mountain-side or upper
persons. (kamisha) and townside or lower
shrine (shimosha) complexes.
(Naimushōkoku)
June 23: Notification issued Nov 28: Ise Shrine Office (Jingū
limiting each household of shichō) system established.
shrine parishioners (*Ujiko) to (Chokurei [Imperial ordinance])
a single shrine. (Shajikyokuchō
kaitō)

1897 Meiji 30
1898 Meiji 31 Feb 22: Ministry of Home -.-: Hilo Shrine established in

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 Personalities/Texts Society
Rokurobei dies (age 66). (Shinshūkyō kenkyū begins.
chōsa handobukku)

July 3: *Mikannagi Kiyonao dies (age 83). -.-: Anti-*Renmonkyō campaign begun by
Yorozu chōhō, Japan’s largest newspaper at
the time. (Renmonkyō suibōshi)

March 17: *Inoue Kowashi dies (age 53). April 17: Treaty of Shimonoseki (Sino-
Japanese peace treaty) signed (China forced
to cede the Liaodong Peninsula and pay a
200-million gold tael indemnity).

Sept 1: *Shintō Shinshinkyō founder Adachi

Tajūrō dies (Omichi no shiori).
Nov 8: Grand Shrine Administration Office
(Jingū shichō) begins publishing Koji ruien
[Encyclopedia of ancient matters].

-.-: Shin Kokugaku published (see

*Shinkokugaku).

-.-: W. G. Aston publishes English translation

of *Nihon shoki as The Chronicles of Japan.
April 10: *Tanaka Yoritsune dies (age 62).
July 15: *Inaba Masakuni dies (age 65).

258
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Affairs issues notice banning Hawaii (see also *Modern and
proselytization at shrines by Contemporary Shintō). (Hawaii
religionists associated with nikkei shūkyō no tenkai to genjō)
sectarian Shintō (kyōha Shintō,
see *Shintō-Derived Religions)
and Buddhism. (Kindai Nihon
sōgō nenpyō)
July 16: Meiji Civil Code goes
into effect.
1899 Meiji 32 July 27: Ministry of Home Aug 1: *Deguchi Onisaburō and
Affairs sets down regulations *Deguchi Nao found Kinmei
on the dissemination efforts of Reigakukai as the affiliate of an
non-Buddhist and non-Shintō Inari confraternity (Inari kōsha)
religions, as well as on the (see also *Inari Shinkō). (Ōmoto
construction, relocation, and 70-nenshi)
razing of their temples and halls
of worship. (Naimushō rei)
Aug 3: Ban on conducting Sept 5: *Jingūkyō dissolved and
ceremonies or offering reorganized to become Jingū
education of a religious nature Hōsaikai, changing its legal status
in government-sanctioned from service organization to
schools on grounds that general foundation. (Naimushō kokuji)
education is defined as separate
from religion. (Monbushō
kunrei)
1900 Meiji 33 March 10: Public Order and June 16: *Konkōkyō severs its
Police Law promulgated. affiliation with Shintō Honkyoku
Shintō and Buddhist priests to become an independent sect
prohibited from joining (see also *Shintō Jimukyoku).
political associations. (Hōritsu (Konkōkyō nenpyō)
36-gō)
March 29: Revised House of Sep 18: Taiwan Shrine built and
Representatives election law added to list of major imperial
promulgated. Shintō ritualists, shrines (kanpei taisha, see
Buddhist and Shintō priests, *Modern shrine ranking system
and religionists from other and also *Modern and
faiths not eligible for election to contemporary Shintō). (Naimushō
office. (Hōritsu 73-gō) kokuji)
April 26: Home Affairs -.-: Takeuchi Kiyomaro founds an
Ministry reorganized. Bureau of *Ontakekyō center in Amatsu
Shrines and Temples becomes (origins of a group that in 1952
Religious Affairs Bureau and will become the new religion
Bureau of Shrines created. *Kōso Kōtai Jingū Amatsukyō.
(Chokurei [Imperial ordinance]) (Kokka shintō ni appaku sareta
shinshūkyō)
Aug 1: Regulations set down on
the creation of juridical persons
whose purpose is to disseminate
religion or conduct rites of a

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 Personalities/Texts Society
(Meiji Hyakunen nen to Shintō taikyō)

Jan 26: *Kurita Hiroshi dies (age 65).

Aug 19: *Maruyama Sakura dies (age 60).

Aug 26: *Iida Takesato dies (age 74).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
religious nature. (Naimushō rei)
1901 Meiji 34 March 3: The "Section for the
Correct Practice of National
Rituals" of the Jingū Service
Foundation (Jingū hōsankai
kokurei shugyōbu) conducts a
simulated *shinzenkekkon
("marriage in the presence of the
gods") ceremony at the Tokyo
Grand Shrine (Tōkyō Daijingū).
1902 Meiji 35

1904 Meiji 37 Sept 28: Religionists from all April 1: Kokugakuin

"sectarian Shintō" (kyōha (*Kokugakuin University)
Shintō, see *Shintō-derived elevated to status of senmon
religions) organizations gakkō (defined in the Meiji
prohibited from conducting educational system as a
rites at shrines (see also *State specialized higher education
Shintō). (Shūkyōkyoku tsūchō) institution providing at least three
years of schooling; Kokugakuin’s
name and organizational status
will be changed in 1906 to
Shiritsu Kokugakuin daigaku
[Kokugakuin private university]).
-.-: Jingū Kogakkan -.-: Jingū Service Foundation
(*Kōgakkan University) (Jingū hōsankai) opens a
becomes a kanritsu senmon "supporters office" (sanseiin
gakkō (defined in the Meiji jimusho) in Hawaii (eventually
educational system as a becomes Hawaii Grand Shrine).
government-operated, (Hawai nikkei shūkyō no tenkai to
specialized higher education genjō)
institution providing at least
three years of schooling) under
jurisdiction of the Ministry of
Home Afairs.

1905 Meiji 38 April 7: Funding for national

shrines (kankoku heisha, see
*Modern shrine ranking
system) set. (Hōritsu 24-gō)
April 30: Statute on giving food
(shinsen) and other offerings
(*Heihaku) at shrines ranked
prefectural shrine and lower.
(Chokurei [Imperial ordinance])
1906 Meiji 39 Aug 14: Notice concerning -.-: *Kawatsura Bonji founds
shrine and temple mergers and Dainippon Sekaikyō Miitsukai.

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 Personalities/Texts Society

Oct 10: *Kashima Noribumi dies (age 63).

Jan 30: *Shikida Toshiharu dies (age 86). Jan 30: Anglo-Japanese Alliance signed.
Nov 25: *Shintō Shūseiha founder Nitta
Kuniteru dies (age 74).
Feb 13: *Renmonkyō founder Shimamura Feb 10: Russo-Japanese War breaks out.
Mitsu dies (age 63). (Renmonkyō suibōshi)

March 2: *Miyaji Shinsendō founder Miyaji Aug 22: First Japan-Korea Protocol signed.
Kakiwa (religious name Suii Taireiju Shinjin)
dies (age 53).

June 18: *Ōtori Sessō dies (age 91).

Dec 17: *Matsuoka Mitsugi dies (age 75).
-.-: W. G. Aston produces his work, Shinto: Sept 5: Russo-Japanese Peace Treaty signed.
The Way of the Gods.

Nov 17: Second Japan-Korea Protocol signed

(Japan takes control of Korea’s foreign
relations and a resident-general is posted to
Keijō [colonial-era name for Seoul] as
representative of the Japanese government).
Feb 21: Aoyama Naomichi (see *Aoyama
Kagemichi) dies (age 61).

262
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
the transfer of land from
consolidated shrines (with this
the merger and elimination of
shrines begins in earnest).
(Jinja shūkyō kyoku kyokuchō
tsūchō)
-.-: Miyaō Katsuyoshi founds a
provisional mission for Izumo
Taishaden (see *Izumo
Ōyashirokyō) in Hawaii. (Hawai
nikkei shūkyō no tenkai to genjō)
1907 Meiji 40 April 24: Meiji Criminal Code 12.-: Mizuno Fusa founds
promulgated (carries over from Konshō Kyōkai (see
old criminal code provisions for *Kannagarakyō).
lese majesty offenses with
respect to the imperial family
and Ise Shrine).
June 29: Code of conduct for
performing shrine festivals
promulgated. (Naimushō
kokuji)
1908 Meiji 41 Sept 19: Ordinance on Imperial Nov 28: Shintō Tenri Kyōkai
Household Ceremonies separates from *Shintō
promulgated. Honkyoku to become
independent sect, and changes
name to *Tenrikyō. (Naimushō
kokuji)
1909 Meiji 42 Oct 2: Ise Inner Grand Shrine
rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū). Oct 5: Outer
Grand Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated.

1910 Meiji 43 July 29: The Karafuto Agency

(Karafuto-chō, Japan’s local
colonial administration entity)
grants permission for the first
Shintō shrine to be built in the
territory. Karafuto Shrine is built
in Yuzhno Sakhalinsk (see
*Modern and Contemporary
Shintō). Aug -: Shrine added to
list of major imperial shrines
(kanpei taisha, see *Modern
shrine ranking system). (Shintō
jiten; Karafutochō shisei sanjū-
nen shi)

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Oct 16: *Shinrikyō founder *Sano Tsunehiko

dies (age 73). (Shinri)

June 9: Iburi Izō of *Tenrikyō, regarded as July 24: Third Japan-Korea Protocol signed
the "honzeki" ("true mediator") of the group’s (effects include the internal administration of
founder Nakayama Miki, dies (age 73). Korea being placed under control of resident-
(Tenrikyō jiten) general and civil service positions being
filled with Japanese).

Aug 14: *Fukuba Yoshishizu dies (age 77).

-.-: Kokugakuin (*Kokugakuin University)

alumni association magazine Dōsō begins
publishing under its new name,
*Shinkokugaku.

Feb 11: Regulations Governing the

Accession to the Throne (Tōkyokurei)
promulgated. (Kōshitsurei)

June 11: Edict on Imperial Household

Mourning (Kōshitsu fukumo-rei)
promulgated. (Kōshitsurei)
May -: The High Treason Incident (Taigyaku
jiken, an attempt by anarchists on the Meiji
Emperor’s life) takes place.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

1911 Meiji 44 July -: Tanaka Morihei founds

Tokyo Reirigakkai (see
*Taireidō).
-.-: *Kurozumikyō begins
proselytization activities in
Manchuria. (Minami Manshū ni
okeru shūkyō gaikan)
-.-: *Tenrikyō creates churches in
Dalian and Andong. (Minami
Manshū ni okeru shūkyō gaikan)
1912 Taishō 1 Feb 25: Home Minister Hara
Takashi invites representatives of
Shintō, Buddhist, and Christian
denominations to conference
aimed at aligning religions with
state objectives (the so-called
Sankyō kaidō, or "Meeting of the
Three Religions").
1913 Taishō 2 April 21: Notice promulgated
regarding the venerated deities
(*Saijin), shrine names, shrine
ranks, account ledgers
(meisaichō), shrine compounds
(*Keidaichi), founding,
relocation, consolidation,
pilgrimages (sanpai), visits
(haikan), donations,
confraternities, and talismans at
all shrines from national rank
(kankoku heisha, see *Modern
shrine ranking system) on done
(the notice serves to annul 75
previously issued regulations).
(Chokurei [Imperial ordinance])
June 13: Ministry of Home
Affairs’ Religious Affairs
Section transferred to the
Ministry of Education
(complete separation of
religious administrative matters
from Shintō shrine
administrative matters).
(Chokurei [Imperial ordinance])
1914 Taishō 3 Jan 26: Promulgation of

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Aug 22: Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty
signed.
Sept 14: Mifune Chizuko creates a sensation
with her alleged ability of clairvoyance.
(Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō)
Nov 16: *Tanimori Yoshiomi dies (age 95). Aug 21: Special Higher Police unit
established in Tokyo Metropolitan Police
Department.

July 30: The Meiji Emperor (Emperor

Mutsuhito) dies (age 61). Era name changed
to Taishō.

April 11: *Ōishigori Masumi dies (age 82).

Aug 23: Japan declares war on Germany

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Ordinance on religious
functions relating to the Grand
Shrine (Jingū saishi rei) and of
Ordinance on religious
functions relating to shrines
ranked national shrine and
below (Kankoku heisha ika
jinja saishi rei). (Chokurei
[Imperial ordinance])
March 27: Promulgation of rites
at shrines ranked national
shrine and below (Kankoku
heisha ika jinja saishiki).
(Naimushō rei)
1915 Taishō 4 June 11: Notice promulgated April -: "Bureau for the
regarding oversight of construction of Meiji Shrine"
movements to promote the rank (Meiji jingū zōeikyoku) created.
of Shintō shrines (Jinja shōkaku
undō torishimari ni kansuru
ken). (Hatsu sha dai-49-gō)
Aug 16: Promulgation of
regulations on proselytizing in
Korea. (Chōsen sōtokufu rei)
Aug 20: Promulgation of
regulations on Shintō shrines
and Buddhist temples in Korea.
(Chōsen sōtokufu rei)
Nov 14: *Daijōsai ceremony
held to accompany accession of
Emperor Taishō.
1916 Taishō 5 June -: Taireidō Hon’in ("main
temple of *Taireidō") built.
(Reijutsuka no kyōen)
1917 Taishō 6 March 22: Provisions -.-: Atsuta Shrine, Izumo Shrine,
established concerning the and Kashihara Shrine designated
establishment of shrines shrines where an imperial envoy
(shashi) in Korea. (Chōsen will perform rituals
sōtoku rei) (*Chokusaisha). (Kunai-daijin
kanbō bunsho-ka ku-hatsu)
1918 Taishō 7 March -: Kwantung Jan 23: Otokoyama Hachiman
Agency(Kantō-chō, Japan’s Shrine, ranked as a major
local colonial administration imperial shrine (kanpeisha, see
entity) drafts regulations for *Modern shrine ranking system),
shrines and temples as a renamed Iwashimizu Hachiman
government ordinance to Shrine.
consolidate the administration
of shrines and temples in
Manchuria and to clarify
jurisdiction. (Minami-Manshū

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 Personalities/Texts Society
(enters the First World War).

Jan 21: *Shinshūkyō founder *Yoshimura

Masamochi dies (age 76).

July 4: *Inoue Yorikuni dies (age 76).

-.-: *Watanabe Ikarimaru dies (age 79).

June 24: *Kawai Kiyomaru dies (age 70).

Jan 3: *Izumo Ōyashirokyō founder Senge

Takatomi dies (age 74).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
ni okeru shūkyō gaikan).

1919 Taishō 8 July 16: Fukada Chiyoko

launches *Ennōkyō in Osaka.
(Shinshūkyō jiten)
Aug 7: Matsushita Matsuzō
founds *Soshindō. (Hito no
michi)
1920 Taishō 9 July 31: Income tax law Feb 7: Tomokiyo Yoshisane
promulgated (no income tax to founds Kakushinkai (later
be imposed on those juridical renamed *Shindō Tenkōkyo).
persons established under the (Group documents)
provisions of Civil Law 34 on
Shrines, Temples, and Related
Structures [Jinja, jiin, shi’u,
butsudō-nado minpō dai-34-
gō]).
Oct 29: Meiji Shrine selected as April 15: Status of Kokugakuin
shrine where an imperial envoy (*Kokugakuin University) raised
will perform rituals under the University Ordinance
(*Chokusaisha) and its annual (Daigakurei) to university.
festival established.
(Naimushōrei)
Dec -: Karafuto Agency
(Karafuto-chō, Japan’s local
colonial administration entity)
sets down laws regulating
shrines in Sakhalin government
ordinance 48 (chōrei 48-gō) as
well as regulations for temples
and on proselytizing
in .Sakhalin government
ordinances 49 (chōrei 49-gō)
and 50 (chōrei 50-gō).
(Karafuto-chō shisetsu 30-nen
shi)
1921 Taishō 10
1922 Taishō 11 March -: Regulations Oct 13: Aritōshi Shrine in Nara
promulgated in Okinawa Prefecture designated major
regarding surveillance at houses imperial shrine (kanpeisha, see
of worship (known in Okinawa *Modern shrine ranking system)
as uganju) and regarding Shintō and renamed Niukawakami
shrines, Buddhist temples, and Shrine (known today also as
Christian churches. (Bukkyōshi Nakasha, or Naka Shrine).

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 Personalities/Texts Society

June 16: *Miyaji Izuo dies (age 72).

Nov 6: *Deguchi Nao dies (age 83).
Dec 15: *Tsunoda Tadayuki dies (age 85).
-.-: Society for Promotion of Shintō (Shintō
sen’yō-kai) begins publishing Shintō
magazine.

Feb 12: First *Ōmoto Incident (Ōmoto jiken).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
nenpyō)
1923 Taishō 12 Nov 10: Imperial Rescript to -.-: Osaka Kokugakuin opens
Promote the National Spirit Naniwa Middle School (see also
(Kokumin seishin sakkō ni *Shrine priest training institutes).
kansuru shōsho) issued. (Shūkyō kyōiku shiryōshū)
1924 Taishō 13 Feb 11: Miki Tokuharu
establishes Tokumitsukyō Great
Church Headquarters of
Ontakekyō (Ontakekyō
Tokumitsukyō Daikyōkai Honbu)
(see *Perfect Liberty Kyōdan and
also *Ontakekyō). (Pāfekuto
Ribati kyōdan ryakunenpyō)
1925 Taishō 14 -.-: Usa Shrine and Kashii Oct 15: Chōsen Shrine in Seoul
Shrine are designated shrines (then named Keijō by Japan’s
where an imperial envoy will colonial government) elevated to
perform rituals (*Chokusaisha). status of imperial shrine
(Shikibusō dai-263-gō Kunai- (signified by name change from
daijin tsūchō). Chōsen Jinja to Chōsen Jingū)
and enshrinement festival
(chinzasai) held (see "Shintō:s
Overseas Advance" in *Modern
and Contemporary Shintō).
(Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō)

1926 Shōwa 1 May 13: Regulations

promulgated to create the
Religion Policy Investigation
Committee (Shūkyō seido chōsa
kai) (opposition intensifies
among religious groups, who
oppose committee’s formation
on the grounds that it
constitutes state interference
with religious freedom) (see
also *Modern and
Contemporary Shintō and
*State Shintō). (Chokurei)
1927 Shōwa 2 March 4: With the change to -.-: Tomokiyo Yoshizane founds
the Shōwa era, the national *Shindō Tenkōkyo.
holiday schedule is altered to
add other imperial festival days
(saijitsu shukujitsu, events that
include *Kannamesai and
*Niiname sai) to go with
*Kigensetsu and the other
major imperial holidays (see

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 Personalities/Texts Society

Sept 1: Great Kantō Earthquake occurs.

Feb 13: *Sugiura Jūgō dies (age 70). June 25: In response to an appeal from the
Shintō Promotion Society (Shintō
senyokai),Shintō, Buddhist, and Christian
representatives join together to found the
Japan Inter-Religious Cooperation Society
(Nihon shukyō konwa kai).

Jan 6: *Ennōkyō founder Fukada Chiyoko March 2: House of Representatives amends

dies (age 37). (Ennōkyō rikkyō 50-shūnen and passes General Election Law (the change
kinenshi) gives all males right to vote).

March 7: House of Representatives amends

and passes Peace Preservation Law. April 22:
Law goes into force. (Hōritsu dai-46-gō)
-.-: *Tanaka Yoshitō founds the Shintō Dec 25: Emperor Yoshihito (the Taishō
Studies Association (Shintō gakkai) and emperor) dies (age 48). Era name changed to
begins publishing Journal of Shintō Studies Shōwa.
(Shintōgaku zasshi).

Feb 6: *Haga Yaichi dies (age 61). March 15: Financial crisis of 1927 begins.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
also *Shidaisetsu and the
following chronology entry).
(Chokurei)
-.-: Emperor Meiji's birthday is
made a national holiday (*Meiji
setsu; see also the previous
chronology entry).
1928 Shōwa 3 Nov 14: *Daijōsai ceremony -.-: Hayashi Shikō founds
held to accompany accession of *Kikueikai Kyōdan. (Shinshūkyō
Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito). yōran)

1929 Shōwa 4 Sept 10: Ministry of Education Jan 5: Tazawa Seishirō founds
begins a campaign to mobilize Shōroku Shintō Yamatoyama-kai
indoctrination (kyōka dōin) and (see *Shōroku Shintō
issues directive to all schools Yamatoyama). (Yamatoyama)
on same aimed at clarifying
how the concept of *kokutai is
taught (Kokutai kannen meichō)
and .promoting the national
spirit (Kokumin seishin sakkō)
(see also *History (Modern)
research).
Oct 2: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (see
*Shikinensengū). Oct 5: Ise Outer
Shrine rebuilt and reconsecrated.
(Jingū binran)

1930 Shōwa 5 March 1: Taniguchi Masaharu

founds *Seichō no Ie. (Shin-
shūkyō jiten)

1931 Shōwa 6 -.-: Kumazaki Ken’ō founds

Chūshindō (see *Chūshinkai).

1932 Shōwa 7 Dec 2: Memorandum on the

interpretation of the (Meiji-era)
directive establishing general
education as being, independent
of religion ("Ippan no kyōiku o
shūkyō igai ni tokuritu
seshimuru-saku" kaishaku ni
kansuru ken) (On the new

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 Personalities/Texts Society

June 23: *Mozume Takami dies (age 82). March 15: Mass arrest of communist party
members nationwide (March 15 Incident).
More mass arrests take place in1930.
Dec 17: *Taireidō founder Tanaka Morihei
dies (age 44). (Reijutsuka no kyōen)
Feb 23: *Kawatsura Bonji dies (age 68).

July -: *Orikuchi Shinobu, *Kindaichi

Kyōsuke, and others found the Minzoku
gakkai (Folklore Society) and begin
publishing Minzokugaku (Folklore studies).

Dec 10: *Aoto Namie dies (age 73).

-.-: Prince *Kuni no Miya Kuniyoshi Ō dies
(age 57).
Feb 26: Mass arrest of communist party
members nationwide.

-.-: Great Depression extends to Japan this

year ("Shōwa Panic").
February 24: *Kume Kunitake dies (age 93). Sept 18: Mukden Incident occurs. The
following March 1, Japan proclaims the
founding of a new country, Manchukuo.
-.-: *Tanaka Yoshitō begins publishing
Shintō seinen.
Oct 21: *Honaga Mosuke dies (age 52). Aug 23: Research Institute for National Spirit
and Culture (Kokumin seishin bunka
kenkyūjo) established. (Chokurei)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
interpretation on
"acknowledging the importance
of religious sentiment in
education"). (Shūkyōkyoku fūtsū
gakumukyoku tsūchō Hatsu
shū102 gō)
1933 Shōwa 8

1935 Shōwa 10 Nov 28: Education Ministry Jan 1: Okada Mokichi founds
issues "Points of concern Dainihon Kannonkai (the group
related to the cultivation of known at present as *Sekai
religious sensibility" Kyūseikyō). (Group documents)
(Shūkyōteki jōsō no kan’yō ni
kansuru ryū’i jikō; document
stresses the importance of
cultivating religious sentiment
in education). (Monbushō jikan
fūtsū tsūchō hatsu)

1936 Shōwa 11 June 6: Foreign Ministry issues July -: Onikura Taruhiko

regulations on shrines in establishes Kōdō Saishūkai
Manchukuo and occupied ("Association for venerating the
China (Zai-Manshūkoku oyobi imperial way") (registered as a
Chūkaminkoku jinja kisoku). religious corporation in 1946
(Gaimushōrei) under the name *Sumerakyō,
written in Chinese characters;
group changes name in 1947,
now rendering it in phonetic
Japanese characters). (Group
documents)

1937 Shōwa 12 July 15: Ministry of Education

requests that the leaders of
religious and moral suasion
(kyōka) organizations launch a
national unity movement
(kyokoku itchi undō).
July 21: Ministry of
Education’s Thought Control
Bureau (Shisōkyoku) expanded,
reestablished as the Education

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 Personalities/Texts Society

March 27: Japan withdraws from the League

of Nations.
Feb 18: At House of Peers, Kikuchi Takeo
attacks Minobe Tatsukichi 's "Organ Theory"
of the constitution, which posited the
emperor to be an organ of the state.

March 23: House of Representatives

approves a resolution regarding "clarification
of the *kokutai."
Dec 8: Second *Ōmoto Incident occurrs.
Feb 26: The February 26 Incident—an
attempted coup d'état—takes place in Japan.

March 12: Ministry of Home Affairs orders

the dissolution of *Ōmoto-kyō.
Sept 28: Osaka Special Higher Police arrest
Miki Tokuharu, founder of Hitonomichi
Kyōdan (later to become *Perfect Liberty
Kyōdan), on criminal charges.
May 24: Ōmiwakyō founder Sako Kan dies July 7: Japanese and Chinese forces clash at
(age 59). (Shinshūkyō jiten) Marco Polo Bridge in the middle of the night
(Sino-Japanese War begins).

-.-: Ministry of Education publishes *Kokutai

no hongi (Essentials of the national polity)
(see *History (Modern) research).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Bureau (Kyōgakukyoku).

1938 Shōwa 13 May 1: Emperor Kōmei (father of

the Meiji Emperor) enshrined at
Heian Shrine.

May 1: Ōmi Shrine (with

Emperor Tenji as its enshrined
deity [*Saijin]) is founded and
included among the ranks of
major imperial shrines (kanpei
taisha, see *Modern shrine
ranking system).
June 1: Kwangtung Shrine (with
the Meiji Emperor and
*Amaterasu ōmikami as its
enshrined deities [*Saijin]) built
in Lüshun, Kwangtung Province,
and added to the ranks of major
imperial shrines (kanpei taisha,
see *Modern shrine ranking
system and also *Modern and
Contemporary Shintō).
1939 Shōwa 14 March 15: Shrines for Aug 23: Kuramoto Ito founds
appeasing the spirits of the war *Tenjōkyō Hon'in. (Shinshūren
dead (*Shōkonsha) renamed sōran)
"shrines for protecting the
nation" (*Gokoku jinja).
(Naimushōrei)
April 8: Religious
Organizations Law
promulgated.
1940 Shōwa 15 March 30: Internal structure of Feb 11: Nan’yō ("south seas")
Ministry of Education reformed Shrine established in Palau (see
(posts of "religious affairs Modern and Contemporary
official" [shūmukan] and Shintō). Assigned rank of
"religious affairs deputy" imperial shrine (kanpei taisha,
[shūmukanho] created in see *Modern shrine ranking
Ministry of Education, charged system).
with conducting investigations
and research on religious
doctrine and rites as well as
providing guidance to
organizations related to
religion). (Chokurei)
Nov 9: Promulgation of March 28: Shintō Honkyoku
regulations creating the *Jingiin changes name to *Shintō Taikyō.
(*Jinjakyoku abolished).
(Chokurei)

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 Personalities/Texts Society

-.-: Ueda Kazutoshi dies (age 71).

July 6: Hitonomichi Kyōdan founder Miki April 1: National Mobilization Law
Tokuharu dies (age 67) (Pāfekuto ribati promulgated.
kyōdan ryakunenpyō) (see *Perfect Liberty
Kyōdan).
Nov 21: Ōnishi Aijirō and associates arrested
(second Tenri *Honmichi lèse majesté
incident). (Shinshūkyō kenkyūchōsa
handobukku)

Dec 26: Governor-General of Korea issues

notice regarding the names of Koreans
(forces Koreans to adopt Japanese style
names).

Feb 10: Publication of Tsuda Sōkichi’s Oct 21: Ceremony held to launch the
Kojiiki to Nihon shoki no kenkyō banned. Imperial Rule Assistance Association.
Prohibition extended on Feb 12 to three of his
works (see *History (Modern) Research).

278
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Nov 16: Memorandum April 24: Status of Jingū
regarding how to handle the Kōgakkan raised to that of
social status of the leaders of university (see *Kōgakkan
Shintō and Buddhist sects and University). (Chokurei)
administrators of other religious
groups (Kanchō oyobi kyōdan
tōrisha mibun toriatsukaikata
no ken) issued. (Kunai daijin
tsūchō kuhatsu)
1941 Shōwa 16 -.-: This year, Shintō, Buddhist,
and Christian religious groups
respectively are consolidated
into 13 sectarian Shinto (kyōha
Shintō) groups, 28 Buddhist
sects, and 2 Christian
organizations.

1942 Shōwa 17 Nov 1: Organizational structure Jan 4: Katori and Kashima

of Ministry of Education shrines—located in Ibaraki
revamped (Religious Affairs Prefecture, both belong to the
Bureau abolished; Bureau of category of shrines ranked to
Moral Suasion ([Kyōkakyoku) receive imperial offerings (kanpei
created, incorporating a taisha)—designated shrines for
Religious Affairs Section). the holding of "emperor-
(Chokurei) mandated rites" (*Chokusai; see
also *Modern shrine ranking
system).
April 2: Shintō, Buddhist, and
Christian, and Muslim groups
form Religious Federation for
Asian Prosperity (Kō-A Shūkyō
Dōmei). (Kindai Nihon sōgō
nenpyō)
1943 Shōwa 18 Nov 1: Organizational structure
of Ministry of Education
revamped (Bureau of Moral
Suasion [Kyōkakyoku]
abolished; Indoctrination
Bureau [Kyōgakukyoku]
created, incorporating a
Religious Affairs Section).
(Chokurei)
1944 Shōwa 19 Jan 27: Committee on Religious Jan 17: Aida Hide founds Sekai
Moral Suasion Policy (Shūkyō Shindōkai (see *Sekai
kyōka hōsaku iinkai) created. Shindōkyō). (Group documents)
(Chokurei).

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 Personalities/Texts Society

Nov 8: *Ōkanmichi founder Yamada March 10: Peace Preservation Law revised.
Umejirō dies (age 66). (Shūkyō rinri to
nengen hyō)

Dec 8: Imperial proclamation issued

declaring war on the U.S and the U.K. Japan
attacks Pearl Harbor. U.S. and U.K. declare
war following the attack.

June 20: Sōka Gakkai suppressed (Makiguchi

Tsunesaburō, Toda Jōsei, and other leaders
arrested). (Nihon Kindai sōgō nenpyō)

March 7: *Makoto no Michikyō founder June 26: Seventh Day Adventist Church
Matsumoto Jōtarō dies (age 62). (Shinshūkyō dissolved.
jiten)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Aug 28: Home Minister Ōdachi
Shigeo issues directive for all
Shinto priests to pray for the
destruction of the enemy (the
Dai-Nihon Jingikai [see
*Modern and Contemporary
Shinto] instructs priests to pray
throughout the night to
daybreak). (Kindai Nihon sōgō
nenpyō)

1945 Shōwa 20 May 12: Imperial rescript Aug 12: Kitamura Sayo founds
issued calling for festivals to be *Tenshō Kōtaijinkyō in Tabuse
held at shrines of all ranks Town, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
including imperial and national (Seisho dai-1 kan)
shrines (kanpeisha and
kokuheisha; see *Modern
shrine ranking system) so that
prayers may be offered for
victory in the war. (Chokurei)
Oct 4: The General Sep 19: Heads of Shintō and
Headquarters (GHQ) of the Buddhist sects and administrators
Supreme Commander of the of other religious groups convene
Allied Powers (SCAP) issues to approve the "Outline for the
directive removing restrictions Practice of Religious Edification
on political, civil, and religious for the Reconstruction of Japan"
liberties. (Nihon saiken shūkyō kyōka
jissen yōkō). (Shūsenchokugo
shūkyō kankei nenpyō)
Oct 8: John Carter Vincent— Nov 22: Foreign Ministry
director of the State proclamation abolishes imperial-
Department's Office of Far ranked Kwantung (in Dalian,
Eastern Affairs and chairman of China) and Nan’yō (in Palau)
State-War-Navy Coordinating shrines. Home Affairs Ministry
Committee—declares in a proclamation abolishes 16
Washington radio broadcast shrines, including imperial-
that *State Shintō would be ranked Karafuto Shrine in
abolished. (Shūsenchokugo Sakhalin (see also *Modern and
shūkyō kankei nenpyō) contemporary Shintō).
(Gaimushō kokuji dai 11 gō;
Naimushō kokuji 264 gō)
Oct 15: Peace Presevation Law
and other ordinances repealed
by imperial rescript. (Chokurei)
Oct 15: Ministry of Education
abolishes Indoctrination Bureau
(Kyōgakukyoku), and creates
Religious Affairs Section
(Shūkyōka) created in the Social

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 Personalities/Texts Society
Sept 11: *Imaizumi Sadasuke dies (age 82). Sept 30: The Great Japan Wartime Religious
Patriotic Association (Dainippon senji shūkyō
hōkokukai) founded by approximately
300,000 Shintō, Buddhist, and Christian
clergy. (Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō)

-.-: *Yamamoto Nobuki dies (age 72).

Sep 25: *Saeki Ariyoshi dies (age 79). Aug 6: Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Another is dropped Aug. 9 on Nagasaki.

Aug 15: Emperor’s speech broadcast at noon

that brings the Pacific War to an end
(Gyokuon hōsō, literally, "the broadcast of
the jewel voice").

282
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Education Bureau (Shakai
kyōiku kyoku). (Chokurei)
Nov 17: Institute of Divinities
(*Jingiin) representative
declares at final meeting of the
Shrine System Investigation
Committee (Jinja seido chōsa
kai) the intent to treat "shrines
as religion" (see also *Modern
and Contemporary Shintō and
*Problems of religion and
government). (Shūsenchokugo
shūkyō kankei nenpyō)
Nov 28: SCAP creates
Religions Division in its Civil
Information and Education
Section. (Shūsenchokugo
shūkyō kankei nenpyō)
Dec 25: SCAP issues its Shinto
Directive (*Shintō shirei).
Dec 28: An imperial rescript
revokes the *Religious
Organizations Law, the
enforcement order for said law,
the law on registering religious
organizations, and an imperial
rescript (Chokurei 460-gō) of
July 1940 exempting shrines
from land taxes. (Chokurei)
Same date: *Religious
Corporations Ordinance
(Shūkyō hōjin rei) promulgated
and implementing regulations
enacted. (Chokurei; Shihō
Monbushō rei)
1946 Shōwa 21 Jan 31: Imperial rescript issued Jan 23: Institute for the Study of
on restructuring Ministry of the Imperial Classics (Kōten
Home Affairs, abolishing Kōkyūsho) and two other
Institute of Divinities (*Jingiin) organizations dissolved (Shūmu
and the Shrine System jihō). (See *Modern and
Investigation Committee (Jinja Contemporary Shintō, *Jinja
seido chōsa kai; see also Honchō, and also *Kokugakuin
*Modern and Contemporary University)
Shintō). (Chokurei)
Feb 2: Amendment to the Feb 3: Association of Shinto
*Religious Corporations Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) founded
Ordinance promulgated; shrines as religious corporation.
to now be treated the same as (Shūsenchokugo shūkyō kankei
other religious corporations. nenpyō)

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March 4: *Tanaka Yoshitō dies (age 75). Jan 1: The emperor delivers his "Declaration
of Humanity" (Ningen sengen) and renounces
his divinity in his New Year’s address.

-.-: *Yanagita Kunio publishes Shin- Jan 4: SCAP issues decree barring militarists
kokugaku dan and Saijitsu kō. from the civil service and dissolving 27
ultranationalist groups.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Feb 2: Institute of Divinities Feb 7: *Ōmoto revived as
(*Jingiin) abolished. Aizen‘en (Garden of Righteous
Love). (Kindai Nihon sōgō
nenpyō)
March 11: Religious Affairs March -: Sakuma Nikkō
Section created in the Ministry establishes *Hi no Oshie
of Education’s Social (registered as religious
Education Bureau. (Kanpō) organization in 1952).
March 30: Religious Affairs May 3: Fujita Nobuhiko leaves
Section removed from Social *Shinrikyō to found *Seikōkyō.
Education Bureau, placed in
Ministry of Education’s
Secretariat. (Shūkyō nenkan
[Religious yearbook])
June 2: Shintō Kyōha Rengōkai
(Federation of Shintō Sects)
inaugurated (see *Kyōha Shintō
Rengōkai). (Shūkyō nenkan
[Religious yearbook])
Aug 27: Miki Tokuharu
establishes *Perfect Liberty
Kyōdan.

Nov 6: SCAP again prohibits the

practice of assessing people for
the cost of conducting shrine
festivals (see also *Problems of
religion and government).
(Shūsenchokugo shūkyō kankei
nenpyō)
Nov 30: *Tenchikyō becomes an
independent group registered
under the *Religious
Corporations Ordinance.
Nov -: *Jinja Honchō
(Association of Shinto Shrines)
establishes a "Department of
Doctrine" (Kyōkaka).
-.-: Hashimoto Satomi persuades
Tokumitsu Daikyōkai to break
away from *Shintō Taikyō, thus
establishing Shintō Tokumitsu
Kyōkai (see *Tokumitsukyō).
(Shūkyō nenkan)
-.-: Hozumi Kenkō breaks away
from *Jikkōkyō and establishes

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Jan 23: Declaration issued on the
establishment of *Jinja Honchō (Association
of Shinto Shrines).

May 3: International Military Tribunal for the

Far East (the Tokyo Trials) holds first
sessions. Final verdicts issued November 12,
1948.
Oct 8: Ministry of Education issues
notification halting the ceremonial reading of
the Imperial Rescript on Education in schools
(rescript itself rescinded on October 12,
1948).

Oct 21: Law for the Special Establishment of

Independent Cultivators promulgated (so-
called second agrarian land reform). (Hōritsu
43-gō)

Nov 16: Prohibition of soliciting sponsorship

and support of Shintō by town assemblies
and neighborhood associations (chōnaikai,
tonarigumi, etc.). (Supreme Commander for
the Allied Powers, "Memorandum to the
Imperial Japanese Government"; Hatsu shū
58-gō, Naimu-Monbu jikan tsūchō)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
*Yamatokyō.
-.-: Fujita Motonari establishes
Jinrui Fukushikyō (renamed
*Seishin Myōjōkai in 1956).
1947 Shōwa 22 June 3: Ministry of Education Jan 11: Kitamura Sayo registers
issues notice banning bowing to *Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō as a
the imperial palace, shouting religious corporation. (Seisho dai-
"Tennō heika banzai!" ("Ten 1-kan)
thousand years for the
emperor!"), and other forms of
expression deifying the
emperor at schools.
Oct 26: Revised penal code July 20: Rikihisa Tatsusai founds
promulgated (repeal of lèse- Tenchi Kōdō Zenrinkai (see
majesté offense). *Zenrinkyō). (Itsukushimi)
Nov 26: Agriculture Ministry -.-: Okamoto Tenmei founds
issues notice to prefectural *Hikari Kyōkai.
governors regarding the
purchase of farmland owned by
shrines, temples, churches, and
other religious institutions.
(Nōsei 2470-gō Chiji-ate nōrin
jikan tsūtatsu)
Dec 1: Notice sent to
prefectural governors ordering
them to be thorough in
implementing the Shinto
Directive.
Dec 31: Ministry of Home
Affairs (Naimushō) abolished.
-.-: Ordinance on Imperial
Household Rites and
Ceremonies (Kōshitsu saishi
rei) repealed.
1948 Shōwa 23 Feb 14: Notification sent to July -: Keishin Fujinkai (renamed
prefectural governors regarding Zenkoku Keishin Fujin Rengōkai,
violations of the Shinto National Shinto Women’s
Directive (Chishū 15-gō Association, in 1949) founded.
Shūmukachō tsūchō).
July 20: Public Holiday Law -.-: Kokugakuin High School
(Kokumin no shukujitsu ni opens (Shūkyō kyōiku shiryō shū)
kansuru hōritsu) promulgated, (see *Kokugakuin University).
eliminating holidays SCAP
views as having their origin and
significance in State Shintō (see
also *Meiji Kokka Saishi: State
Rites of the Meiji Period).
-.-: Education system reforms
result in the merger of Tenri

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Nov 12: *Soshindō founder Matsushita May 3: Constitution of Japan goes into force.
Matsuzō dies (age 69). (Hito no michi)

Dec 22: Revised Civil Code goes into force.

Jan 19: *Deguchi Onisaburō dies (age 78).

Sept 8: Kitamura Sayo of *Tenshō Kōtai

Jingūkyō and her followers perform the
"dance of no-self" (muga no mai) at
Sukiyabashi in central Tokyo. (Seisho dai-1-
kan)

-.-: Ishikawa Sen founds *Hachidai Ryūō

Daishizen Aishinkyōdan.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Middle School and Tenri Girls
High School to create Tenri High
School (see also *Tenrikyō).
(Shūkyō kyōiku shiryō-shū)
-.-: Konkō Middle School
becomes Konkō High School
owing to the introduction of the
new school system (see also
*Konkōkyō). (Shūkyō kyōiku
shiryō shū)
1949 Shōwa 24 June -: National Shintō Youth
Council (Shintō seinen zenkoku
kyōgikai) established.
July 14: Orimo Nami establishes
*Daihizenkyō.
July 16: Nagata Fuku breaks
away from *Ontakekyō to found
*Mitamakyō.
-.-: Demura Ryūsei establishes
Hakkōkai (see *Hachidai Ryūōjin
Hakkō Seidan). (Group
documents)
-.-: Masai Yoshimitsu establishes
Shintō Senpōkyō (see *Koshintō
Senpōkyō).
-.-: Nakano Yonosuke establishes
*Ananaikyō.
-.-: Tenri University opens (see
also *Tenrikyō). (Shūkyō kyōiku
shiryōshū)
-.-: Keishin Fujinkai changes its
name to Zenkoku Keishin Fujin
Rengōkai (National Federation of
Women's Godliness).
1950 Shōwa 25 Oct 17: Education Minister Jan 2: Kurata Chikyū establishes
Amano issues notice *Shinsei Tengan Manaita no Kai.
recommending that school (Group documents)
students hoist national flag and
sing "Kimigayo," Japan's
national anthem, in unison at
national holiday events. (Kindai
Nihon sōgō nenpyō
[Comprehensive chronology of
modern Japan])
Feb 4: Nippon Kannon Kyōdan
and Nippon Miroku Kyōkai
reorganized to form Church of
World Messianity (*Sekai
Kyūseikyō). (Kyūsei no hikari)

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May -: *Miyaji Naokazu dies (age 64).

Aug. 26: Shoup Report (report of mission led

by Prof. Carl Shoup recommending tax
reforms aimed at stabilizing the Japanese
economy).

Dec -: Education Ministry’s Religious Affairs May 29: Church of World Messianity (*Sekai
Section publishes first Religious Yearbook. Kyūseikyō) founder Mokichi Okada charged
(Shūkyō nenkan [Religious yearbook]) on suspicion of bribery and tax evasion. He is
apprehended after search.

June 4: Many candidates affiliated with

religious groups stand for Lower House
election . Two *Tenrikyō members are
elected. (Shūkyō nenkan [Religious
yearbook])

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

1951 Shōwa 26 April 3: *Religious Oct 17: Miki Tokuharu of the

Corporations Law promulgated Church of Perfect Liberty
(*Religious Corporations (*Perfect Liberty Kyōdan) is
Ordinance abolished). Law appointed first superintendent of
passed March 30, promulgated the Federation of New Religious
April 3, goes into force April 4. Organizations of Japan
(Hōritsu 126-gō) (Shinshūren, see *Shin Nihon
Shūkyō Dantai Rengōkai).
(Shūkyōkan no kyōchō to kattō)
Nov 1: Goi Sensei Sangōkai
founded (becomes a religious
corporation named *Byakkō
Shinkōkai in 1955).
1952 Shōwa 27 Jan 28: Religious Corporations April 16: Izumo Kitajima Kyōkai
Council (15 members) secedes from *Shintō Taikyō and
appointed (1st meeting). becomes a religious corportation
(Monshū 6-gō) named *Izumokyō. (Group
documents)
Aug 1: Ministry of Education’s July 31: Emperor and empress
Religious Affairs Section make first postwar visit to Meiji
transferred to Research Bureau. Shrine.
Aug 30: Ministry of Education Oct 16: Emperor and empress
Organization Ordinance make first postwar visit to
promulgated (establishes a Yasukuni Shrine.
Religious Affairs Section in the
Culture Department).
1953 Shōwa 28 March -: Tenshō Kyōkai, founded
by Senba Hideo and wife Kimiko,
is certified as religious
corporation (renamed
*Tenshōkyō in 1971).
Sept. -: Inai Sadao establishes
*Ōyamanezu no Mikoto Shinji
Kyōkai.
Oct 2: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
Oct 5: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt
and reconsecrated.
1954 Shōwa 29 June -: Religious Affairs Feb 11: Number of shrines that
Section conducts survey of celebrate Empire Day (see

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July 24: The "Red Purge" begins (anti-
communist movement gains traction).
Aug 10: National Police Reserve Ordinance
promulgated. (Potsdam Ordinances)
-.-: Korean War begins; Japanese economy
booms due to wartime demand.
-.-: Corporate tax revised (religious
organizations now taxed on earnings
generated from profit-earning businesses).
Aug 19: *Shūkyō Hōjin Shikō Gakuen Aug -: Federation of New Religious
founder Kawakami Seizan dies (age 43). Organizations of Japan (Shinshūren, see
(Kami no nikutai taru Shikō Gakuen *Shin Nihon Shūkyō Dantai Rengōkai)
Kentaikyō no kyogi) inaugurated (member organizations include
*PL Kyōdan, Risshō Kōsei-kai, *Seichō no
Ie, and Ishin-kai).

Sep 8: Treaty of Peace with Japan and Japan-

U.S. Security Treaty signed (both issued
April 28, 1952).

Feb 15: *Shindō Tenkōkyo founder

Tomokiyo Yoshisane dies (age 65). (Group
documents)

Sept 3: *Orikuchi Shinobu dies (age 67). Dec 24: Japan-U.S. sign agreement on
reversion of Amami Islands.

March 18: *Hi no Oshie founder Sakuma Jan 2: Approx. 380,000 people visit Imperial
Nikkō dies (age 70). (Nikkō sensei) Palace to offer New Year’s congratulations.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
conditions at shrine buildings *Kigensetsu)—including
and grounds (*Keidaichi). Kashihara Shrine, Ise Shrine, and
Tsurugaoka Hachimangū
Shrine—increased following
directive from Association of
Shinto Shrines (*Jinja Honchō).
(Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō
[Comprehensive chronology of
modern Japan])
July 16: Shinto shrine located on
grounds of Self-Defense Force
base in Shibata City demolished
due to unconstitutionality (see
*Problems of Religion and
Government). (Shūkyō nenkan
[Religious yearbook])
1955 Shōwa 30 April 9: Opening ceremony for
Jingū Kōgakkan University (later
becomes *Jingū kenshūsho).
June.-: Fuji Sengen Shrine
expresses opposition to bill that
would nationalize the peak of Mt.
Fuji, claiming it is under the
shrine’s jurisdiction. Petitions the
Ministry of Finance, and the work
on the bill resumes from scratch.
(Shūkyō nenkan [Religious
yearbook])
-.-: Kokugakuin University's
Institute of Japanese Culture and
Classics established.
1956 Shōwa 31 Feb -: Hase Yoshio founds Reiha
no Hikari Sangyōkai (see *Reiha
no Hikari Kyōkai). (Miyo)

July.-: Maki Kinosuke founds

*Kyūseishukyō. (Kyūsei)
-.-: The Association of Shinto
Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) releases
"Keishin seikatsu no kōryō"
(Principles of a life of reverence
for the kami) as a 10th year
anniversary proclamation.
(Shūmu jihō)
1957 Shōwa 32 Jan 17: Chief priest (*Gūji) of
Gokoku Shrine in Saga Prefecture

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Sixteen die due to havoc on Nijūbashi
Bridge.

June 9: Defense Agency Establishment Law

and Self-Defense Forces Law promulgated.
(Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō [Comprehensive
chronology of modern Japan])

Feb 10: Church of World Messianity (*Sekai -.-: The "Jinmu" economic boom in full
Kyūseikyō) founder Okada Mokichi dies (age swing this year (first postwar economic
72). (Kyūsei no hikari) upturn, lasts through approx. 1957).

Jan 1: Crowds stampede during rice cake

preparations for people on their New Year’s
visit (hatsumairi, see *Hatsumōde) to Yahiko
Shrine in Niigata Prefecture. Havoc leaves
124 dead, 8 seriously injured, and 86 with
light injuries. (Shūkyō nenkan [Religious
yearbook])
Dec 18: United Nations General Assembly
approves Japan joining the U.N.

Sept 25: *Shinri Jikkō no Oshie founder Jan 8: General assembly held by Buddhist
Honjō Chiyoko dies (age 55). (Shinshūkyō and Shintō priests to establish the "Temple

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Yonemitsu Haruichi departs as
the first Shintō envoy to Brazil.
(Shūkyō nenkan [Religious
yearbook])

1958 Shōwa 33

1959 Shōwa 34 Jan 30: Liberal Democratic

Party creates a special
committee on religious issues to
study Ise Shrine becoming a
non-religious organization and
state guardianship of Yasukuni
Shrine. (Kindai Nihon sōgō
nenpyō [Comprehensive
chronology of modern Japan])

1960 Shōwa 35 -.-: Religious Affairs Section Oct 22: Prime Minister Ikeda
carries out survey on the Hayato states that the imperial
overseas proselytization household owns Ise Shrine's
activities of religious groups. object of worship (*Shintai), the
Yata no kagami ("eight-span
mirror," see *Sanshu no shinki)
(Nov 11: protests held on grounds
that Ikeda’s statement seen as
acknowledging a national role for
Ise Shrine, prompted by the
secular status of the postwar
imperial institution and the role
of the mirror in imperial
accession rites) (see also
*Problems of Religion and
Government).

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 Personalities/Texts Society
jiten) and Shrine Credit Union" (Shaji shin’yō
kumiai), the first such organization in the
country. (Shūkyō nenkan [Religious
yearbook])
-.-: Lingering deflation this year (from the
latter half of this year through the first half of
1958).
Feb 7: *Shinreikai Kyōdan founder Ishii May 16: Television reception contracts pass
Reizan dies (age 73). the 1 million mark. (Kindai Nihon sōgō
nenpyō [Comprehensive chronology of
modern Japan])
Nov 20: *Yamada Yoshio dies (age 85).
Nov 29: *Honmichi founder Aijirō Ōnishi
dies (age 77). (Shinshūren yōran)
-.-: Donald L. Philippi produces Norito: A April 10: Wedding parade of the crown
Translation of the Ancient Japanese Ritual prince is carried live on television.
Prayers (see also *Norito). Viewership estimated at 15 million.

Aug 1: Nissan Motor releases the Datsun

Blue Bird; beginning the age of private car
ownership.
-.-: The "Iwato" economic boom begins this
year, lasting 42 months.
July 25: *Nikkōkyō founder Teraguchi Jan 19: Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and
Kōjirō dies (age 79). (Shinshūkyō shinbun) Security between the United States and Japan
(new security treaty) and other accords are
signed in Washington, D.C.

March 24: The National Council of Churches

13th general assembly passes a resolution
opposing Yasukuni Shrine's coming under
state guardianship and submits petition to the
Diet on the matter.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations

1961 Shōwa 36 -.-: Religious Affairs Section

carries out a study on religion-
related associations and
research centers.

1962 Shōwa 37 March 27: Nagoya District Court

rules against recognizing the peak
of Mt. Fuji as nationalized
property. Decision issued making
Fuji Sengen Shrine its owner
(dissatisfied with the ruling, the
government files an appeal on
April 5). (Shūkyō nenkan
[Religious yearbook])
-.-: The private *Kogakkan
University is founded.

1963 Shōwa 38 June 5-6: National Hachiman

Shrine Association’s 10th
anniversary general assembly is
held at Iwashimizu Hachiman
Shrine (see also *Hachiman
shinkō). (Shūkyō nenkan
[Religious yearbook])
June 15: The Gion Festival
Yamaboko Federation of Kyoto
decides to revive the procession
of decorated floats (*Yamaboko)
in the Gion Festival. (Shūkyō
nenkan [Religious yearbook])
-.-: National Council of *Ujiko
Youth (Zenkoku ujiko seinen
kyōgikai) founded.
-.-: *Kōgakkan High School
opens. (Shūkyō kyōiku shiriyōshū)

1964 Shōwa 39 April 2: Announcement made that

the 60th rebuilding and
reconsecration of Ise Shrine

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 Personalities/Texts Society
Dec 27: Cabinet approves the National
Income Doubling Plan (beginning of the
high-speed economic growth policy).
Feb 27: *Kakei Katsuhiko dies (age 88). March 10: The Association of Shinto Shrines
(*Jinja Honchō) launches petitition drive to
recriminalize lèse-majesté offenses. Seichō
no Ie and other groups participate.
(Shinshūkyō kenkyūchōsa handobukku)
April 3: Founder of *Hachidai Ryūō
Daishizen Aishinkyōdan, Ishikawa Sen dies
(age 75). (Group documents)
Oct 6: *Kyūseishukyō founder Maki
Kinosuke dies (age 67). (Kyūsei no hikari)
Jan -: Publication begins of Teihon Yanagita March 1: Television signal reception
Kunio shū [Collected works of *Yanagita liceneses pass the 10 million mark
Kunio] (publication of all 36 volumes (household penetration rate of 48.5%).
completed in June 1971). (Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō [Comprehensive
chronology of modern Japan])

Aug 8: *Yanagita Kunio dies (age 88).

Aug 17: *Ten'onkyo founder Hachiro Fukuji

dies (age 63). (Shinshūkyō shinbun)
Jan 8: *Kōno Seizō dies (age 82). May 31: Diet Lower House Committee on
Education asks the Ministry of Education to
explain its stance on the use of Meiji Jingū
Stadium for professional baseball games
(start of "the Jingu Stadium baseball issue").
(Shūkyō nenkan [Religious yearbook])

April 7: *Hikari Kyōkai founder Okamoto

Tenmei dies (age 65). (Shishi tsūshin)

Nov 3: *Ishinkyō founder Hashiguchi Reizui

dies (age 84). (Kannagara)

Nov -: Kokusho sōmoku roku published (8

volumes and appendix; completed Dec 1976)
(see also *An Overview of Shintō Texts and of
Trends in Research).
Oct 1: Japan National Railway begins
operation of new Tōkaidō bullet train line
(shinkansen).

298
Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
(*Shikinensengu) slated for 1973
will be held independent of
government agencies. (Jinja
shinpō)

1965 Shōwa 40 Feb 9: The research office of the

*Shin Nihon Shūkyō Dantai
Rengōkai holds emergency
plenary session due to issue of the
government’s proposed revision
of national holidays (adding of
National Foundation Day to the
holiday calendar). (Shūmu jihō)
March 1: Number of households
to receive Ise Shrine amulets
(*Jingū taima) reaches 6,699,964,
the largest figure up to that time
in the history of the practice. The
number has since grown larger.
(Jinja shinpō)

Sept 2: On the occasion of a

special festival held to mark the
20th anniversary of the end of
World War II, the emperor makes
an offering of hemp and paper
streamers (*Hōbei) at Gokoku
Shrine (see also *Gokoku jinja).
(Jinja shinpō)

Oct 19: The emperor and empress

attend Yasukuni Shrine's special
festival commemorating the 20th
anniversary of the end of World
War II. Oct. 20: The Nippon
Izokukai (Japan war-bereaved
families association) holds at the
same shrine the first memorial
service for soldiers who died in
battle. (Jinja shinpō).

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 Personalities/Texts Society

Oct 10-24: 18th Olympic Games are held in

Tokyo.
-.-: Tochigi Prefecture decides it will cut
down a massive old cedar tree known as
"Tarō-sugi" on the outskirts of Nikkō
Tōshōgū to facilitate a national highway
expansion project. The shrine appeals the
decision in Utsunomi District Court (see also
*Nikkōsan shinkō). (Jinja shinpō)
Apr 23: *Tenshūkyō founder Unagami Feb 1: Japan Congress Against Atomic and
Haruho dies (age 78). (Shūkyō nenkan Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuibaku kinshi Nihon
[Religious yearbook]) kokumin kaigi, commonly known as
Gensuikin) founded.

May 8: *Katō Genchi dies (age 92). Feb 3: Prime Minister Eisaku Satō declares
conviction at a National Governors’
Association meeting that National
Foundation Day is suitable for Feb 11. He
also says he will submit an amendment to the
National Holidays Law in government
legislation to the Diet (see also the entry for
Dec. 8, 1966). (Kindai Nihon sōgō nenpyō)
-.-: *Kōso Kōtai Jingū Amatsukyō founder March 4: The Japan Association of Religious
Takeuchi Kiyomaro dies. Organizations (Nihon shūkyō renmei) issues
statement that a study by the Lower House
Special Committee on Promoting Physical
Education on the use of the Meiji Shrine’s
Jingū Stadium for professional baseball
would violate the principle of the separation
of church and state (known as the Jingū kyūjo
mondai, or "the Jingū Stadium problem").
(Chugai nippō)
Sep 12-15: International Conference on
Shintō held in the U.S. at the Claremont
Colleges. (Shūkyō nenkan [Religious
yearbook])

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1966 Shōwa 41 May 1: The Religious Affairs Oct 17: Another 19,000 "spirits
Section is moved to the of the war dead" (mitama) are
Ministry of Education’s Arts enshrined at Yasukuni Shrine's
and Culture Division after the annual autumn festival. (Shūmu
ministry’s Research Bureau is jihō)
disbanded, (Revision of
Ministry of Education
Establishment Law, Revision of
Ministry of Education
Organization Order).
Dec 8: National Foundation Nov 27: *Tenrikyō declares it is "
Day Advisory Council declares not a Shintō sect." (Shūmu jihō)
in a report that National
Foundation Day will be on Feb
11. Dec. 9: Report officially
released (see also the entry for
Feb. 3, 1965).
Dec 10: Ōmiwa Shrine,
previously unaffiliated with any
umbrella organization, joins the
Association of Shintō Shrines
(*Jinja Honchō). (Shūmu jihō)
1967 Shōwa 42 Oct 31: Two thousand Maritime
Self-Defense Force personnel
visit Ise Shrine as a group.
Develops into problem as a
violation of the Constitution (see
*Problems of religion and
government). (Kindai Nihon sōgō
nenpyō [Comprehensive
chronology of modern Japan])

1968 Shōwa 43 June 15: The Ministry of -.-: Hosoya Seiko starts spreading
Education’s Cultural Bureau is *Izumo Shin'yū Kyōkai. (Group
disbanded, and a Religious documents)
Affairs Division Section is
established in the Arts and
Culture Division of the Agency
for Cultural Affairs. (Monbushō
setchihō kaisei, Monbushō
soshikirei kaisei).

1969 Shōwa 44 Oct 19-22: Centennial

anniversary celebration of
Yasukuni Shrine's founding. On
Oct. 20, the emperor and empress
visit the shrine. (Shūmu jihō)

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Jan 6: *Tenkōkyō founder Fujita Shinshō -.-: The "Izanagi" economic boom (a 69-
dies (age 58). (Shinshūkyō jiten) month period of financial prosperity) begins
this year.

Aug 7: *Daihizenkyō founder Orimo Nami -.-: Birth rate declines for the year because it
dies (age 72). (Group documents) is a Hinoeuma year (43rd year of the
sexagenary cycle, in which undesirable "fiery
horse [hinoeuma] women" are born).

Nov 18: *Shōroku Shintō Yamatoyama

founder Tazawa Seishirō dies (age 82).

Oct 14: Second leader of *Tenrikyō [the

second shinbashira] Nakayama Shōzen dies
(age 62). (Tenrikyō jiten)

Dec 28: Kitamura Sayo (see *Tenshō Kōtai

Jingūkyō) dies (age 67).
Dec 11: *Tenshindō Kyōdan founder Tamura Nov 16-18: Colloquium on the teaching of
Reishō dies (age 78). (Group documents) mythology held at Shinto Studies Conference
to Mark the Centennial Anniversary of the
Meiji Restoration (Meiji ishin 100-nen kinen
Shintō gakujutsu taikai). (Shūmu jihō)

-.-: Donald L. Philippi translates *Kojiki -.-: This year, university strife intensifies
[Record of ancient matters] into English. across Japan.
Jan. 9: *Honbushin founder Ōnishi Tama June 30: The Liberal Democratic Party
dies (age 51). (Group documents) submits the Yasukuni Shrine Bill in the 61st
regular Diet session following a proposal
from party Diet members. The bill is left
undeliberated.

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
Nov 8: The Association of Shintō
Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) launches
the Shinto Political League
(Shintō seiji renmei). (Shūmu
jihō)
1970 Shōwa 45 Apr 14: Yasukuni Shrine Bill -.-: Koyama Mihoko leaves
submitted by Liberal Church of World Messianity
Democratic Party (*Sekai Kyūseikyō) to found
representatives to special *Shinji Shūmeikai.
session of the 63rd Diet. May
13: Bill rejected after going
undeliberated. (Shūmu jihō)

1971 Shōwa 46 May 22: In the name of the Feb 15: Association of Shintō
Chief Cabinet Secretary, the Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) orders
Ministry of Construction subsidiary offices in each
notifies regional construction prefecture to conduct survey
bureaus under its jurisdiction regarding the preservation of
that they are to no longer shrine forests. (Shūmu jihō)
conduct Shintō-style ground
purification ceremonies
(*Jichinsai). (Shūmu jihō)
May 24: Yasuki Shrine Bill Aug 4: First national Shintō
rejected. (Shūmu jihō) research conference (Shintō kōen
kenkyū zenkoku taikai) held at
Association of Shintō Shrines
(*Jinja Honchō). (Shūmu jihō)
1972 Shōwa 47 Jul 29: Association of Shintō
Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) creates
"one-day Jinja Honchō" (ichi-
nichi Jinja Honchō) at five
locations throughout Japan,
beginning with Imizu Shrine in
Takaoka City, Toyama
Prefecture. (Shūmu jihō)

1973 Shōwa 48 Jan 22: The Association of Shintō

Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) sends
notice to all subsidiary offices

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Jan 9: *Koshintō Senpōkyō founder Masai May 20: Decision made to restore content
Yoshimitsu dies (age 62). (Jingi daidō) regarding Japanese myths to new primary
school social studies textbooks beginning in
the 1971-72 school year.

July 24: *Kannagarakyō founder Mizuno June 23: Japan-U.S. Security Treaty
Fusa dies (age 87). (Shinshukyō shinbun) automatically extended (the treaty [Anpō
jōyaku] and opposition to its renewal had
been a primary focus of university campus
unrest in preceding years).
May 14: Nagoya High Court rules it
unconstitutional for the Tsu City gymnasium
to expend public funds for a Shintō-style
ground purification ceremony. (*Jichinsai)

June 17: Okinawa Reversion Treaty signed

(U.S. returns Okinawa to Japanese
sovereignty).

May 18: *Shinreikyō founder Ōtsuka Sep 29: Japan and People's Republic of China
Kan'ichi dies (age 81). (Group documents) normalize diplomatic relations.

July -: First Tanaka Kakuei Cabinet formed.

Real estate boom occurs thanks to Tanaka's
book, Nihon rettō kaizō ron (Plan for
remodeling the Japanese archipalago). As a
result, land prices will have jumped 30.9% on
average by the following April compared to
the year before.
May 24: *Sekai Shindōkyō founder Aida Oct 23: First oil crisis begins (the Arab Oil
Hide dies (age 74). (Group documents) Embargo).

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
encouraging the planting of trees
at shrines throughout the country
in conjunction with the national
tree-planting festival (shokujusai;
held every spring). (Shūmu jihō)
May 19: The Association of
Shintō Shrines (*Jinja Honchō)
sends notice to all subsidiary
offices restricting corporations
from the for-profit use of shrines,
amulets, and the like. (Shūmu
jihō)
Oct 2: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and
reconsecrated (*Shikinensengū).
Oct 5: Ise Outer Shrine rebuilt
and reconsecrated.
-.-: *Kōgakkan University
establishes a Shintō Institute.
1974 Shōwa 49 Jan-: Iwasaki Shōō founds Nihon
Seidō Kyōdan. (Group
documents)

-.-: Yamato Shōfū Juku

reorganized to become Yamato
Shōfū Juku Senior High School
(see also *Shōroku Shintō
Yamatoyama). (Shūkyō kyōiku
shiriyoshū)

1975 Shōwa 50

1976 Shōwa 51 Nov 10: Tokyo residents gather

to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of Emperor Hirohito's accession.
Many religious organizations also
attend the ceremonies, and other
festivities also take place. (Shūmu
jihō)

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April 25: *Tamamitsu Jinja founder May 25: House of Representatives plenary
Motoyama Kinue dies (age 65). (Shinshukyō session independently passes Yasukuni
shinbun) Shrine Bill thanks to Liberal Democratic
Party support. Bill subsequently rejected in
the House of Councilors.
June 23: World Divine Light Organization -.-: This year Uri Geller's spoon bending and
(*Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyōdan) founder the film "The Exorcist" arouse public interest.
Okada Kōtama dies (age 73). (Group Goto Ben 's book Nosutoradamusu no
documents) daiyogen (Prophecies of Nostradamus)
becomes a bestseller. Fad for natural health
foods.
June 24: *Ananaikyō founder Nakano -.-: Japan’s economy contracts by 0.5% this
Yonosuke dies (age 86). (Group documents) year, entering its first recession of the
postwar period. Index of wholesale prices
rises to 31.3%. Consumer price index at
4.5%, putting it into a vicious inflationary
wage-price spiral.
March 10: Bullet train route opens between
Okayama and Hakata.
Aug 15: Prime Minister Miki Takeo, on the
anniversary of the end of World War II,
makes first visit by an incumbent premier to
Yasukuni Shrine since the war's cessation
(Miki made his visit as a private citizen).

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1977 Shōwa 52 Oct 27: Association of Shinto
Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) offices
damaged by bomb set by New
Left radicals. (Shūmu jihō)
1978 Shōwa 53 June -: Okada Keishu founds
*Sūkyō Mahikari (also builds
sect's world headquarters).
(Gendai no kokoro: Sūkyō
Mahikari)
Oct 17: Fourteen Class A war
criminals are enshrined together
at Yasukuni Shrine, including
Tōjō Hideki (wartime prime
minister) and Hirota Kōki
(prewar prime minister).
1979 Shōwa 54 Jun 12: Era Name Act
promulgated. (Hōritsu 43-gō)

1980 Shōwa 55 Dec 26: Kuroda Minoru founds

Kōlin (literally "halo", the name
is changed to *Subikari Kōha
Sekai Shindan in 1984). (Group
documents)
1981 Shōwa 56 April 22: A group of
parliamentarians called Minna de
Yasukuni jinja ni sanpai suru
Kokkai giin no kai ("The society
of Diet members who visit
Yasukuni Shrine together") visits
Yasukuni Shrine (see also
*Problems of Religion and
Government). (Kirisuto-kyō
nenkan [Christian yearbook])
-.-: *Kōgakkan University

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Sep 29: *Zenrinkyō's founder Rikihisa July 13: Supreme Court rules on the Tsu
Tatsusai dies (age 70). (Group documents) ground-purification rites (*Jichinsai) lawsuit,
judging it constitutional.

Sep 5: Japan Buddhist Federation President

Machida Sōyū states at the third American
World Conference of Religions for Peace that
"there is no discrimination against burakumin
in Japan." His statement causes problems as
burakumin are descendants of feudal-era
outcast class still experiencing
discrimination, and in the aftermath the issue
causes turmoil throughout the Buddhist
community.
-.-: The concept of tenchūsatsu (a period of
time in a person’s life based on the Chinese
zodiac [eto] when, according to folk
divination beliefs, the heavens are unfriendly
to that person) becomes popular due in part to
the publication of an introductory book on
the topic by Izumi Sōshō called Tenchūsatsu
nyūmon.
Aug 18: *Byakkō Shinkōkai founder Goi July -: The number of prefectures to pass
Masahisa dies (age 63). (Group documents) resolutions favoring official state visits to
Yasukuni Shrine by prime minister and
emperor reaches 22 (see also *Problems of
Religion and Government).
July 21: *Shidaidō founder Nagahashi
Yasuhiko dies (age 86). (Group documents)

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Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
establishes postgraduate course
on Shintō studies.
1982 Shōwa 57 Jan 11: The Church of World
Messianity (*Sekai kyūsekyō)
opens the MOA Museum of Art.
(Sekai kyūsekyō)

1983 Shōwa 58 Feb 4: Association of Shinto

Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) submits
a request titled "Request
concerning preservation of
shrine-owned lands on the
grounds of Shinto shrines" (Jinja
*keidaichi nado shayūchi no
hozen ni tsuite no onegai no ken)
to Ministry of Construction and
Ministry of Home Affairs.

Nov 21: Komatsu Shinyō founds

*Shinmei Aishinkai. (Group
documents)
-.-: The Political Association of
*Seichō no Ie (Seichō no ie seiji
rengō) suspends its activities.
1984 Shōwa 59

1985 Shōwa 60 May 4: Tōshōgū Shrine in Nikkō

notifies the Association of Shinto
Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) that it
will end its "bound
comprehensive religious juridical
person" (hihōkatsu shūkyō hōjin)
relationship with the association,
making it a fully independent
institution.

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March 24: Osaka District Court rules in the

Minoo Memorial lawsuit over Minoo City’s
desire to use public funds to relocate a
memorial monument to fallen
soldiers,declaring it unconstitutional. Minoo
City appeals the ruling (see also *Problems
of religion and government). (Shūmu jihō)
Aug 23: *Shūyōdan Hōseikai founder Seitarō March 1: Osaka District Court rules in the
Idei dies (age 83). (Group documents) Minoo Memorial Service lawsuit over the
participation of local public officials in
memorial services to commemorate the war
dead, declaring it unconstitutional. Plaintiff
victory (see also *Problems of Religion and
Government). (Shūmu jihō)

-.-: Use of computers and electronic word

processors starts to become commonplace.

March 19: *Reiha no Hikari Kyōkai founder

Hase Yoshio dies (age 68). (Shinshukyō
shinbun)
July 17: *Shizensha founder Hashimoto
Satomi dies (age 84). (Group documents)
Nov 25: *Tengenkyō founder Naniwa
Hisakazu dies (age 81). (Usunorukugyō)
May 12: *Tenjōkyō Hon'in founder Aug 15: Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro
Kuramoto Ito dies (age 90). (Group makes first official visit of a prime minister
documents) to Yasukuni Shrine since the end of World
War II.

May -: *Tenshin Seikyō founder Shimada

Seiichi dies (age 89). (Group documents)
June 17: *Seichō no Ie founder Taniguchi
Masaharu dies (age 91). (Shūmu jihō)
Nov 30: *Seishin Myōjōkai founder Fujita
Motonari dies (age 82). (Shinshukyō shinbun)

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 Year Era Institutions/Laws Shrines/Organizations
1986 Shōwa 61 㻌 June -: Sakata Yasuhiro forms the
Misogikyō shinpa ("true faction
of Misogikyō"), a splinter group
from *Misogikyō. (Group
documents)
1987 Shōwa 62

1988 Shōwa 63 March 27: Association of Shinto

Shrines (*Jinja Honchō) sends
tree-planting recommendation to
all shrines and local Jinja Honchō
offices throughout the country.
(Shūmu jihō)

1989 Heisei 1 Feb 17: The birthday of the April 14: Tenri Oyasato Senior
Shōwa emperor (Emperor High School opened (see
Hirohito), previously a national *Tenrikyō).
holiday, becomes a new holiday
called Greenery Day (see also
*Shuku-sai-jitsu).
1990 Heisei 2 Oct 11: *Daijōsai ceremony Nov -: *Kurozumikyō holds
held to accompany accession of Shintō International Workshop on
Emperor.Akihito (the Heisei Global Survival and Peace at its
emperor). Shintōzan headquarters.
1991 Heisei 3

1992 Heisei 4

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Dec -: Japan's economy starts to expand (start
of the so-called "bubble economy"; the
bubble’s collapse comes in 1991).

Nov 7: *Soshindō Kyōdan founder Yoshioka

Tajūrō dies (age 82). (Shinshukyō shinbun)
September 7: *Kikueikai Kyōdan founder June 1: Supreme Court rules in the Self
Hayashi Shikō dies (age 88). (Shinshukyō Defense Forces Enshrinement lawsuit
shinbun) (Yamaguchi junshoku jieikan gōshi soshō)
that it was constitutional for the SDF to have
applied to have the soul of a deceased soldier
jointly enshrined at Shintō shrine with those
of other soldiers over objections of the
deceased soldier’s Christian wife (Jan. 1973:
suit filed; March 1979: Yamaguchi District
Court rules enshrinement unconstitutional;
July 1982: Hiroshima High Court also rules it
unconstitutional) (see also *Shintō and
Christianity).
Oct 4: *Nihon Jingū Honchō founder June 18: Kawasaki City Deputy Mayor
Nakajima Shūkō dies (age 87). (Shinshukyō Komatsu Hideki is revealed to have acquired
shinbun) shares in the information industry and real
estate company Recruit before the company
went public, earning a one billion-yen profit
on their sale (start of the Recruit insider-
trading scandal).
Oct 29: *Oyamanezu no Mikoto Shinji
Kyōkai founder Inai Sadao dies (age 82).
Oct 29: *Kuzuryū Taisha founder Ōnishi
Masajirō dies (age 75). (Group documents)
March 8: *Hizuki no Miya founder Fujimoto Jan 7: Emperor Shōwa dies (age 89). Era
Toshinari dies (age 59). (Group documents) name changed to Heisei.

Oct. -: Stocks nosedive, marking the start of

the end of the "bubble economy."

May 5: *Shinsei Tengan Manaita no Kai Jan 17: Multinational coalition begins war
founder Kurata Chikyū dies (age 85). with Iraq. Feb. 28: Fighting ends.
-.-: Federation of Shinto Sects’ youth
association (Kyōha Shintō rengō seinenkai)
begins publishing newsletter Musubi.
May 12: In the Ehime tamagushiryō (see
*Tamagushi) lawsuit, Takamatsu High Court
rules constutionally acceptable for Ehime

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1993 Heisei 5 Oct 2: Ise Inner Shrine rebuilt and

reconsecrated. Oct. 5: Ise Outer
Shrine rebuilt and reconsecrated
(*Shikinensengū).

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governor to have used public funds to pay for
offerings given to Yasukuni Shrine in name
of prefecture’s war dead (July 1982: suit
filed; 1989: Matsuyama District Court rules
the act unconstitutional) (see also *Problems
of Religion and Government).
Oct 13: A 376-member Ground Self-Defense
Forces (SDF) battalion is dispatched to
Cambodia to take part in a United Nations
peace-keeping operation (the first overseas
dispatch of the SDF).
March 18: Supreme Court rules in the Minoo
war memorial lawsuit (Minō chūkon-hi
soshō), declaring the payment of public funds
to a local association of war-bereaved
families for the holding of a Shintō-style
memorial service to be constitutional (Oct
1977: case brought before Osaka District
Court. March 1982: District Court rules it
unconstitutional. March 1983: Osaka High
Court rules it constitutional) (see *Problems
of Religion and Government).
August 7: Hosokawa Morihiro of the Japan
New Party named the 79th prime minister.
Ends thirty years of single-party rule by the
Liberal Democratic Party.

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