# Kannushi

Kannushi (神主, "divine master (of ceremonies)", originally pronounced ‹See RfD› kamunushi), also called shinshoku (神職, meaning "employee/worker of kami"), is the common term for a member of the clergy at a Shinto shrine (神社, jinja) responsible for maintaining the shrine and leading worship of the ‹See RfD› kami there. The characters for ‹See RfD› kannushi are sometimes also read as ‹See RfD› jinshu with the same meaning. Kannushi originally referred only to the highest-ranking member of the clergy at a shrine, but has since expanded to become a collective term for all members of the clergy, synonymous with shinshoku.
Another office called shinkan (神官, lit. "religious official") used to exist, but the position was abolished during the removal of Shinto from government oversight during the establishment of the Japanese constitution.

## History

Originally, the ‹See RfD› kannushi were intermediaries between ‹See RfD› kami and people and could transmit their will to common humans. A ‹See RfD› kannushi was a man capable of miracles or a holy man who, because of his practice of purificatory rites, was able to work as a medium for a ‹See RfD› kami.
In ancient times, because of the overlap of political and religious power within a clan, it was the head of the clan who led the clansmen during religious functions, or else it could be another official. Later, the role evolved into a separate and more specialized form. The term appears in both the ‹See RfD› Kojiki (680 AD) and ‹See RfD› Nihon Shoki (720 AD), where the Empress Jingū and Emperor Sujin respectively become ‹See RfD› kannushi.

## Description

Within the same shrine, such as at Ise Jingū or Ōmiwa Shrine, there can be different types of ‹See RfD› kannushi at the same time; these may be called, for example, Ō-kannushi (大神主), Sō-kannushi (総神主), or Gon-kannushi (権神主). ‹See RfD› Kannushi are assisted in their religious or clerical work by women called ‹See RfD› miko.
‹See RfD› Kannushi can marry, and their children usually inherit their position. Although this hereditary status is no longer legally granted, it continues in practice.

### Vestments and ritual objects

The clothes ‹See RfD› kannushi wear, such as the ‹See RfD› jōe, the ‹See RfD› eboshi and ‹See RfD› kariginu, do not have any special religious significance, but are simply official garments previously used by the Imperial court. This detail reveals the close connection between ‹See RfD› kami worship and the figure of the Emperor. Other implements used by ‹See RfD› kannushi include a baton called ‹See RfD› shaku and a wand decorated with white paper streamers (‹See RfD› shide) called ‹See RfD› ōnusa.
* A ‹See RfD› kannushi wearing a ‹See RfD› jōe being accompanied by two ‹See RfD› miko
* A ‹See RfD› kannushi in full dress, Katori Shrine
* A ‹See RfD› kannushi wearing a ‹See RfD› kariginu and an ‹See RfD› eboshi hat

## Education

To become a ‹See RfD› kannushi, a novice must study at a university approved by the Association of Shinto Shrines (神社本庁, Jinja Honchō), typically Tokyo's Kokugakuin University or Ise's Kogakkan University, or pass an exam that will certify his qualification. Women can also become ‹See RfD› kannushi, and widows can succeed their husbands in their job.

## Hierarchy, rank, and status

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

### Ranks

The Association of Shinto Shrines has regulations that confer one of five ranks called kaii (階位) on clergy members based on their level of education and passing of exams. Up to the second highest rank, meikai (明階), can be reached through study alone. The names of the ranks come from the four virtues of Shinto: purity (浄, jō), light (明, mei), correctness (正, sei), and forthrightness (直, choku). There were originally only four ranks until 1961 when the ranks were reformed and the fourth rank of gonsekai (権正階) was added.
Jōkai (浄階): The highest rank. Given to those with a long history of contributions to Shinto research.
Meikai (明階): The rank necessary to become a head priest or assistant head priest at a beppyo shrine. A clergy member with this rank can take a head priest position at any shrine other than Ise Shrine's high head priest position which requires imperial sanction.
Seikai (正階): The rank necessary to become an assistant priest or interim head priest (宮司代務者, gūji daimusha) at a beppyo shrine.
Gonsekai (権正階): The rank necessary to become a head priest or interim head priest at a standard shrine, or a junior priest at a beppyo shrine.
Chokkai (直階): The rank necessary to become an assistant priest or junior priest at a standard shrine.

### Hierarchy

The clergy of a shrine is ranked in a hierarchy called shokkai (職階). The exact hierarchy may vary based on the scale and history of the shrine but, in general, the hierarchy from highest ranking to lowest is head priest (宮司, gūji), assistant priest (禰宜, negi), and junior priest (権禰宜, gonnegi). There is generally only one head priest and one assistant priest per shrine. Some beppyo shrines have an assistant head priest (権宮司, gongūji) role ranking below the head priest and several assistant priests. An overview of their roles is that the head priest is the head of the shrine, the assistant head priest is the secondary leader, the assistant priest(s) support the head priest in their duties, and the junior priests perform general tasks. Ise Shrine is an exception in that its ranks are as follows: master of ceremonies (祭主, saishu), high head priest (大宮司, daigūji), low head priest (少宮司, shōgūji), assistant priest (negi), junior priest (gonnegi), shrine administrator (宮掌, gūshō), attendant (出仕, shusshi), and apprentice attendant (出仕前, shusshi-mae).

## Other positions
### Onshi

Onshi (御師, also read oshi) is a low-ranking position at a shrine responsible for leading prayers for visitors, providing lodging and tours for pilgrims, and arranging performances of kagura. They are most associated with Ise Shrine.

### Lower priests

There are two positions that may be called lower priests, gūshō (宮掌) and shuten (主典), though they are not technically considered members of the clergy as they have not yet received their rank (kaii) and are only present in some special shrines, such as Ise Shrine and Atsuta Shrine. They perform some duties under the guidance of higher-ranking priests.