2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Documentary study of the actual circumstances of Jinja priests from the late ancient to the early medieval era

Research Project

Project/Area Number	21720237
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Research Field	Japanese history
Research Institution	Kokugakuin University
Principal Investigator	KASE Naoya 國學院大學, 研究開発推進機構, 講師 (50445459)
Project Period (FY)	2009 – 2010
Keywords	古代史 / 神社史 / 神道史
Research Abstract	In this study, Shinto priests in the late Hei-an period were concerned as the main target ; and according to the results, these points were comprehended : (1)there were independent procedures of a priest's commission and strong influence from the Grand Emperors ; (2)organizations were consciously formed based on rituals ; (3)the system of building Jinja were not changed from the earlier time very much ; (4)the concept of Jingi were following the ideas of the earlier period in some aspects. Overall, it was confirmed that the uniqueness of rituals were recognized by Shinto priests at the ear even though they were influenced by Grand Emperors and aristocracy ; and Shinto priests were protected by Jinja system which permitted autonomous activities of themselves.