Shake / Shakaku (Shrine Ranking)
The historical ranking system that classified shrines by their relationship to the state
Shake (or shakaku) refers to the system of ranking shrines by their official status and relationship to the state. Japan has had several such systems throughout history. The Engishiki (927 CE) listed shrines receiving government offerings, distinguishing between major (taisha) and minor (shosha) shrines. The modern system, established in the Meiji era and abolished in 1946, created a detailed hierarchy from the most prestigious Kanpei-taisha (Imperial Grand Shrines) down to unranked local shrines (mukakusha).
The Meiji-era hierarchy from top to bottom was: Kanpei-taisha, Kanpei-chusha, Kanpei-shosha (imperial shrines of grand, medium, and small rank), followed by Kokuheisha (national shrines in three ranks), then Fukensha (prefectural), Gosha (district), Sonsha (village), and Mukakusha (unranked). Shrines at each level received different amounts of government funding and offerings.
After World War II, the state shrine ranking system was abolished as part of the separation of religion and government. Jinja Honcho now classifies shrines using its own system, with beppyo-jinja (specially listed shrines) being the most prestigious category. However, the old Meiji-era ranks continue to carry social prestige, and many shrines still reference their historical shakaku in their promotional materials.