Kannushi
Encyclopedia
A , also called , is the person responsible for the maintenance of a Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...

 shrine (jinja) as well as for leading worship of a given kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...

. The characters for kannushi are sometimes also read jinshu with the same meaning.

Originally the kannushi were intermediaries between kami and could transmit their will to common humans. A kannushi was a man capable of miracles or a holy man who, because of his practice of purificatory rites, was capable to work as a medium for a kami
Kami
is the Japanese word for the spirits, natural forces, or essence in the Shinto faith. Although the word is sometimes translated as "god" or "deity", some Shinto scholars argue that such a translation can cause a misunderstanding of the term...

, but later the term evolved to being synonymous with shinshoku, that is, a man who works at a shrine and holds religious ceremonies there.

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 Kojiki
Kojiki
is the oldest extant chronicle in Japan, dating from the early 8th century and composed by Ō no Yasumaro at the request of Empress Gemmei. The Kojiki is a collection of myths concerning the origin of the four home islands of Japan, and the Kami...

(680 AD) and Nihon Shoki
Nihon Shoki
The , sometimes translated as The Chronicles of Japan, is the second oldest book of classical Japanese history. It is more elaborate and detailed than the Kojiki, the oldest, and has proven to be an important tool for historians and archaeologists as it includes the most complete extant historical...

(720 AD). In them respectively, Empress Jungū and Emperor Suijin become kannushi.
Within the same shrine, for example at Ise Jingū or Ōmiwa Shrine
Ōmiwa Shrine
, also known as , is a Shinto shrine located in Sakurai, Nara, Japan. The shrine is noted because it contains no sacred images or objects because it is believed to serve Mount Miwa, the mountain on which it stands. For the same reason, it has a , but no . In this sense, it is a model of what the...

, there can be different types of kannushi at the same time called for example , , or .

Kannushi can marry and their children usually inherit their position. Although this hereditary status is no longer legally granted, it continues in practice. The clothes they wear, for example the jōe
Joe
Joe may be a nickname originating from the name "Joseph", "Josephina" and others.Joe may refer to:-People:* Joe , an American R&B singer and record producer* Joe , a character known only as "Joe" on the popular children's show...

, the ebōshi and the kariginu (see photos), do not have any special religious significance, but are simply official garments used in the past by the Imperial court. This detail reveals the close connection between kami worship and the figure of the Emperor. Other implements used by kannushi include a baton called shaku and a wand decorated with white paper streamers (shide
Shide (shinto)
is a zigzag-shaped paper streamer, often seen attached to shimenawa or tamagushi, and used in Shinto rituals. A popular ritual is using a haraegushi, or "lightning wand", named for the zig-zag shide paper that adorns the wand. A similar wand, used by miko for purification and blessing, is the gohei...

) called ōnusa
Onusa
An or simply is a wooden wand used in Shinto rituals. It is decorated with many shide . When the shide are attached to an hexagonal or octagonal staff, it can be also called...

. Kannushi are assisted in their religious or clerical work by women called miko
Miko
is a Japanese term that anciently meant a "female shaman, spirit medium" who conveyed oracles from kami , and currently means a "shrine maiden; virgin consecrated to a deity" who serves at Shinto shrines.-Word:...

.

To become a kannushi, a novice must study at a university approved by the Jinja Honchō (Association of Shintō Shrines), typically Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

’s Kokugakuin University
Kokugakuin University
Kokugakuin University is a private university, whose main office is located in Tokyo's Shibuya district...

, or pass an exam that will certify his qualification. Women can also become kannushi and widows can succeed their husbands in their job.

External links

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