Shinmei shrines (Japanese:神明神社,lit. 'Shrine of deity') areshrines dedicated to the worship of the Japanese solar deityAmaterasu. The head Shinmei shrine isIse Grand Shrine which inspired theShinmei-zukuri architectural style.

The solar goddess ofShinto,Amaterasu Omikami, is considered to be the ancestral deity of theImperial House of Japan, and is widely worshiped in agricultural rituals. During theKofun Period, a number of Shinmei Shrines, such asIse Grand Shrine, were constructed and dedicated to Amaterasu. In national rituals, only theemperor was permitted to make offerings towards the deity.^[1]

However, as the power of the imperial court declined in the middle of theHeian Period, the central government could no longer financially support the Shinmei Shrines. As a result, the responsibilities of their maintenance fell onto local feudal lords, who were also given the right to relay prayers. Local lords donated part of their own estates (Shōen) as Shinryo (Japanese:神領,lit. 'Domain of gods') to construct shrines dedicated to Amaterasu, includingNishina Shinmei Shrine inŌmachi, Shinmei Shrine inYokohama, and Amatsu Shinmei Shrine inKamogawa. Some of the Shinmei Shrines, such as the Shiba Great Shrine, were said to have predated the Shōen System.^[2]

The priests of Shinmei Shrines, also known as Oshi (Japanese:御師,lit. 'Royal teacher'), temporarily enshrined the talismanJingū Taima in their branch offices in the eastern part of Japan, and some of these offices later developed into Shinmei Shrines as well.^[3]

During theKamakura and laterMuromachi Periods, Oshi's influence began to spread among both high-ranking samurai class and the common people.^[4] Especially inKyoto, an increasing number of shrines outside of the traditional Shinryo were given permission by Oshi to enshrine Amaterasu. These shrines came to be known as "Imashinmei" (Japanese:今神明,lit. 'Current Shinmei') or "Hishinmei" (Japanese:飛神明,lit. 'Flying Shinmei').^[5] In theEdo Period, the Ise faith became even more popular, spreading throughout the country and permeating a wide range of social classes.^[6] In 1632, Ise Shrine published the Ise Calendar in 1632, which recorded dates for agricultural activities and was widely used before theMeiji Restoration.^[7] As the influence of Ise Shrine and its deity Amaterasu grew, the number of Shinmei Shrines increased further.

Major Shimei Shrines can be seen in the following table:

• Kawamori, Shōji (1985).伊勢神宮と武家社会 [Ise Jingu Shrine and Samurai Society] (in Japanese).Hiroshima University.
• Nishigaki, Seiji, ed. (1983).お伊勢参り [Visiting Ise]. Iwanami shinsho (in Japanese). Tōkyō: Iwanami shoten.ISBN 978-4-00-420252-3.
• Seta, Katsuya (1985).伊勢の神をめぐる病と信仰 [Illness and Belief Concerning Gods of Ise] (in Japanese). Yuzankaku, Inc.
• Shinjo, Tsunezo (1949).社寺と交通 熊野詣でと伊勢参り [Shrines and Transportation, Kumano Pilgrimage and Ise Pilgrimage] (in Japanese). Shibundo Co., Ltd.

• Shinmei shrines

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• CS1 Japanese-language sources (ja)