Jingikan

Japanese history

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June 29, 2026

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The Jingikan was a governmental body in ancient Japan, specifically part of the ritsuryō system established between 701 and 718 CE. This system was modeled after China's governmental structure but adapted to Japanese conditions. The Jingikan was responsible for the worship of deities, existing alongside the Council of State (Dajōkan), which handled practical administration. This dual structure reflected the emperor's role as both a secular ruler and a high priest responsible for maintaining peace through appeasing the deities. The ritsuryō system divided the country into provinces, counties, and villages, with officials appointed to manage these divisions.12

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Japan
The ritsuryō system
…the Office of Deities (Jingikan), a parallel bureaucracy for the worship of the deities. Prospective bureaucrats were required to study at a central college and to pass prescribed examinations; during their term of office their performance was subjected to scrutiny once a year, and their rank and position were…
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…the Office of Deities (Jingikan), a parallel bureaucracy for the worship of the deities. Prospective bureaucrats were required to study at a central college and to pass prescribed examinations; during their term of office their performance was subjected to scrutiny once a year, and their rank and position were…
Read More