Shinto Directive
Encyclopedia
After the Second World War during the Occupation of Japan by the United States Military it was generally understood by allied students of Japanese culture and religion that Shinto
in the form it took leading up to and during the war was social propaganda
and was being used as a tool of ultra-nationalism
and a disguise for militarism
. Thus, it was US policy regarding post-surrender Japan to abolish State Shinto
(Kokka Shinto). The directive, SCAPIN 448, was drafted by the US Military’s expert on Japanese culture and religion, Lieut. William K. Bunce, U.S.N.R. and was issued on December 15, 1945 with the full title of "ABOLITION OF GOVERNMENTAL SPONSORSHIP, SUPPORT, PERPETUATION, CONTROL AND DISSEMINATION OF STATE SHINTO (KOKKA SHINTO, JINJA SHINTO)"
The directive was based in part on the United States Constitution
’s guarantee of freedom of religion
. According to the directive, State Shinto was to be stripped of public support and of its "ultra-nationalistic and militaristic" trappings. The remnants were to be permitted to exist as part of sectarian Shinto, an unprivileged equal among other faiths, supported only by voluntary offerings.
No public funds could be used to support Shinto shrine
s or priests. The Emperor could no longer report on public matters to his ancestors in official visits to the shrines. But he and other officials could worship as private individuals. Shinto doctrine would be deleted from text books. "Militaristic and ultranationalistic ideology" could not be promoted or encouraged in connection with Shinto or any other creed. These doctrines were specifically banned: that the Emperor is superior to other rulers because he descends from the sun
; that the Japanese people are superior
to other peoples, or the Japanese islands superior to other lands, because Amaterasu
so willed.
Thus, the directive was more than formal separation of Church and State
. It was an attempt by U.S. officials to draw the line between genuine religious doctrine
and harmful social propaganda
.
As a result of the directive, a stream of instructions from the government were issued covering a wide range of prohibitions concerning Japanese culture and rites. Pupils at state schools and children of pre-school age were prohibited from being taken on field trips to religious institutions; Local town committees were prohibited from fundraising for shrines; Groundbreaking (jichinsai) and roof-raising rite
s (jōtōsai) were not to be performed for public buildings; State and public bodies were prohibited from conducting funerals and rites of propitiation for the war dead; and the removal and/or erection of commemorative sites to the war dead were regulated by the directive. However, the directive was lenient towards imperial court rites.
Initially, the directive was rigidly applied. This led to numerous complaints and grievances from local people. In 1949, halfway through the occupation, the directive came to be applied with greater discretion. Typical of this leniency was the approval granted to state funerals which entailed religious rites. The funerals of Matsudaira Tsuneo
of the Upper House (Shintō-style) and of Shidehara Kijūrō of the Lower House (Buddhist) were typical examples.
The Directive had a dramatic impact on postwar Japanese policy. Although it was only enforced by the Americans, many of the changes it made became a part of a revised postwar legal interpretation of "separation of church and state". The only notable reversion, besides the Occupation-era approval of state funerals, was a 1965 Supreme Court decision approving of jichinsai and jōtōsai for public buildings.
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...
in the form it took leading up to and during the war was social propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
and was being used as a tool of ultra-nationalism
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
and a disguise for militarism
Militarism
Militarism is defined as: the belief or desire of a government or people that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests....
. Thus, it was US policy regarding post-surrender Japan to abolish State Shinto
State Shinto
has been called the state religion of the Empire of Japan, although it did not exist as a single institution and no "Shintō" was ever declared a state religion...
(Kokka Shinto). The directive, SCAPIN 448, was drafted by the US Military’s expert on Japanese culture and religion, Lieut. William K. Bunce, U.S.N.R. and was issued on December 15, 1945 with the full title of "ABOLITION OF GOVERNMENTAL SPONSORSHIP, SUPPORT, PERPETUATION, CONTROL AND DISSEMINATION OF STATE SHINTO (KOKKA SHINTO, JINJA SHINTO)"
The directive was based in part on the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
’s guarantee of freedom of religion
Freedom of religion
Freedom of religion is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance; the concept is generally recognized also to include the freedom to change religion or not to follow any...
. According to the directive, State Shinto was to be stripped of public support and of its "ultra-nationalistic and militaristic" trappings. The remnants were to be permitted to exist as part of sectarian Shinto, an unprivileged equal among other faiths, supported only by voluntary offerings.
No public funds could be used to support Shinto shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
s or priests. The Emperor could no longer report on public matters to his ancestors in official visits to the shrines. But he and other officials could worship as private individuals. Shinto doctrine would be deleted from text books. "Militaristic and ultranationalistic ideology" could not be promoted or encouraged in connection with Shinto or any other creed. These doctrines were specifically banned: that the Emperor is superior to other rulers because he descends from the sun
Imperial cult
An imperial cult is a form of state religion in which an emperor, or a dynasty of emperors , are worshipped as messiahs, demigods or deities. "Cult" here is used to mean "worship", not in the modern pejorative sense...
; that the Japanese people are superior
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
to other peoples, or the Japanese islands superior to other lands, because Amaterasu
Amaterasu
, or is apart of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. the name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning "shining in heaven." The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is "the great August kami who...
so willed.
Thus, the directive was more than formal separation of Church and State
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
. It was an attempt by U.S. officials to draw the line between genuine religious doctrine
Doctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
and harmful social propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
.
As a result of the directive, a stream of instructions from the government were issued covering a wide range of prohibitions concerning Japanese culture and rites. Pupils at state schools and children of pre-school age were prohibited from being taken on field trips to religious institutions; Local town committees were prohibited from fundraising for shrines; Groundbreaking (jichinsai) and roof-raising rite
Rite
A rite is an established, ceremonious, usually religious act. Rites in this sense fall into three major categories:* rites of passage, generally changing an individual's social status, such as marriage, baptism, or graduation....
s (jōtōsai) were not to be performed for public buildings; State and public bodies were prohibited from conducting funerals and rites of propitiation for the war dead; and the removal and/or erection of commemorative sites to the war dead were regulated by the directive. However, the directive was lenient towards imperial court rites.
Initially, the directive was rigidly applied. This led to numerous complaints and grievances from local people. In 1949, halfway through the occupation, the directive came to be applied with greater discretion. Typical of this leniency was the approval granted to state funerals which entailed religious rites. The funerals of Matsudaira Tsuneo
Matsudaira Tsuneo
was a Japanese diplomat of the 20th century.- Diplomatic and political career :The son of Matsudaira Katamori of Aizu, Tsuneo served as Japanese Ambassador to the United States. In 1929–1935 served as Ambassador to Britain, and in that capacity represented his country at the London Conference on...
of the Upper House (Shintō-style) and of Shidehara Kijūrō of the Lower House (Buddhist) were typical examples.
The Directive had a dramatic impact on postwar Japanese policy. Although it was only enforced by the Americans, many of the changes it made became a part of a revised postwar legal interpretation of "separation of church and state". The only notable reversion, besides the Occupation-era approval of state funerals, was a 1965 Supreme Court decision approving of jichinsai and jōtōsai for public buildings.