TSV

Types of Shrines and Temples - TSV

Japanese shrines and temples are classified into various types based on historical and religious backgrounds. Shrines are categorized by their titles (Jingu, Taisha, Miya, Jinja, Sha, etc.) and shrine ranks (Kanpei Taisha, Kokuhei Taisha, etc.), while temples are organized by the honmatsu system (Sohonzan, Daihonzan, Honzan, Matsuji, etc.) and Buddhist sects. These classifications serve as an important foundation for understanding Japanese religious culture and history.

shrine temple shinto buddhism shrine rank honmatsu system japanese culture religion

code	slug	name	description	category
S01	jingu	Jingu	Shrines enshrining imperial ancestral deities or deities with deep ties to the imperial family, holding the highest rank.	shrine
S02	taisha	Taisha	Large shrines representing a region or head shrines of a shrine network.	shrine
S03	miya	Miya (Gu)	Shrines enshrining imperial princes or historically important figures.	shrine
S04	jinja	Jinja	The general term for shrines, representing the most numerous type.	shrine
S05	sha	Sha (Yashiro)	Small-scale shrines, often enshrining local guardian deities.	shrine
S06	hokora	Hokora	Small religious facilities installed along roadsides.	shrine
T01	sohonzan	Sohonzan	The supreme temple of each Buddhist sect, governing the entire sect.	temple
T02	daihonzan	Daihonzan	Temples below Sohonzan that govern affiliated temples in a specific region.	temple
T03	beppaku-honzan	Beppaku Honzan	Temples with special status receiving treatment equivalent to Daihonzan.	temple
T04	honzan	Honzan	Fundamental dojo of a sect that conducts dharma transmission and governs affiliated temples.	temple
T05	matsuji	Matsuji	Subordinate temples belonging to a Honzan or Honji.	temple
T06	tatchu	Tatchu	Branch temples within a Sohonzan built to memorialize successive chief priests.	temple