Kokka Shinto
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Proper noun A specific, state-sanctioned branch of the Shinto religion, historically established and administered as the official state religion of Japan, particularly from the Meiji Restoration (1868) until the post-World War II period.
Usage
This term is used as a proper noun to refer to a distinct historical and institutional form of Shinto. It is primarily used in academic, historical, and religious studies contexts to describe the government-controlled religious system that existed in Japan from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries.
Examples
- The Meiji government established Kokka Shinto to promote national unity and imperial loyalty.
- Scholars study the role of Kokka Shinto in pre-war Japanese nationalism.
- After World War II, Kokka Shinto was disestablished by the Allied occupation authorities.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often contrasted with other forms of Shinto, such as "Shrine Shinto" (Jinja Shinto) or "Folk Shinto" (Minzoku Shinto), which continued outside direct state control.
- It is used to analyze the relationship between religion, politics, and national identity in modern Japanese history.
Variants and Related Words
- State Shinto: The direct English translation and more commonly used synonym for "Kokka Shinto."
- Shinto: The broader, indigenous religion of Japan, of which Kokka Shinto was a specific, politicized branch.
Synonyms
- State Shinto
Notes on Meaning
- Historical Specificity: "Kokka Shinto" does not refer to Shinto as practiced today. It refers specifically to the state-managed system that existed from 1868 until 1945.
- Institutional Focus: The term emphasizes the administrative, legal, and ideological framework imposed by the state, rather than personal belief or practice.
Noun
- the branch of Shinto recognized as the official state religion of Japan