state describes ideological use native folk traditions state strongly encouraged practices emphasize emperor divine exercised control finances training regimes priests ideology emerged start era government officials defined freedom religion constitution scholars believed reflected historical fact emperor divine origins religious belief enjoy privileged relationship japanese state state seen non religious moral tradition patriotic practice early era attempts unite state failed non religious concept ideological incorporated state bureaucracy defined patriotic religious institutions served state purposes honoring war dead state integrated local political functions occasionally local opposition resentment fewer financed state nearly closed merged neighbors shrine organizations began independently embrace state regardless funding priests persecution performing traditionally religious ceremonies draw distinction ideological traditional military leaders introduced term state differentiate state ideology traditional practices directive decree established religion banned ideological uses state controversy continues surround use symbols state functions origins term blend indigenous japanese folk practices court manners spirit worship dates beliefs unified era chronicles japan referenced term eighth century set doctrines founder draws set creation myths described books directive united_states general headquarters introduced distinction began governing japan second world war directive officially abolition governmental sponsorship support control state defined branch official acts japanese government differentiated religion classified non religious national cult state term abolish practices relied support ideology refusing ban practices outright japan post war constitution able preserve freedom religion definitions definition requires distinction term aspect set nationalist symbols integrated ideology scholars use terms shrine state contemporary scholars use term shrine refer majority outside state influence leaving state refer practices deliberately intended reflect state ideology interpretations generally refers use practices incorporated national ideology period starting described state supported inspired ideology practice intended inspire national integration unity loyalty understood refer state rituals ideology emperor worship traditional emphasis japanese emperors dedicated state official designation practice belief period instead developed end war describe mixture state support non religious shrine activities ideological support policy education including training shrine priests permitted form traditional religious reflect state position direct control state extent emperor worship supported population unclear scholars argue government funding control adequate justify claim existence extent popular support actions categorized state subject debate contemporary authorities reject concept state seek restore elements practice naming time periods emperor view sees state purely invention directive political ideology religious practice western sense unknown japan prior restoration religion understood encompass series beliefs faith closely associated western power restoration established emperor religious figure head japanese state religious freedom initially response demands western governments japan allowed christian missionaries pressure western governments viewed christianity foreign threat state challenged establish interpretation incorporated promoted emperor divine lineage establishing unique form cultural practice laws protecting freedom religion ideology presented religion unity government teaching religion religious practice understood form education consists traditions imperial house beginning age gods continuing history scholars argue system existed corresponding state creation bureau distinguished religions managed temples separated state bureaucracy distinguished buddhist temples christian churches formulated religious marked start state official designation non religious recognized state religion era instead considered appropriation traditional state financial support aligned ideology education initiatives specific financial support new frame practice patriotic moral tradition early era divine origin emperor official position state taught classrooms myth historical fact priests hired teach public schools cultivated teaching alongside reverence emperor compulsory class trips practitioners emphasized ritual aspect traditional civic practice explicitly faith participate balancing understanding source japan emperor state able participation rituals japanese subjects claiming respect freedom religion state able place civic society ways religions included teaching ideological strand public schools including ceremonial emperor rites involving emperor portrait government organized established ideology protect non religious distinction practices align state functions increasingly prohibited included preaching conducting use symbolic gate restricted government supported religious rituals state functions restricted practitioners driven underground frequently arrested alternative movements hampered imprisonment priests status separation called state changed point pressured focus emperor shrine priests face persecution intellectuals time critics argument time religious catholic_church agreed state definition announced visits purely civil value state control government ideological interest known debate control government local long shrine finances purely state supported priests state supported tended avoid preaching ideological matters establishment board government issued policy limit financial support shrine village state supported followed specific guidelines funding encouraged partners larger result initiative consolidate beliefs state approved practices japan reduced consolidating control favorable state interpretation graduates state run schools allowed public school teachers greater number better trained priests state supported schools combined rising patriotic believed seeded environment emperor worship possible financial support local official rules shrine priests specifically called duty observe festivals rituals state adopt practice independent financial support government advocated support state independently including shrine priest collaboration organization shrine priest training organization state created wartime shrine board expanded control state expanded state role point individual priests limited political roles delegated certain rituals shrine rarely encouraged emperor worship aspects state ideology independently shrine priest member board previously sought public office scholars suggest evidence state use ends priest attempt achieve political power ideological origins scholar suggests frame state practices drew state previous failures consolidate religious state purposes national learning early attempt develop ideological interpretations later form basis state ideology period educational philosophy sought pure form japanese stripped foreign influences particularly buddhism era scholar advocated return national learning way eliminate influence buddhism form priests scholars lead great campaign advocating fusion nationalism worship emperor previous tradition absolute obedience emperor initiative failed attract public support intellectuals dismissed idea author dismissed campaign time insignificant movement despite failure interpretation encourage later scholar advocated control practice governmental activists urged leaders consolidate diverse localized practices standardized national practice argued unify japan support emperor state responded establishing government bureaucracy encouraged segregation spirits buddhist ones emphasized divine lineage emperor sun goddess action sought reverse blending buddhist practices japan department unsuccessful demoted ministry policy religions taken ministry intended rituals saw small success fell short original intent national teaching calling return group priests issued collective statement calling national teaching statement advocated understanding distinct religions argued preservation traditions imperial house represented form japanese state rites scholars wrote teaching codes national government people error japan called divine land ruled heavenly deities descendants consolidate work deities way consolidation rule divine descendants called signatories statement included leaders practitioners scholars chief priest shrine head shrine head major shrine tokyo nonetheless concept national learning failed hold popular attempted training priests created division state actors local priests disagreed content standardized training debate concerned spirits include rituals particularly state included debate marked rise sect open stronger state presence sect sect advocated recognition god equal theological consequences emperor worship debate debate posed ideological threat era government result debate concentrated religion doctrine stating rituals performed state religious doctrines followed individuals families logic rituals civic responsibility japanese subjects expected participate religious matter personal faith subject freedom religion debate marked early failure crafting unified national practice led sharp decline state grants appointment priests government positions took responsibility began separate religious practices ministry stopped financial support aside select imperial tied state functions shrine shrine built war dead emperor visited performed rites war dead highest possible honor time state began assign meanings rooted patriotic nationalism including network dedicated soldiers killed battle assignments connection history local led resentment contemporary times shrine controversial symbol japanese nationalists citizens political visit site honor relatives killed battle spirit said class war criminals criminals secret ceremony raised japanese international community emperor visited shrine visits prime ministers government officials shrine subject lawsuits media controversy occupied territories japanese extended territorial holdings constructed purpose hosting japanese occupied lands practice began shrine taiwan major built asia included korea designated shrine national importance included shrine singapore san shrine china java japanese built occupied korea worship mandatory statement head korea wrote directive existence totally distinct religion worship act patriotism loyalty basic moral virtues nation post war january emperor issued statement referred humanity declaration quoted charter oath emperor announced human form japan built myths general headquarters quickly defined banned practices identified state saw freedom religion crucial aspect post war japan place ban japanese religious ceremonies involving emperor general sought maintain authority emperor avoid lasting resentment japanese people occupation reconstruction japan stated established free japanese people direct indirect believe believe religion cult officially designated state prevent theory beliefs propaganda today continues perform rituals private ceremonies participation belief longer compelled japanese citizens funded state aspects government enforcement practices school trips forbidden innovations era present contemporary belief priests non religious cultural practice encourages national unity controversies controversy emerged weddings members present merging state functions japanese treasury pay events preserves distinction state shrine functions politically active encouraging support emperor including campaigns distributing shrine important state presence connection emperor contrast era shrine frequently target state controversies likely owing japanese soldiers killed warfare conservative politicians nationalist interest groups continue advocate returning emperor central political religious position believe restore national sense unity
State Shinto