Google translation verification request

[John C]

Hello:

The topic is: 升格為國幣小社。This is in reference to the Inaba shrine being re-purposed in 1939.

Google translates this as ""currency/coin small shrine". Is there a better translation for this or is this correct? If so, what does it mean to be a "currency small shrine"?

Thank you for taking a look,

 

John C.

[SteveM]

It should be related to the shrine's receiving an official ranking. Shintō shrines had a kind of ranking system, with the shrines most closely connected to the Imperial family receiving the rank of "Imperial Shrine", and other major shrines receiving various "National Shrine" rankings. The phrase you posted means something like "appointed National Shrine 3rd Rank" (see Wikipedia for a list of such designated shrines). 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_system_of_ranked_Shinto_shrines#Imperial_shrines,_3rd_rank

 

 

[John C]

Thank you for the translation and info, Steve. That makes a lot more sense. 

 

John C.

[Hiro]

（This is an additional note.）

“升格　為　国幣小社”= It was promoted to the minor rank of Kokuheisha.

 

Is this perhaps the shrine you are referring to?→伊奈波inaba神社Shrine

（In Meiji 6 (1873), it was ranked as a prefectural shrine, and in 1939 (Shōwa 14), It was elevated to the rank of a kokuhei shōsha）

It is located at the foot of Gifu Castle 岐阜城 and is quite close to Seki関.

 

wiki.inaba.shrine(Gifu)

 

the Inaba shrine’s official website

Edited May 5 by Hiro

[Hiro]

The following is information about the term.

 

・Kampeisha (官幣社) and Kokuheisha (国幣社)→ These are the two major categories of ‘kansha官社’ , which indicated the ranking of Shinto shrines under the Modern Shrine Ranking System that lasted from the Meiji period until the prewar era.

・Kansha (官社) refers to shrines that received offerings from the state during the Kinensai (祈年祭) and Niinamesai (新嘗祭) festivals.These shrines were divided into Kampeisha (官幣社) and Kokuheisha (国幣社).

The modern shrine ranking system was historically influenced by earlier state-controlled classifications, and was organized into major, medium, and minor ranks within each category（大・中・小).Promotions within this hierarchical system were also carried out.

 

 

・官幣社（Kampeisha ）：the shrine that receives ritual offerings (heihaku幣帛) from the central government (the Jingikan神祇官,the government office responsible for Shinto affairs under the imperial court)

・国幣社（Kokuheisha）：the shrine that receives ritual offerings (heihaku) from provincial authorities (kokushi国司, and later prefectural governments)

 

↓The text is in Japanese only, but there is a clear diagram. Please refer to section 3: Modern shrine ranking system (after the Meiji Restoration)近代社格制度 （明治維新以降）.

神社研究所Jinja-lab

Edited May 5 by Hiro

[Hiro]

・Hōbei / Hōhei (奉幣) refers to the act of offering heihaku to the deities.

・Heihaku (幣帛) is a collective term in Shinto ritual practice for offerings presented before the deities, excluding shinsen (神饌)—that is, food offerings such as rice and sake. It includes items such as cloth, paper, and jewels.

From 1875 onward, kinpei (金幣)—monetary offerings wrapped in paper—were also included as part of heihaku.

 

↓Text is in Japanese only.There is a photograph of textile offerings used as heihaku幣帛.

佐川記念神道博物館　Sagawa Memorial Museum of Shintō and Japanese Culture, Kōgakkan University.

Edited May 5 by Hiro

[John C]

7 hours ago, Hiro said:

inaba神社Shrine

Wow, Hiro! Thank you very kindly for the thorough explanation. And yes, this is in reference to the Inaba Shrine. I am researching whether or not there was a WW2 forge associated with Inaba shrine or possibly on Inabagawa. The 1939 date peaked my interest, hence the attempt at a Google translation.

John C.

[Hiro]

That’s highly specialized research…! 

（As I’m sure you are already aware, Gifu was also affected by air raids, so when you search for information from that period, you often find only references to documents having been destroyed.）

 

I found the 1935 and 1939 commercial directories (lists compiling information on commercial and industrial businesses商工名鑑). (I can see the characters for “sword(s)刀剣” , but I am not sure whether this refers to a blacksmith’s workshop or a retail shop.）You may have already found this information, but I hope it will be helpful.

 

「刀劍　（古物）　美浪町Minami chō  尾關憲司OzekiKenji」

Town Minami chō 美浪町corresponds to the present-day Town Onami chō御浪町, and the numbers refer to telephone numbers.

National Diet Library Digital Collection 商工名鑑 (Shōwa 10)

National Diet Library Digital Collection 商工名鑑 (Shōwa 14)　　

 

 

I hope your research progresses well.

Edited May 5 by Hiro

[John C]

50 minutes ago, Hiro said:

That’s highly specialized research…! 

Your contribution is amazing! This should help a lot. Yes, the research is not only specialized but also difficult without access to records in Japan (I know some folks use JACAR, however I don't speak Japanese).

I have a working theory about some smiths and their location so I'm working backwards, if you will, by trying to find the location of forges -> then trying to find lists of smiths for those forges -> then looking for specific smiths on those lists. I assume it really won't be possible to do that but it keeps me off the streets, as we say.

Thank you again for your time and contribution, Hiro.

 

John C.

[Hiro]

It is an honor to be of help. 

(I truly understand the frustration of not being able to access the information you seek due to the language barrier.)

I hope you will find the answers you are looking for…！

Edited May 6 by Hiro

[Jussi Ekholm]

Thank you for the extremely interesting information Hiro.