Sessha (摂社, auxiliary shrine) and massha (末社, undershrine), also called eda-miya (枝宮, branch shrines)[1] (collectively known as setsumatsusha (摂末社)[2][note 1]) are small or miniature shrines entrusted to the care of a larger shrine, generally due to some deep connection with the enshrined kami.[3]
The two terms used to have legally different meanings, but are today synonyms. Setsumatsusha can lie either inside (境内摂末社, keidai setsumatsusha) or outside (境外摂末社, keigai setsumassha) the main shrine's premises. Setsumatsusha are usually 1x1 ken in size. They can however be as small as beehives or relatively large and have 1x2, 1x3 or even, in one case, 1x7 bays.[4]
The practice of building sessha and massha shrines within a jinja predates written history. The earliest setsumatsusha usually had some strong connection to the history of the area or the family of the enshrined kami.
During the Heian period, Ise Shrine used to make a distinction between the two types based on whether a shrine belonged to the EngishikiJinmyōchō list (sessha) or to the Enryaku gishikichō list (massha).[5]
From the Japanese Middle Ages onwards, at other shrines popular kami like Hachiman, Inari or Gozu Tennō (牛頭天王) were often enshrined[note 2] in setsumatsusha, but no clear distinction between the two terms was made. From the Meiji period to the Second World War, a shrine dedicated to family members of a kami, to the violent side of a kami (荒魂, aramitama), or the kami of the region where the main shrine was, were to be considered sessha with a higher rank than the rest, which were called massha.[5] When the shakaku (社格) shrine ranking system was abolished in 1946, legally the distinction disappeared, but both terms remained in use out of habit.
Betsugu are another kind of auxiliary shrine their relationships to the main shrine are similar to that of Massha and Sessha.[6] The term is most notable for the extensive betsugu at Ise Grand Shrine.[6]
Being true shrines, setsumatsusha have most features other types of shrines have, including doors and often stairs. However, the Misedana-zukuri (見世棚造 or 店棚造, showcase style) is a style normally used only in sessha and massha. It owes its name to the fact that, unlike other shrine styles, it doesn't feature a stairway at its entrance, and the veranda is completely flat.[4] Miniature stairways can however be present. They can be either tsumairi (妻入), that is have the entrance under the gable, or, more frequently, hirairi (平入), that is, have the entrance on the side parallel to the roof's ridge (see examples in the gallery). Apart from the lack of a staircase, such shrines belong to the nagare-zukuri or kasuga-zukuri styles.
setsumatsusha, sessha, 摂社, auxiliary, shrine, massha, 末社, undershrine, also, called, miya, 枝宮, branch, shrines, collectively, known, setsumatsusha, 摂末社, note, small, miniature, shrines, entrusted, care, larger, shrine, generally, some, deep, connection, with, . Sessha 摂社 auxiliary shrine and massha 末社 undershrine also called eda miya 枝宮 branch shrines 1 collectively known as setsumatsusha 摂末社 2 note 1 are small or miniature shrines entrusted to the care of a larger shrine generally due to some deep connection with the enshrined kami 3 A row of sessha at Iwa Shrine Hyōgo Prefecture The two terms used to have legally different meanings but are today synonyms Setsumatsusha can lie either inside 境内摂末社 keidai setsumatsusha or outside 境外摂末社 keigai setsumassha the main shrine s premises Setsumatsusha are usually 1x1 ken in size They can however be as small as beehives or relatively large and have 1x2 1x3 or even in one case 1x7 bays 4 Contents 1 History 2 Architectural style 3 Architectural examples 4 Notes 5 ReferencesHistory editThe practice of building sessha and massha shrines within a jinja predates written history The earliest setsumatsusha usually had some strong connection to the history of the area or the family of the enshrined kami During the Heian period Ise Shrine used to make a distinction between the two types based on whether a shrine belonged to the Engishiki Jinmyōchō list sessha or to the Enryaku gishikichō list massha 5 From the Japanese Middle Ages onwards at other shrines popular kami like Hachiman Inari or Gozu Tennō 牛頭天王 were often enshrined note 2 in setsumatsusha but no clear distinction between the two terms was made From the Meiji period to the Second World War a shrine dedicated to family members of a kami to the violent side of a kami 荒魂 aramitama or the kami of the region where the main shrine was were to be considered sessha with a higher rank than the rest which were called massha 5 When the shakaku 社格 shrine ranking system was abolished in 1946 legally the distinction disappeared but both terms remained in use out of habit Betsugu are another kind of auxiliary shrine their relationships to the main shrine are similar to that of Massha and Sessha 6 The term is most notable for the extensive betsugu at Ise Grand Shrine 6 Architectural style edit nbsp A massha at Sankō Shrine in Ōsaka Being true shrines setsumatsusha have most features other types of shrines have including doors and often stairs However the Misedana zukuri 見世棚造 or 店棚造 showcase style is a style normally used only in sessha and massha It owes its name to the fact that unlike other shrine styles it doesn t feature a stairway at its entrance and the veranda is completely flat 4 Miniature stairways can however be present They can be either tsumairi 妻入 that is have the entrance under the gable or more frequently hirairi 平入 that is have the entrance on the side parallel to the roof s ridge see examples in the gallery Apart from the lack of a staircase such shrines belong to the nagare zukuri or kasuga zukuri styles Architectural examples edit nbsp A large sessha nbsp A massha at Ise Shrine nbsp A row of massha nbsp A hirairi sessha nbsp A tsumairi sesshaNotes edit The term setsumatsusha is the combination of the two terms sessha and massha Through a process called kanjōReferences edit Iwanami Kōjien 広辞苑 Japanese dictionary 6th Edition 2008 DVD version Mure Jin Sessha massha in Japanese Shokagukan Archived from the original on 19 December 2012 Retrieved 9 March 2010 Sessha Massha in Japanese Yahoo Japan Archived from the original on 19 December 2012 Retrieved 5 December 2009 a b JAANUS aisf or jp Retrieved 15 March 2016 a b Mori Mizue Sessha Massha Encyclopedia of Shinto Retrieved 5 December 2009 a b https archive today 20230505011443 https d museum kokugakuin ac jp eos detail id 9702 bare URL Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Setsumatsusha amp oldid 1175097880, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
