these gods. "Department of Shinto Affairs" or "Council of Shinto Affairs," where "Shinto Affairs" refer to the general function of jingi-kan, that is to oversee all matters related to Shintō. Ritsuryō Jingi-kan This Shinto administrative hierarchy was an intentional mirror of its Chinese counterpart, the Ministry of Rites (禮部). The Jingi-kan was charged with oversight of Shinto clergy and rituals for the whole country. Hierarchy The Jingikan was staffed by four levels of managers, as seen below: Functions In its early days, jingi-kan has four main functions: Carries out annual rites written in jingiryō as well as overall coordination of shrine rites Provides ritualists who assist the sovereign and his court in the performance of palace ceremonies When misfortune struck or to determine the cause of ominous events, it performs divination to determine the identity of the responsible Kami. Conducts the distribution of tribute offerings (heihaku) to shrines for four annual rituals: Kinensai (Toshigoi no Matsuri), the spring and autumn Tsukinamisai, and Niinamesai. Annual Rites Jingi-kan must carry out thirteen rites written in jingiryō. The rites are laid out in articles 2 through 9, as well as article 18. Those rituals are: Jingi-kan in Medieval Japan From the 10th century to the 15th, the Shirakawa-hakuō family held this position continuously. In feudal Japan, the Jingi-kan became the final surviving building of the Heian Palace. During the Jōkyū War in 1221, most of the palace was evacuated and fell into disrepair; the Jingi-kan alone remained in operation. A 1624 memoir by a Jingi-haku reports that the Jingi-kan was still being used as late as 1585 and was demolished during renovations. In 1626, a temporary building was constructed to perform additional ceremonies. Meiji Jingi-kan On the thirteenth day of the third month of 1868, Emperor Meiji announced that the new Meiji government would restore direct imperial rule (王政復古, ōsei fukko) and unity of rites and government (祭政一致, saisei itchi). The department was reinstated in 1868 at the beginning of the Meiji period as a provisional step to achieve saisei itchi. After 1871 In 1870, the Meiji administration attempted to create a new national religion under the term , primarily to keep Christianity from accumulating popularity and influence on the Japanese society and to reeducate the population about the significance of the imperial rule. The attempt lasted from 1870 to 1884. Consequentially, in addition to overseeing Shintō affairs, jingi-kan also had the role