宮 司(ぐうじ)

ぐうじ

noun

chief priest (of a Shinto shrine)

1. chief priest of a Shinto shrine

The highest-ranking priest who oversees the administration and rituals of a Shinto shrine. Each shrine typically has one chief priest.

宮司(ぐうじ)が祝詞(のりと)を読(よ)み上(あ)げた。

The chief priest read out the Shinto prayer.

この神社(じんじゃ)の宮司(ぐうじ)は代々(だいだい)同(おな)じ家系(かけい)が務(つと)めている。

The chief priest of this shrine has been served by the same family for generations.

新年(しんねん)の祭事(さいじ)に向(む)けて、宮司(ぐうじ)が準備(じゅんび)を進(すす)めている。

The chief priest is making preparations for the New Year festivities.

Usage

宮司(ぐうじ) is specific to Shinto shrines. The equivalent for a Buddhist temple would be 住職(じゅうしょく) (head priest). Below the 宮司(ぐうじ) in the shrine hierarchy are 禰宜(ねぎ) (senior priest) and 権禰宜(ごんねぎ) (junior priest).

The word combines 宮(ぐう) (shrine/palace) and 司(じ) (to manage/oversee).

Common collocations

宮司(ぐうじ)を務(つと)める: to serve as chief priest
宮司(ぐうじ)職(しょく): the position of chief priest
神社(じんじゃ)の宮司(ぐうじ): chief priest of a shrine

Related Words

Compare: 神職(しんしょく) (Shinto priest)

Related: 禰宜(ねぎ) (senior Shinto priest)

general

Added 2026.2.22 14:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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