平田篤胤 · ひらたかねたね · people

Hirata Kanetane

Hirata-school leader (1799–1880) and adopted son of Hirata Atsutane.

Definition

Hirata Kanetane (1799–1880) was the inheritor of the Hirata School of nativist thought after the passing of his adoptive father Hirata Atsutane. He played a foundational role in shaping the interpretation and revitalization of Shinto beliefs during the Meiji era. Kanetane engaged in various religious and political movements that sought to reinforce Shinto as the state religion, including the promotion of the Shinbutsu-bunri edict, which emphasized the distinction between Shinto and Buddhism, thus laying structural support for the development of State Shintō.

Etymology

Hirata (平田) combines 'flat' and 'rice field,' common in family names, while Kanetane (篤胤) combines 'sincere' and 'blood,' indicating a depth of commitment.