田中頼常 · たなかよりつね · people

Tanaka Yoritsune

Ise priest (1836–1897) and Meiji bureaucrat, involved in Shinto reforms.

Definition

Tanaka Yoritsune, active in the Meiji period from 1836 to 1897, was an important priest at Ise Shrine and a bureaucratic figure in the development of State Shintō. As an advocate of the Shinbutsu-bunri policies, he played a significant role in efforts to purify Shinto from Buddhist influences, aiming to assert its national significance. His tenure was marked by the revitalization of Ise Shrine in line with nationalistic agendas as part of the new imperial state.

Etymology

Tanaka (田中) is a common Japanese surname meaning 'middle of the rice field,' while Yoritsune (頼常) indicates a reliance on constancy and faith.