In 1868, a circular notice was issued to the shrines located nationwide that each shrine should submit its historical origin to the lord of each locality, and on June 10 of the next year each of the prefectures (comprising fu, han and ken) was asked to investigate and record the historical origin and the biography for each of the shikinaisha and the great shrines (taisha) venerated in each prefecture.
明治元年（1868年）、神仏分離の一環として、全国神社に対しその由緒を管轄する領主へ届け出るよう通達し、次いで同2年6月10日府藩県に命じて、式内社及び各府藩県において崇敬厚い大社の由緒や社伝等を調査録上させた。