After the Meiji restoration, the theory of saisei icchi became popular around a scholar of Japanese classical literature, Kokugaku HIRATA who followed Fukko shinto (returning to the ancient Shinto), and then, Senkyoshi (missionary) was established in Jingikan (department of worship) in August 15, 1869, and Tadayasu NAKAYAMA was appointed as a administrator of missionary work and Bisei FUKUBA was appointed as assistance administrator of missionary work.
明治維新後、復古神道を奉じる平田国学の国学者を中心に祭政一致論が高まり、明治2年7月8日_(旧暦)に神祇官内に宣教使が設置され、宣教長官に中山忠能・同次官に福羽美静が任命された。