On April 21, 1872, the Meiji government reorganized Jingisho (Ministry of Divinities) by merging the department with the Department of shrines and temples of Minbusho (Ministry of Popular Affairs).
明治5年3月14日(旧暦)（1872年4月21日）に神祇省を改組し、民部省社寺掛を併合する形で設置。