In 1871, it was established by an edict of Daijokan (The Grand Council of State), 'Kansha ika teikaku, Shinkan shokusei to kisoku' (literally, regulations for official shrines and others in number of priests allocated to a shrine, office organization of Shinto priest, and so on).
1871年（明治4年）に太政官布告「官社以下定額・神官職制等規則」により制定された。