On the 28th day of the tenth month of 1871, each prefecture was asked, arising from the need for formulating the regulations on shrines, to conduct a detailed survey on the shrines located in its jurisdiction (which was compiled into 'Daisho Jinja Torishirabesho' (Survey on Large and Small Shrines), in accordance with which the ranking for national and other shrines was established in May 1872.
更に同年閏10月28日、神社規則制定の必要から府藩県に管内神社のより詳細な調査を命じ（『大小神社取調書』として結実）、それを基に同4年5月、官国幣社以下の社格が規定された。