In general, Shinchoku refers to following three shinchoku (Three Great Shinchoku) that were given by Amaterasu Omikami (the Sun Goddess) to her grandson Ninigi (God of the Harvest) in the passage of Tensonkorin (the descent of the Sun-Goddess's grandson) recorded in "Nihonshoki" (Chronicles of Japan).
一般的に神勅といえば、『日本書紀』の天孫降臨の段で天照大神が孫のニニギらに下した以下の3つの神勅（三大神勅）のことを指す。