noun
Senior First Rank (historical court rank)
The highest rank in the ancient Japanese court hierarchy (ritsuryō system). Used for top ministers and posthumous honors. Historical term; not used in modern government.
正一位は、律令制における最高位の官位である。
Senior First Rank is the highest court rank in the ritsuryō system.
彼は死後、正一位を追贈された。
He was posthumously awarded the Senior First Rank.
noun
highest shrine rank (Shinto)
The highest rank historically granted to Shinto shrines by the imperial court. Today it is an honorary designation with no administrative power.
この神社は正一位の社格を持つ。
This shrine holds the rank of Senior First Rank.
正一位は神社に与えられる最高の位である。
Senior First Rank is the highest rank given to shrines.
The general term for shrine ranking; 正一位 is the highest possible 社格.
From 正 (しょう, 'senior' or 'correct') + 一位 (いちい, 'first rank'). The term originates from the ancient Japanese court rank system modeled after Chinese precedents.