also: しゅてん · そうかん
The sakan was one of the four ranks in the ritsuryō system, responsible for drafting documents and keeping records.
In old documents, the shrine post called shuten is recorded.
Standard kanji form for the ritsuryō secretary rank; reading さかん is the most common for this historical term.
Alternate reading used specifically for the obsolete shrine official sense.
Obsolete kana usage; this reading is out-dated.
The term originates from the ritsuryō administrative system, where 主典 denoted a low-ranking secretary. The reading さかん is derived from the historical bureaucratic title, while しゅてん is a later specialized reading for the shrine official sense. The exact derivation of the readings is uncertain.