shrine of the highest rank in the Engi-Shiki
Historical term for a shrine listed in the Engi-Shiki (延喜式) as a 名神大社, the highest rank among registered shrines. Used in historical, religious, and academic contexts.
See also: 延喜式 (えんぎしき)
Kashima Shrine is one of the Myōjin Taisha.
There are about two hundred Myōjin Taisha listed in the Engi-Shiki nationwide.
The Engi-Shiki is the 10th-century legal code that includes the shrine rankings; 名神大社 is a category within it.
A broader term for any shrine listed in the Engi-Shiki, while 名神大社 specifically refers to the highest-ranked ones.
Compound of 名神 (myōjin, 'renowned deity') and 大社 (taisha, 'grand shrine'). The term originates from the Engi-Shiki classification system.