Sessha (Auxiliary Shrine)

A sessha is a subordinate shrine located within or near the grounds of a larger, main shrine (honsha). The kami enshrined in a sessha has a close relationship to the main deity — often a spouse, child, or closely associated deity in mythology. In the traditional hierarchy of subsidiary shrines, sessha rank higher than massha.

The distinction between sessha and massha was formally established in the Meiji period as part of the government's efforts to systematize and rank all shrines. Before that era, the terms were used more loosely. After World War II, the formal distinction was abolished by Jinja Honcho (the Association of Shinto Shrines), but the terms remain in common use.

Visitors to large shrine complexes will often notice several smaller shrine buildings scattered around the grounds. These are typically sessha and massha. Paying respects at these subsidiary shrines is considered good practice and can provide a richer experience of the shrine complex, as each enshrines a different kami with its own story and character.