also: ほうり
noun
junior Shinto priest
A lower-ranking Shinto priest, below 宮司 and 禰宜. Used in shrine contexts.
彼は地元の神社で祝として奉仕している。
He serves as a junior Shinto priest at the local shrine.
noun
Rare polite term for a Shinto priest in general; not commonly used in modern speech.
古い文献では、祝という言葉が神職全般を指すことがある。
In old documents, the word 祝 can refer to Shinto priests in general.
宮司 is the chief priest of a shrine, higher in rank than 祝.
禰宜 is a senior priest, ranking above 祝 but below 宮司.
神主 is a general term for a Shinto priest, often used for the head priest of a shrine.
The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 祝 is conventionally associated with prayer and ritual.