Shinto sects and schools

Shinto (神道, shintō), the folk religion of Japan, developed a diversity of schools and sects, outbranching from the original Ko-Shintō (ancient Shintō) since Buddhism was introduced into Japan in the sixth century.^[1]

Early period schools and groups

The main Shinto schools with traditions traceable to early periods, according to authoritative published records are:

Bukka Shintō

These were the various forms of Shintō developed by Buddhist thinkers, also known as Bukke Shintō. These doctrines combine Buddhist elements with Shintō elements (Shinbutsu shūgō).

Goryū Shintō: Goryū refers to the Buddhist Dharma lineage. This Shinto schools was part of Ryōbu Shintō.

Hakke Shintō: The Shirakawa Hakuō House, in charge of the post of superintendent of the Department of Divinities (Jingi-kan) transmitted this school. Also called Shirakawa Shintō.

Hokke Shintō: These doctrines were influenced by the Nichiren sect of Buddhism which incorporated kami cults within its own system.

Inbe Shintō: This is the Inbe clan lineage and commonly held to have been created by Inbe Masamichi that was in charge of court rituals together with the Nakatomi clan.

Ise Shintō: Transmitted by priests of the Watarai clan at the Outer Shrine (Gekū) of the Grand Shrine of Ise (Ise Jingū). It is also called Watarai Shintō.

Jingidōke: A collective term for lineages which were mainly occupied with Shinto, these included the jingi clans (jingi shizoku) and clans connected to the Jingi-kan such as the Nakatomi and Inbe.

Jūhachi Shintō: Yoshida Kanetomo, taught his principles in his work Essentials of Prime Shinto (Yuiitsu Shintō myōbō yōshū).

Juka Shintō
Main article: Confucian Shinto: Shinto explained by Japanese Confucianists. These teachings claim the unity of Shinto and Confucianism.

Kaden Shintō: The Shinto transmitted by hereditary Shinto priests, known as shinshokuke or shake. It is also called shake Shintō, shaden Shintō or densha Shintō.

Kikke Shintō: Transmitted by the Tachibana clan. Kikke Shinto became widely known during the mid-Edo Hōei era (1704–1710).

Kōshin: Is a folk faith in Japan with Taoist origins, influenced by Shinto, Buddhism and other local beliefs.

Koshintō: "Ancient Shintō". These were the various doctrines and myths of Shintō before the integration of Buddhism elements.

Miwa-ryū Shintō: A form of Ryōbu Shintō that developed primarily at Byōdōji and Ōgorinji (Ōmiwadera), temples serving as the "parish temples" (jingū-ji) of Ōmiwa Shrine in Nara Prefecture.

Mononobe Shintō: Based on the text Sendai kuji hongi taiseikyō.

Ōgimachi Shintō: Originated by Suika Shinto by Ōgimachi Kinmichi's (1653–1733) transmission to the sovereign and court retainers. In 1680 Kinmichi presented a Shinto oath to Yamazaki Ansai, taking up a full-scale study of Suika Shinto.

Reisō Shintō: Buddhist Shintō (Bukka Shintō) created in the Edo period by Chōon Dō kai (1628–1695) and further developed by Jōin (1683–1739).

Ritō Shinchi Shintō: Created by Confucian scholar Hayashi Razan (1583–1657). Razan was the only Confucian scholar officially employed by the Tokugawa government.

Ryōbu Shintō: These are the Shintō doctrines derived from Shingon Buddhism. These doctrines relate the Inner Shrine of Ise with Dainichi of the Womb Realm (taizōkai) and the Outer Shrine with Dainichi of the Vajra realm (kongōkai).

Sannō Shintō: Tendai sect Shintō, based on the cult of the Mountain King (Sannō) at the Hiyoshi Taisha.

Shugendō: Shugendō and its practitioners, shugen, teaches the attainment of supranormal, magico-religious power through ascetic activities in the mountains. It was submissive to Buddhism for some time, later dividing into sects with more or less Buddhist or Koshintō influence.

Suika Shintō: Created by Yamazaki Ansai, a Confucian-Shintoist of the early Edo period.

Taishi-ryū Shintō: Founded by Prince Shōtoku (Shōtoku Taishi, 574–622) and unifying Shintō, Confucianism, and Buddhism (sankyō itchi).

Tsuchimikado Shinto
Main article: Tensha Tsuchimikado Shinto: Created by the head court diviner Tsuchimikado Yasutomi. Yasutomi integrated the astrological and calendrical theories transmitted by the Onmyōdō specialists of the Abe clan.

Tsushima Shintō: Originated at Tsushima Island in the Sea of Japan.

Uden Shintō: Created by Kamo no Norikiyo (a.k.a. Umetsuji no Norikiyo, 1798–1862). Norikiyo developed his teachings on the basis of the Shinto transmissions at the shrine of Kamo wake Ikazuchi Jinja.

Unden Shintō: Founded by Shingon monk Jiun Onkō (1718–1804). It is also known as Katsuragi Shintō because Jiun lived on Mt. Katsuragi. It integrates esoteric Buddhism, siddham (Sanskrit philology), and Zen, as well as Confucianism and Shinto.

Yoshida Shintō: Founded by Yoshida Kanetomo (1435–1511), who called his tradition yuiitsu shintō ("only-one Shintō"). His adherents and Yoshida Shrine, until the end of the Edo period, retained the right to award ranks to all shrines and priests except for a few associated with the Imperial family.^[2]

Yoshikawa Shintō: This is a lineage transmitted by Shinto scholar Yoshikawa Koretari (1616–1694).

Present Shinto Sects

Fuso-kyo: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shintō. It was organized by Shishino Nakaba (1844–84) based on the mountain faith to Mount Fuji (Fuji shinkō) founded by Hasegawa Kakugyō (1541?–1646?).

Izumo Ōyashirokyō: One of the original thirteen pre-war sects of Shinto. It was founded by Senge Takatomi (1845–1918).

Jikkō kyō: One of the thirteen sects of pre-war Shinto. Based on Fujidō, founded by Hasegawa Kakugyō (born in Nagasaki, 1541–1646). A mountain faith focused on Mount Fuji (Fuji shinkō).

Konkōkyō: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto. Founded by Konkō Daijin (1814–83) (born Akazawa Bunji).

Kurozumikyō: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto, founded by Kurozumi Munetada (1780–1850).

Misogikyo: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto. Founded by Inoue Masakane (1790–1849).

Ontakekyō: One of the thirteen sects of Shinto in the prewar period centered on faith in Mount Ontake (ontake shinkō).

Shinrikyo: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto, founded by Sano Tsunehiko (1834–1906).

Shinshūkyō: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto, founded by Yoshimura Masamochi (1839–1915).

Shinto Shusei: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto, founded by Nitta Kuniteru (1829–1902).

Shintō Taikyō: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto, known previously as Shintō Honkyoku (its formal name was simply "Shintō").

Shintō Taiseikyō: One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shintō, founded by Hirayama Seisai (1815–1890).

Shintō-derived religious movements

Ananaikyō

An Ōmoto-lineage religion founded by Nakano Yonosuke (1887–1974).

Chikakusan Minshukyō Kyōdan: Based on the mountain-worship cult of Mount Ontake in the Kiso region founded by Nehashi Umetarō (1868–1922) as the Chikaku Kōsha (Chikaku Religious Association).

Chūshinkai: A movement focused on divination and onomancy, founded by Kumazaki Ken'ō (1881–1961).

Daihizenkyō: Founded by Orimo Nami (1893–1966).

Ennōkyō: Founded by Fukada Chiyoko (1887–1925).

Hachidai Ryūō Daishizen Aishinkyōdan: Founded by Ishikawa Sen (1886–1961), who declared to be possessed (kamigakari) by a spirit.

Hachidai Ryūōjin Hakkō Seidan: Founded by Demura Ryūsei (1926– ).

Hachirakukai Kyōdan: Founded by Ogawa Kōichirō (1919–80).

Hi no Oshie: Teaching of the Sun. Founded by Sakuma Nikkō (1884–1954) (Nikkō means "sun-light").

Hikari Kyōkai: Derived from Ōmoto. Founded by painter Okamoto Tenmei (1897–1963).

Hizuki no Miya: Founded by Fujimoto Toshinari (1930–1989). The founding of the religion is dated from January 11, 1956, when Fujimoto received a revelation from the kami Amaterasu ōmikami.

Honbushin: A group from Tenrikyō lineage. Founded by Ōnishi Tama (1916–1969), the group originated in 1961 within Honmichi as the Tenri Mirokukai (Tenri Miroku Association) and later seceded.

Honmichi: Founded by Ōnishi Aijirō (1881–1958) a teacher in Tenrikyō.

Ijun: Founded by Takayasu Ryūsen (1934–) as an Okinawan religion.

Ishinkyō: Founded by Hashiguchi Reizui (1879–1963).

Izumo Shin’yū Kyōkai: Founded in 1968 by Hosoya Seiko (1927–) after she had practiced austerities in Izumo, Nara and Eiheiji.

Izumokyō: This is a religion reminiscent of sectarian Shinto (Kyōha Shintō). It was started by Kitajima Naganori (1834–93).

Jieidō: Lineage of Sekai Kyūseikyō, founded by Katsunuma Hisako (1927–).

Jingūkyō: With characteristics of sect Shinto (kyōha Shintō) and founded by Urata Nagatami and others.

Kakushin Shūkyō Nipponkyō: Originated in 1940, when the "Father-deity Kotoshironushi no ōkami" descended upon Chitose Makami (1879–1986).

Kannagarakyō: Founded by Mizuno Fusa (1883–1970).

Kikueikai Kyōdan: Founded in 1928 by the sculptor of Buddhist images Hayashi Shikō (1901–88). Shikō claimed that a golden sphere with the form of a "nine-star divination pattern" came floating towards him, after which he began to engage in spiritual healing.

Kogi Shintō: Founded by the Shinto priest Kuwabara Yachio (1910–) after World War II.

Koshintō Senpōkyō: Founded by Masai Yoshimitsu (1907–1970), and known for its claim to be related to the tradition of "ancient Shinto" (Koshintō).

Kōso Kōtai Jingū Amatsukyō [ja]: Founded by Takeuchi Kiyomaro (also Ōmaro) (1874–1965) based on an ancient text known as the Takeuchi document [ja] (Takeuchi monjo).

Kuzuryū Taisha: Founded by Ōnishi Masajirō (1913–88) after receiving a dream oracle from the deity Benzaiten (Sanskrit Sarasvati) during a dream in 1954.

Kyūseishukyō: Resulting from the merging of four branches of Sekai Kyūseikyō, it began its activities in 1955 after the death of the founder of Sekai Kyūseikyō, Okada Mōkichi (1882–1955).

Makoto no Michi: Founded by Ogiwara Makoto (1910–81) who experienced paranormal powers since before World War II.

Makoto no Michikyō: Founded by Matsumoto Jōtarō (September 1881–1944).

Maruyamakyō: Founded by Itō Rokurobei (1829–94).

Misogikyō Shinpa: Founded by Sakata Yasuhiro (1962–).

Mitamakyō: Founded by Nagata Fuku (1891–1975).

Miyaji Shinsendō: Founded by Miyaji Suii (known as Kakiwa, 1852–1904) and with strong Taoist influence.

Nihon Jingū Honchō: Founded by Nakajima Shūkō (1902–88) who was deeply interested in the study of the traditional calendar (rekigaku) and the theory of five phases of matter (gogyō).

Nihon Seidō Kyōdan: Founded by Iwasaki Shōō (1934–) who had a mystical experience while in a coma.

Nikkōkyō: Founded by Teraguchi Kōjirō (1881–1960).

Ōkanmichi: Founded by Yamada Baijirō (1875–1941), a Tenrikyō teacher.

Ōmiwakyō (Sako): Founded by Sako Kan (1878–1937).

Ōmiwakyō　(Kojima): Founded by Kojima Moriyoshi in 1872.

Ōmoto: Founded by Deguchi Nao (1836–1918) and Deguchi Onisaburō (1871–1948) after a "spirit dream" at the lunar New Year in 1892.

Ōmoto Hikari no Michi: Founded by Hōkan Meikyō (1923–) based on Ōmoto and Sekai Kyūseikyō.

Ōyamanezu no Mikoto Shinji Kyōkai: Founded by Inai Sadao (1906–88).

Perfect Liberty Kyōdan (PL Kyōdan): Known as Church of Perfect Liberty frequently abbreviated as merely "PL", founded by Miki Tokuharu (1871–1938), a Zen monk.

Reiha no Hikari Kyōkai: Founded by Hase Yoshio (1915–84).

Renmonkyō: Founded by Shimamura Mitsu (1831–1904) who was saved from serious illness by Yanagita Ichibei, who had studied the "marvelous law of things" (myōhō no ji).

Renshindō Kyōdan: Founded by Tanaka Jigohei (1886–1973).

Samuhara Jinja: Started in 1935 when Tanaka Tomisaburō (1868–1967) rebuilt a dilapidated shrine in Okayama.

Seichō no Ie: Connected to Ōmoto and founded by Taniguchi Masaharu (1893–1985).

Seikōkyō: Founded by Fujita Nobuhiko (1889–1977).

Seimeikyō: Derived from Sekai Kyūseikyō and created in 1955 by Kihara Yoshihiko.

Seishin Myōjōkai: Founded by Fujita Motonari (1903–85).

Sekai Kyūseikyō: Church of World Messianity from the Ōmoto lineage. It was founded by Okada Mokichi.

Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyōdan: Derivation from Ōmoto and Sekai Kyūseikyō, founded by Okada Kōtama (1901–1974, born Yoshikazu).

Sekai Shindōkyō: Founded by Aida Hide (1898–1973).

Shidaidō: Founded by Nagahashi Yasuhiko (1895–1981) in 1931.

Shin Nihon Shūkyō Dantai Rengōkai: Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan, founded by and for new Japanese religious movements. Established in 1951 with a membership of twenty-four groups.

Shindō Tenkōkyo: Founded by Tomokiyo Yoshizane (1888–1952).

Shinji Shūmeikai: Founded by Koyama Mihoko (1910–).

Shinmei Aishinkai: Founded by Komatsu Shin'yō (1928– ).

Shinreikai Kyōdan: Founded by Ishii Reizan (born Iwayoshi, 1884–58) who had a revelation in 1932.

Shinreikyō: Founded by Ōtsuka Kan'ichi (1891–72).

Shinri Jikkō no Oshie: Founded by Honjō Chiyoko (1902–1957).

Shinsei Tengan Manaita no Kai: Founded by Kurata Chikyū (1906–91).

Shintō Shinkyō: Founded by Unigame Ito (1876–1976).

Shintō Shinshinkyō: Founded by Adachi Taijūrō (1841–1895) who received a divine revelation after nine years of his own unique form of practice.

Shizensha: Founded by Hashimoto Satomi (1899–1984).

Shōroku Shintō Yamatoyama: Founded by Tazawa Seishirō (1884–1966) after dedicating a shrine to a "mountain kami" (yama no kami) in 1919, witnessing extraordinary astronomical phenomena, and hearing divine voices.

Shūkyō Hōjin Byakkō Shinkōkai: Founded by Goi Masahisa (1916–1980) emphasizes two characteristic Ōmoto doctrines, the notion that all religions emanate from the same root (bankyō dōkon), and the principle of world peace.

Shūkyō Hōjin Shikō Gakuen: Founded by Kawakami Seizan (1908–51).

Shūyōdan Hōseikai: Founded by Idei Seitarō (1899–1983).

Soshindō: Started focused on Matsushita Matsuzō (1873–1947), a spirit medium (reinōsha) active from the Taisho era (1912–26) to the World War II period.

Soshindō Kyōdan: Founded by Yoshioka Tajūrō (1905–87).

Subikari Kōha Sekai Shindan: Founded by the spiritualist manga artist Kuroda Minoru (1928– ).

Sukui no Hikari Kyōdan: A new religion deriving from Sekai Kyūseikyō, one several groups in opposition to that religion's policy of centralization (ichigenka) implemented in the mid-1960s.

Sūkyō Mahikari: Derived from the lineages of Ōmoto and Sekai Kyūseikyō, founded by Kōtama Okada (Sukuinushisama) (1901–74) on August 28, 1959 and established as a registered religious organisation on 1978 by Mr Okada's daughter Sachiko Keishu Okada (Oshienushisama), (1929– ).

Sumerakyō: Founded by Onikura Taruhiko after having experienced possession (kamigakari) by a deity around 1919.

Taireidō: Founded by Tanaka Morihei (1884–1928) who was said to have acquired a kind of supranormal power (reishiryoku) after a four-month ascetic seclusion in the mountains.

Taiwa Kyōdan: Emerged from Yamatokyō, founded by Hozumi Kenkō (1913–76) and his wife Hisako (1908–2003).

Tamamitsu Jinja: Founded by the spirit medium Motoyama Kinue (1909–74).

Ten'onkyo: Founded by Hachiro Fukuji (1899–1962) who experienced the ability to converse with a spirit, and thereafter received visitations from various deities.

Tenchikyō: Founded by Uozumi Masanobu (1852–1928).

Tengenkyō: Founded by Naniwa Hisakazu (1902–84).

Tenjōkyō: Founded by Ishiguro Jō (1908– ).

Tenjōkyō Hon'in: Founded by Kuramoto Ito (1895–1985).

Tenkōkyō: Founded by Fujita Shinshō (?–1966) who received at age nineteen a revelation from a deity he called Tenchikane no kami ("heaven-earth gold deity").

Tenrikyō: It was one of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto. Founded by Nakayama Miki (1798–1887) after having a sudden experience of spirit possession (kamigakari) from a deity she called Tenri-O-no-Mikoto. in the tenth lunar month of 1863. Tenrikyo removed itself from its Sect Shinto classification when it was free to do so after World War II.

Tensei Shinbikai: Founded by Iwanaga Kayoko (1934–).

Tensenku Monkyō (Tendan): Known locally as Tinsinkun Munchu (Tinkha), emerged from ancient Shintō (Koshintō) in the southern Ryukyu islands.

Tensha Tsuchimikado Shintō Honchō: Inspired in Tsuchimikado Shintō (Tensha Shintō).

Tenshin Seikyō: Founded by Shimada Seiichi (1896–1985).

Tenshindō Kyōdan: Founded by Tamura Reishō (1890–1968) who received the revelation of Kami on April 3, 1927. [1]^{[permanent dead link]} While working in the office of the Governor-General of Korea, Reishō studied the Daoistic magical arts transmitted in Korea since ancient times.^[3]

Tenshinkyō Shin'yūden Kyōkai: Founded by Kamiide Fusae (1922–1980) who had a sudden experience of spirit possession (kamigakari) in 1958.

Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō: Founded by Kitamura Sayo (1900–1967).

Tenshōkyō: Founded by Senba Hideo (1925–) and his wife Senba Kimiko.

Tenshūkyō: Founded by Unagami Haruho (1896–1965).

Tokumitsukyō: Founded by Kanada Tokumitsu (1863–1919).

Worldmate (formerly Cosmomate): Founded by Fukami Seizan (aka Fukami Tōshū, born Haruhisa Handa) (1951–).

Yamakage Shintō: Emerged from "ancient Shinto" (Koshintō) tradition, founded by the Yamakage family.

Yamatokyō: Founded by Hozumi Kenkō (1913–76), a practitioner of Shugendō at Dewa Sanzan.

Zenrinkyō: Founded by Rikihisa Tatsusai (1906–77).

Other sects and schools

There may be some Shinto schools and sects, that even having a structure and followers, are not included in authoritative publications. This may be because of their small size and influence, fairly unknown presence or practices, or because those schools are new branches from older schools and still considered within their structure.

Notes

^ MacKenzie, Donald A (2005). Myth of China and Japan. London, UK: Kessinger Publishing. p. 387. ISBN 978-1-4179-6429-1.
^ Breen, John et al. (2000). Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami, p. 176.
^ Tenshindō Kyōdan By Yumiyama Tatsuya, 2006/ 5/ 25, Establishment of a National Learning Institute for the Dissemination of Research on Shinto and Japanese Culture

References

Breen, John and Mark Teeuwen. (2000). Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-2363-4.
Encyclopedia of New Religions, Shinshūkyō jiten. Inoue Nobutaka et al., eds., Kōbundō, 1990. ISBN 4-335-16018-6
Encyclopedia of Shinto, Schools, Groups and Personalities. Institute of Japanese Culture and Classics, Kokugakuin University (2006) Edit Norman Havens ISBN 4-905853-12-5
Religions Yearbook, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Shūkyō nenkan (1993), eds Japan Monbushō, Japan Bunkachō. ISSN 0583-1571

[1] MacKenzie, Donald A (2005). Myth of China and Japan. London, UK: Kessinger Publishing. p. 387. ISBN 978-1-4179-6429-1.

[2] Breen, John et al. (2000). Shinto in History: Ways of the Kami, p. 176.

[3] Tenshindō Kyōdan By Yumiyama Tatsuya, 2006/ 5/ 25, Establishment of a National Learning Institute for the Dissemination of Research on Shinto and Japanese Culture

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