Shintō Tenkōkyo

Shinto Tenkokyo (神道天行居, Shintō Tenkōkyo, Shindō Tenkōkyo) is a Shinto-based Japanese new religion founded by Tomokiyo Yoshisane (友清歓真) in 1920. Shinto Tenkokyo has several shrines (jinja 神社) on Mount Iwaki or Iwaki-yama (石城山) in Hikari, Yamaguchi Prefecture.^[1] Its headquarters is located at the southern base of the mountain in Tabuse.^[2]

Shinto Tenkokyo
神道天行居
Tomokiyo Yoshisane (友清歓真), the religion's founder
Scripture	Tomokiyo Yoshisane zenshū (友清歓真全集) (6 volumes)
Theology	Worship of Amaterasu, along with various other kami
Language	Japanese
Headquarters	Tabuse, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Founder	Tomokiyo Yoshisane (友清歓真)
Origin	1920 Shizuoka
Official website	tenkoukyo.jp

History

In 1920, the predecessor of the current organization was founded as Kakushin-kai (格神会) in Shizuoka by Tomokiyo Yoshisane, who had been a magazine editor for Oomoto from 1918 and 1919. The organization, later renamed Shintō Tenkōkyo, was registered in 1922. In 1928, Tomokiyo moved Shintō Tenkōkyo from Shizuoka to Tabuse and constructed several shrines on Mount Iwaki in 1930.^[3][4]

Rituals

Shintō Tenkōkyo considers its rituals to be a continuation of Ko-Shintō.^[5]

Every November, Shintō Tenkōkyo organizes a nighttime ritual ceremony (山上夜間特別修法) for "universal harmony and world spiritualization" (万有和合・世界霊化). Followers recite the "Ten Prayers" (十言神咒) in dedication to Amaterasu.^[6]

A key focus of its activities is "spiritual national defense" (霊的国防, reiteki kokubō), which was practiced extensively during World War II in order to pray for the protection of the Empire of Japan. The religion also practices chinkon kishin (鎮魂帰神) (lit. 'calming the soul and returning to the divine'), a spirit possession technique devised by Honda Chikaatsu (本田親徳) and subsequently transmitted by his disciple Nagasawa Katsutate (長澤雄楯), that is also practiced in Oomoto and Ananaikyo.^[7] Shintō Tenkōkyo's practice of chinkon kishin still adheres closely to the original form as taught by Honda Chikaatsu during the 19th century. Today, chinkon kishin is strictly reserved for Shintō Tenkōkyo members and is not open to the general public.^[5]

Another ritual in Shintō Tenkōkyo is mikiyome tamashizume (浄身鎮魂法) (lit. 'body purification and soul strengthening'). According to Tomokiyo, he received this ritual on October 28, 1920 during a kishin session with the kami, Ame no Uzume.^[5]

The sun goddess Amaterasu is the main deity worshipped. Tokoto no kajiri (十言の神呪) is a prayer in which the ten syllables of Amaterasu Ōmikami (天照大御神) are pronounced as "A-ma-te-ra-su O-ho-mi-ka-mi" (アマテラス オホミカミ) many times.^[5]

Texts

Shintō Tenkōkyo's main religious text is Tomokiyo Yoshisane zenshū (友清歓真全集) (lit. 'The Complete Works of Tomokiyo Yoshisane'), a multiple-volume anthology of writings by Tomokiyo Yoshisane (友清歓真), the religion's founder.^[8] There are three editions:^[5]

• The Iwakiyama edition (石城山版) was published 1955 and 1974 and consists of 5 volumes. 3 more volumes containing letters and other materials had been planned, but were never published.
• The Sangensha (参玄社) edition was published in 1988 and 1989 and consists of 6 volumes, with 4 more volumes planned before Sangensha went bankrupt.
• The Hachiman Shoten (八幡書店) edition was published beginning in 2004, with 8 volumes total.^[9]

In October 1919, Tomokiyo published The origin and practice of chinkon kishin (鎮魂帰神の原理及応用, Chinkon kishin no genri oyobi ōyō), a monograph about chinkon kishin. After it quickly sold out, it was revised as The essence of chinkon kishin (鎮魂帰神の極意, Chinkon kishin no gokui) in May 1920. This revised version is included in the first volume of Tomokiyo Yoshisane zenshū as published by Hachiman in 2004.^[5] The full text of Shintō montai (真道問対) by Honda Chikaatsu is attached at the end of Chinkon kishin no gokui (鎮魂帰神の極意). The text consists of 114 questions from Soejima Taneomi, along with answers from Honda, in literary Chinese.^[10]

A Guide to Spirit Studies (霊学筌蹄, Reigaku sentei) is a synopsis of Tomokiyo's main teachings and contains two chapters about chinkon kishin. Originally published in August 1921, it is included in the first volume of all editions of Tomokiyo Yoshisane zenshū (友清歓真全集).^[5]

Shrines

The summit of Mount Iwaki has several jinja (神社) affiliated with Shintō Tenkōkyo.

Shintō Tenkōkyo's shrines are located on Mount Iwaki (石城山), located to the north of the town of Tabuse in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The religion pronounces the name of the mountain as Iwaki-yama, but outside the religion the conventional pronunciation is Iwaki-san. It is the most sacred mountain of Shintō Tenkōkyo and is considered to be the earthly representation of the heavenly gathering place of the gods, similar to Oomoto's treatment of Mount Hongū in Ayabe.^[5]

Going clockwise from south and west to north and east, the Shintō Tenkōkyo shrines on Iwaki-yama are:^[1]

• Tenryū Jinja (天龍神社)
• Yamato Jinja (日本神社) (main shrine; large building)
• Iwayama Jinja (磐山神社)
• Mononobe Jinja (物部神社)
• Isotake Jinja (五十猛神社)
• Ashihara Jinja (葦原神社)
• Sekijōjima Jinja (石城島神社) (large building)

Iwakisan Kōgoishi (石城山神籠石), the ruins of an ancient castle, is located to the northeast of the Shinto Tenkokyo shrine cluster.

To the west, Iwaki Jinja (石城神社) and its affiliated auxiliary shrines (setsumatsusha 摂末社) predate the Shinto Tenkokyo shrines. Iwaki Jinja's auxiliary shrines are (clockwise from south and west to north and east):

• Uwanari-sha (宇和奈利社) (just east of Iwayama Jinja (磐山神社))
• Ara-sha (荒神社)
• Suga-sha (須賀社)
• Takahi Jinja (高日神社)
• Myōken-sha (妙見社)
• Wakamiya-sha (若宮社) (just south of Mononobe Jinja (物部神社))

See also

• Ananaikyo