Shinto sects and schools

Torii gate typical of Shinto shrines

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.

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 (忌部神道)

This is the Inbe clan (忌部氏) 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 (伊勢神道)

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 神祇氏族) and clans connected to the Jingi-kan such as the Nakatomi and Inbe.

Jūhachi Shintō (十八神道)

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

Juka Shintō (儒家神道)

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 (庚申)

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

Koshintō (古神道)

"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 (物部神道)

Based on the text Sendai kuji hongi taiseikyō.

Ōgimachi Shintō (正親町神道)

Founded 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 (山王神道)

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

Shugendō (修験道)

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 (土御門神道)

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 (対馬神道)

Founded on 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 Mount Katsuragi. It integrates esoteric Buddhism, siddham (Sanskrit philology), and Zen, as well as Confucianism and Shinto.

Yoshida Shintō (吉田神道)

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.

Yoshikawa Shintō (吉川神道)

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

Present Shinto Sects

Main article: Sect Shinto

Fuso-kyo (扶桑教)

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 (出雲大社教)

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

Jikkō kyō (実行教)

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 (金光教)

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

Kurozumikyō (黒住教)

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

Misogikyo (禊教)

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

Ontakekyō (御嶽教)

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

Shinrikyo (神理教)

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

Shinshūkyō (神習教)

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

Shinto Shusei (神道修成派)

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

Shintō Taikyō (神道大教)

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

Shintō Taiseikyō (神道大成教)

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

Shintō-derived religious movements

Ananaikyō (三五教)

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

Byakkō Shinkōkai (白光真宏会)

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.

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 (円応教)

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 (ほんぶしん)

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

Honmichi ((ほんみち)

Founded by Ōnishi Aijirō (1881–1958), a former Tenrikyō missionary.

Ijun (いじゅん)

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 (出雲教)

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 (神宮教)

With characteristics of Sect Shinto (Kyōha Shintō) and founded by Urata Nagatami and others.

Kakushin Shūkyō Nipponkyō

Founded in 1940, when the "Father-deity Kotoshironushi no ōkami" descended upon Chitose Makami (1879–1986).

Kami Ichijōkyō (神一条教)

A Tenrikyō-lineage group founded by Yonetani Kuni (米谷クニ) (1889–1974).

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 (皇祖皇太神宮天津教)

Founded by Takeuchi Kiyomaro (also Ōmaro) (1874–1965) based on the Takeuchi Documents (Takeuchi monjo), claimed to be rediscovered ancient texts.

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 Mokichi (1882–1955).

Makoto no Michi (真の道)

Founded by Hagiwara Makoto (1910–81) who experienced paranormal powers since before World War II.

Makoto no Michikyō

Founded by Matsumoto Jōtarō (September 1881–1944).

Maruyamakyō (丸山教)

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 (日光教)

Founded by Teraguchi Kōjirō (1881–1960).

Ōkanmichi (おうかんみち)

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 (大本)

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 (大本光之道)

Founded by Hōkan Meikyō (1923–) based on Ōmoto and Sekai Kyūseikyō.

Ōyamanezu no Mikoto Shinji Kyōkai (大山ねずの命神示教会)

Founded by Inai Sadao (1906–88).

Perfect Liberty Kyōdan (PL Kyōdan) (パーフェクト リバティー教団)

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

Reiha no Hikari Kyōkai (霊波之光教会)

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 (生長の家)

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 (世界救世教)

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

Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyōdan (世界真光文明教団)

Also known as World Divine Light outside Japan, it is one of the Mahikari movement Okada Kōtama (1901–1974, born Yoshikazu) founded the Mahikari religion, which then split into Sukyo Mahikari and Sekai Mahikari Bunmei Kyōdan (World Divine Light) upon his death.

Sekai Shindōkyō (世界心道教)

Founded by Aida Hide (1898–1973).

Shidaidō

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

Shikō Gakuen

Founded by Kawakami Seizan (1908–51).

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 (神道天行居)

Founded by Tomokiyo Yoshizane (1888–1952).

Shinji Shūmeikai (神慈秀明会)

Founded by Koyama Mihoko (1910–).

Shinmei Aishinkai (神命愛心会)

Founded by Komatsu Shin'yō (1928– ).

Shinreikai Kyōdan (神霊会教団)

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

Shinreikyō (神霊教)

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 (松緑神道大和山)

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.

Shūyōdan Hōseikai (修養団捧誠会)

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 (救いの光教団)

A new religion deriving from Sekai Kyūseikyō, one of several groups in opposition to that religion's policy of centralization (ichigenka) implemented in the mid-1960s.

Sūkyō Mahikari (崇教真光)

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 (玉光神社)

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

Ten'onkyo (天恩教)

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

Tenchikyō (天地教)

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 ((天光教)

Derived from Konkōkyō. 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 (天理教)

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] While working in the office of the Governor-General of Korea, Reishō studied the Daoistic magical arts transmitted in Korea since ancient times.

Tenshinkyō Shin'yūden Kyōkai

Founded by Kamiide Fusae (1922–1980) who had a sudden experience of spirit possession (kamigakari) in 1958.

Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō (天照皇大神宮教)

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).

World Mate (ワールドメイト; 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 (大和教)

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

Zenrinkyō (善隣教)

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.

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