Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō

Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō (Japanese: ) is a Japanese new religious movement. The movement began activities in 1945, and reportedly includes 450,000 members. It was established by Sayo Kitamura () (1900–1967), who was possessed by the deity on May 4, 1944. She is referred to as by the religion's followers.

Its headquarters are in Tabuse (, Tabuse-chō), a town in Kumage District, Yamaguchi, Japan.

History Following the burning of her family barn by an arsonist in 1942, Kitamura was told by a healer to begin intense prayer and ascetic practices, taking cold baths and going to worship at a nearby shrine in the early morning, which continued for a few years.Kerner, Karen. 1979. “Building God’s Kingdom: Society and Order in a Japanese Utopian Community.” Dissertation. In 1944, she became possessed by a spirit that later claimed to be Tenshō Kōtai Jingū. The deity gave her orders, and if she failed to obey, it caused her immense pain. Later that year the deity claimed that it would use her to save the world. Today, a tall concrete pillar marks the summit of (), the mountain where Kitamura received this divine revelation.

Kitamura started to speak more harshly and dressed in masculine clothes, claiming that it was more suitable for the way she now spoke. She also became openly critical of other established religions and the Japanese government and even the emperor, predicting that the war would end badly for Japan. During the first few years after her possession, Kitamura held daily sermons at her own home, and her reputation began to spread in Tabuse. After the war ended, she proved her predictions to be correct, and people began devoting themselves to her teachings. Followers claimed to be cured of their illnesses from hearing her sermons and practising her teachings.

Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō began garnering attention from the press in April 1946. When Kitamura was imprisoned and tried for refusing to comply with compulsory rice quotas in the area, a local newspaper began publishing articles about her trial. Throughout the course of her trial, Kitamura also drew the interest of the prosecutor, Watanabe Tomekichi, who visited her during her probation to listen to her sermons, and converted soon after the trial ended. Watanabe later became an important figure for the religion.

Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō registered under the Religious Corporations Ordinance on January 11, 1947.

When Kitamura died in 1967, she was succeeded as head of Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō by her granddaughter Kiyokazu.

Beliefs and practices Kitamura, or Ogamisama, preached abandoning one's attachments to the "maggot world," especially to traditional, established religions, which she believed to be idol worship. Kitamura and her followers claimed that she was a messiah equal to Jesus Christ and Buddha.

Followers practice a dance called muga no mai (, "Dance of the non-self" or "Dance of the non-ego"), which is why the religion is often referred to as the "dancing religion" (, Odoru shūkyō). They also chant (with the kanji differing that of the typical Buddhist version) as part of their daily practice.

The religion's scripture is the Seisho (生書), which is published in four volumes. The religion's teachings are known as mioshie (御教え), while followers are referred to as ().

Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō's international headquarters in Tabuse consists of a large concrete dōjō built in 1962. The third floor is the main worship hall consisting of 550 tatami mats, with one statue of Ogamisama and natural light coming in from the rooftop. There is are also dōjōs in Tokyo and Honolulu.Tensho-kotai-jingu-kyo (n.d.). Everspreading Kingdom of God (開けゆく神の国). Tabuse: Tensho-kotai-jingu-kyo. During dōjō sessions, Ogamisama's recordings are played. About 3,000 hours of recordings have been archived. At the headquarters, there is also a house where Ogamisama used to live, as well as a memorial hall that enshrines the spirit of Ogamisama. Dormitories are available for visitors.

Tensho Kotai Jingukyo's Kigen (紀元) calendar year starts from 1946, when Sayo Kitamura proclaimed that God's new era would start. For example Kigen (紀元) year 1 would be 1946, and Kigen (紀元) year 22 would be 1967.

Six basic emotions In Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō, the "six basic emotions" to be controlled are:

The first four basic emotions are identical to the first four "eight dusts" in Tenrikyo.

Prayer The main prayer of the religion is as follows.Tensho Kotai Jingu-Kyo ( 1960). Prescription for Happiness. Tabuse: Tensho Kotai Jingu-Kyo.

+ Japanese textJapanese transliterationEnglish translation

See also Anatta / Anātman (Japanese: muga)

References

Tenshō Kōtai Jingūkyō

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