Encyclopedia of Shinto

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カテゴリー1： 8. Schools, Groups, and Personalities
カテゴリー2： Modern Sectarian Groups
Title
Koshintō Senpōkyō
Text
A Shinto-derived new religion founded by Masai Yoshimitsu (1907-1970), and known for its claim to be related to the tradition of "ancient Shinto" (Koshintō) disseminated by Hirata Atsutane. It was Miyaji Suii (also known as Kakiwa, 1852-1904) who established a system of divine laws, techniques, and magical spells as a unique form of spiritual study based on Atsutane's Shingaku (theological studies). Masai Yoshimitsu imbibed the influence of Miyaji's teaching and used it to organize a new movement, the Koshintō Senpōkyō. Born in Osaka, Yoshimitsu had, since the latter part of his twenties, devoted himself to the study of Shinto. Lamenting that the Japanese people had reached an extremely demoralized state due to defeat in the war, he felt compelled to spread correct religious faith to them through the spirit of ancient Shinto. In 1946 he set up an organization called Ubusuna Kyōkai (lit., "tutelary deity church") in Osaka and in the following year he established the Naniwa Reigaku Kenkyūjo (Naniwa Spirit Studies Research Center), which focused on reading Shinto scriptures and on studying Shinto techniques and practices.
In 1949 this movement was registered as an independent religious body under the Religious Corporations Ordinance (Shūkyō Hōjinrei) with the name Shintō Senpōkyō, and in 1953 was registered as such under the Religious Corporations Law (Shūkyō Hōjinhō). In 1971 the movement took on its current name. In 1970 Masai Yoshimitsu died and Masai Yoshikata (1943-) succeeded to his spiritual lineage. Yoshikata had begun to assist his father immediately after graduating from Kōgakkan University and had taken on responsibility for the movement's activities. Afterwards he focused on providing followers with teaching and guidance about the world of immortals (shinsenkai) and the ghostly world (yōmeikai), and about a writing system ostensibly passed down from the era of the gods (kamiyomoji), and about various magical spell techniques. Apart from Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, the movement adopts as scriptures the writings of the kokugaku (national learning) scholars, and of Miyaji Suii. It also emphasizes worship of the kami and veneration of ancestors, and conducts rituals in what it considers to be a pure Shinto style.
Headquarters: Osaka Prefecture
Nominal membership: Approximately 23, 000 (M)

— Inoue Nobutaka

Pronunciation in Japanese/用語音声

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