Tensokokyo

Tensokokyo
天祖光教
Tensokokyo Headquarters in Nagoya
HeadquartersMoriyama-ku, Nagoya
FounderShimizu Shin'ichi (清水信一)
Origin1942
Members9,602 in 2025[1]
Official websitewww.tensokokyo.or.jp
SloganNichi-Nichi Ten Tō (日日点灯)

Tensokokyo (Japanese: 天祖光教) is a Japanese new religion that is classified neither as Sect Shinto nor Japanese Buddhism.[1] The headquarters of Tensokokyo is located in Moriyama-ku, Nagoya.

It was founded in 1942 by Shimizu Shin'ichi (清水信一, 1910–1969), who is also known by his followers as Beigan no Kuju (蔽顔の救主) (lit. '"Hidden Face Savior"'). The religion considers him to be an incarnation of the Heavenly Savior (天降の救世寿), who had also manifested himself in the past as the Buddha, Jesus, Laozi, Confucius, and Muhammad.[2]

Outside of Japan, there were attempts of proselytization to attract followers in South Korea.[3]

Teachings

It is a Shinto-based teachings that are heavily inspired by Buddhist and Christian teachings, particularly warning against immoral actions.[n 1][5][6] The immoral actions are "greed, anger, gluttony, dishonesty and other evils" as designated by Shinto, Buddhism, and Christianity in unison.

Scriptures

The religion's main scriptures, written by its founder, include Voice of the Sphinx (スフィンクスの声), as well as a collection of hymns known as the "Heavenly Sacred Hymns" (天降の聖歌).[7] Its mantra is Nichi-Nichi Ten Tō (日日点灯) ("everyday, lighting candles/lights") in full: 日日点灯福寿無量天降救世主).[8]

Schisms

Rurikyō-kai (瑠璃教会), founded by Matsui Ruritoshi (松井瑠璃寿), split off from Tensokokyo in 1953.

See also

  • Dōkai, a similar Japanese new religion that adopted teachings of Christianity

Notes

  1. ^ This is similar to the now-defunct Tenri Sanrinkō's attempt to merge Buddhist and Christian teachings under a Shinto-inspired doctrinal context.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b 宗敎年鑑（令和７年版） [Religion Almanac (2025 Ed.)] (PDF) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Agency for Cultural Affairs. 2025. p. 86. （諸教）／項目：天祖光教／信者：９，６０２ [(Other Religions) / Entry: Tensōkokyō / Followers: 9,602]
  2. ^ Yoshida (吉田), Nobuo (演男) (2011). あまつさかえとこはに: 蔽顔の救主の御足跡を探ねて [The Heaven Thrives Eternally Unchanged: In Search for the Traces of the Hidden Face Savior] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Kon'ichi No Wadaisha. ISBN 978-4875656036.
  3. ^ Jang (장), Jeong-tae (정태) (2017-05-22). "일본 신종교 '천리교' 고찰로 본 신종교 의미와 한국의 천리교 유입 ④" [Understanding the Meaning of New Religions and Tenrikyo Entering Korea through the Lense of the Japanese New Religion, Tenrikyo No.4] (in Korean). Seoul: Culture Religion Society News – Maeil Religion Newspaper. 일본계 신종교가 한국에 처음 들어온 것은 1900년초 천리교이다. 해방 이후 … 천조광교, … 등이 들어왔다. 이 중에서 천리교와 일련정종이 크게 번창했다. [It was Tenrikyo that was the first Japanese new religion to enter Korea in the early 1900s. After the Liberation of Korea… Japanese new religions such as … Tensōkokyō … entered (South) Korea. Among the religions, Tenrikyo and Nichiren Shōshū thrived greatly (in South Korea).]
  4. ^ Umehara (梅原), Masaki (正紀) [in Japanese]; Mizuno (水野), Yoshiyuki (義之) (1980). 秘儀と霊能の世界: 新宗教の底流をさぐる [The World of Secret Ceremonies & Psychic Capacities: Revealing the Underbelly of New Religions] (in Japanese). 紀尾井書房. p. 85. 翌十一年ごろから、勝は仏教とキリスト教と天理教の教えを総合して「三教合一」の教義を樹立した。 [She (Katsu Hisano) formulated the doctrine of merging Buddhism, Christianity, and Tenrikyo together to form the United Teaching of Three Faiths (三教合一) starting around 1936.]
  5. ^ Swanson, Paul L.; Chilson, Clark, eds. (2005-10-31). Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions. Nanzan Library of Asian Religion and Culture. Vol. 6. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-0824830021. Tensokōkyō 天祖光教, a messianic movement based in Nagoya, for example, draws on both Buddhist and Christian traditions.
  6. ^ Whiting, Robert (2009-09-26). The Meaning of Ichiro: The New Wave from Japan and the Transformation of Our National Pastime. New York City: Grand Central Publishing. ISBN 978-0446565226. … Tenso Kōkyō, a nationwide religion that attempted to consolidate the teachings of Christianity, Buddhism, and Shintoism, admonishing its followers against greed, anger, gluttony, dishonesty and other evils proscribed by all three.
  7. ^ "天祖光教について". 宗教法人 天祖光教 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-05-06.
  8. ^ "よくあるご質問". 宗教法人 天祖光教 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-05-06.
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