Shinmeiaishinkai
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese new religious movement
founded by Komatsu Kiyoko in 1976. Komatsu was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1928; her mother was the successor to a hereditary line of Shinto
priests. In 1976, an acquaintance of Komatsu's made a prophecy that a Shinto kami was about to descend to Earth. Shortly thereafter, Komatsu was visited in turn by a dragon god, the bodhisattva
Kannon, and finally Amaterasu Oomikami, the Shinto goddess of the sun. From that time forward, Komatsu dedicated herself to passing on knowledge from Amaterasu.
The Shinmei Aishinkai movement became an official religious organization in 1983. The focus of the movement's practices are a set of okiyome or osame, purification rituals that are meant to give ascension to the spirits, or jaki (See also: Amanojaku
) of departed people which are still bound to the earth. By doing so, the group hopes to ensure peace and prosperity throughout the world. To that end, rituals have been held following such events as the destruction of the Berlin Wall and the September 11th bombings. The movement's main festival, known as kamiyou gyouretsu, is held in autumn at the main Tokyo shrine and includes a parade in which members dress in period clothing and proceed through the city.
The five main gods worshipped by followers are as follows: Amaterasu Oomikami, Takemikazuchi no mikoto, Ninigi, Kannou no kami, and Ama no Tajikarao no mikoto. However, others such as Ame no Uzume are also regularly worshipped.
The Shinmei movement, like many Shinto-derived new religious movements includes a strong emphasis on divination, particularly Chinese five-element theory known as kigaku. This includes the study of kasou, the floor plan of one's house and the influences of energy drawn from various compass directions. This shares some similarities with feng shui
or fuusui but should not be conflated with that art. The group also has strong ties to Ise Shrine
(Ise, Mie Prefecture
), where the goddess Amaterasu is believed to reside.
As of 2008, the group has approximately 50,000 members nationwide. Branch shrines have been established in Hokkaidō
, Kyūshū
, Nasu (Tochigi Prefecture
), and Hyōgo Prefecture
. The main shrine is located in Tokyo, Japan.
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
founded by Komatsu Kiyoko in 1976. Komatsu was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1928; her mother was the successor to a hereditary line of Shinto
Shinto
or Shintoism, also kami-no-michi, is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a set of practices, to be carried out diligently, to establish a connection between present day Japan and its ancient past. Shinto practices were first recorded and codified in the written...
priests. In 1976, an acquaintance of Komatsu's made a prophecy that a Shinto kami was about to descend to Earth. Shortly thereafter, Komatsu was visited in turn by a dragon god, the bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
Kannon, and finally Amaterasu Oomikami, the Shinto goddess of the sun. From that time forward, Komatsu dedicated herself to passing on knowledge from Amaterasu.
The Shinmei Aishinkai movement became an official religious organization in 1983. The focus of the movement's practices are a set of okiyome or osame, purification rituals that are meant to give ascension to the spirits, or jaki (See also: Amanojaku
Amanojaku
Amanojaku, or Amanjaku is a demon-like creature in Japanese folklore. It is usually depicted as a kind of small oni, and is thought to be able to provoke a person's darkest desires and thus instigate him into perpetrating wicked deeds.One of the amanojaku's best known appearances is in the...
) of departed people which are still bound to the earth. By doing so, the group hopes to ensure peace and prosperity throughout the world. To that end, rituals have been held following such events as the destruction of the Berlin Wall and the September 11th bombings. The movement's main festival, known as kamiyou gyouretsu, is held in autumn at the main Tokyo shrine and includes a parade in which members dress in period clothing and proceed through the city.
The five main gods worshipped by followers are as follows: Amaterasu Oomikami, Takemikazuchi no mikoto, Ninigi, Kannou no kami, and Ama no Tajikarao no mikoto. However, others such as Ame no Uzume are also regularly worshipped.
The Shinmei movement, like many Shinto-derived new religious movements includes a strong emphasis on divination, particularly Chinese five-element theory known as kigaku. This includes the study of kasou, the floor plan of one's house and the influences of energy drawn from various compass directions. This shares some similarities with feng shui
Feng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
or fuusui but should not be conflated with that art. The group also has strong ties to Ise Shrine
Ise Shrine
is a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu-ōmikami, located in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture, Japan. Officially known simply as , Ise Jingū is in fact a shrine complex composed of a large number of Shinto shrines centered on two main shrines, and ....
(Ise, Mie Prefecture
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
), where the goddess Amaterasu is believed to reside.
As of 2008, the group has approximately 50,000 members nationwide. Branch shrines have been established in Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, Nasu (Tochigi Prefecture
Tochigi Prefecture
is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...
), and Hyōgo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region on Honshū island. The capital is Kobe.The prefecture's name was previously alternately spelled as Hiogo.- History :...
. The main shrine is located in Tokyo, Japan.