"Great Source" or "Great Origin",
Oomoto's administrative headquarters is in Kameoka, Kyoto (Onisaburo Deguchi's hometown), and its spiritual headquarters is in Ayabe, Kyoto (Nao Deguchi's hometown). Uniquely among Japanese religions, Oomoto makes extensive use of the constructed language Esperanto to promote itself as a world religion. Oomoto has historically engaged in extensive interfaith dialogue with religions such as the Baháʼí Faith, Christianity, and Islam, since a key tenet of Oomoto is that all religions come from the same source (in Japanese: 万教同根).
Oomoto was brutally suppressed by the Japanese government in 1921 and again in 1935, since the government perceived it to be a threat to its authority. After World War II, Oomoto was fully legalized as a registered religious organization. Various other religions have also been founded by former followers of Oomoto, most notably Seicho-No-Ie and the Church of World Messianity.
History
In 1892,
Nao Deguchi, a housewife from the town of Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture, declared that she had a "spirit dream" during the Japanese New Year. She became possessed (
kamigakari) by Ushitora no Konjin (艮の金神) and started to transmit the
kami's words. According to the official Oomoto biography of Deguchi, she came from a family which had long been in poverty, and had pawned nearly all of her possessions to feed her children and invalid husband. After 1895, and with a growing number of followers, Deguchi Nao briefly affiliated herself with the
Konkokyo until 1897, since she did not yet have government approval for her religious movement.
In 1898, Deguchi Nao met Ueda Kisaburō, who had previous studies in kamigakari (spirit possession). In 1899, they established the Kinmeikai together, which became the Kinmei Reigakkai later in the same year. In 1900, Kisaburō married Nao's fifth daughter Sumiko and adopted the name Deguchi Onisaburō. Oomoto was thus established based on Nao's automatic writings ( Ofudesaki) and Onisaburō's spiritual techniques.
Since 1908, the group has taken diverse names — Dai Nihon Shūseikai (大日本修齋會), Taihonkyō (1913), and Kōdō Ōmoto (皇道大本) (1916). Later, the movement changed from Kōdō Ōmoto ("great origin of the imperial way") to just Ōmoto (大本, "great origin") and formed the Shōwa Seinenkai in 1929 and the Shōwa Shinseikai (昭和神聖会) in 1934.
, a teacher at Kaigun Daigakkō, attracted various intellectuals and high-ranking military officials to the movement in 1916. By 1920, the group had their own newspaper, the Taishō nichinichi shinbun (大正日日新聞), and started to expand overseas. Much of its popularity derived from a method of inducing spirit possession called chinkon kishin (鎮魂帰神), which was most widely practiced from 1916 to 1921. Following a police crackdown, Onisaburō banned chinkon kishin in 1923.
In March 1920, the Ōmoto-affiliated magazine Shinrei published an edition of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion in Japanese for the first time.
Alarmed by the popularity of Oomoto, the Imperial Japanese government, which promoted kokutai, State Shinto, and reverence for the emperor, condemned the sect for worshipping Kuninotokotachi above Amaterasu, the sun goddess from whom the Emperor of Japan claimed descent.[James L. McClain, Japan: A Modern History p 469 ] This led to two major incidents when Oomoto was persecuted under the lèse-majesté law, the , and the Public Security Preservation Law of 1925. In 1921, the first Ōmoto jiken resulted in the Oomoto headquarters being destroyed, and Onisaburo and a few of his followers were imprisoned.
From 1925 until 1933, Oomoto maintained a mission in Paris. From there, missionaries travelled throughout Europe, spreading the word that Onisaburo Deguchi was a Messiah or Maitreya who would unify the world.
In 1924, retired naval captain Yutaro Yano and his associates within the Black Dragon Society invited Onisaburo to embark on a journey to Mongolia.
In 1935, the Second Oomoto Incident again left its headquarters in ruins and its leaders in prison. This incident was carried out far more intensively than the previous one in 1921, as the Japanese government sought to completely eradicate all traces of Oomoto shrines and materials.
After World War II, Oomoto reappeared as Aizen-en (愛善苑), a movement dedicated to achieve world peace which was led by Onisaburo Deguchi's eldest grandson Yasuaki Deguchi (出口和明).
In 1949, Oomoto joined the World Federalist Movement and the World Peace campaign. In 1952, the group returned to its older name, becoming the religious corporation Oomoto under the Religious Corporations Law.
Spiritual leadership
Oomoto's spiritual leaders, all of whom belong to the Deguchi (出口) family, are:
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Main Founder (active 1892–1918): Nao Deguchi (出口なお; 1837–1918); also referred to as the Kaiso
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Co-Founder (active 1898–1948): Onisaburo Deguchi (出口王仁三郎; 1871–1948); also referred to as the Seishi
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Second Spiritual Leader: Sumi Deguchi (出口すみ子; 1883–1952), Onisaburo's wife
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Third Spiritual Leader: Naohi Deguchi (出口直日; 1902–1990), Onisaburo's eldest daughter
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Alternate Spiritual Leader: Hidemaru Deguchi (出口日出麿) (1897–1991), husband of Naohi Deguchi
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Fourth Spiritual Leader: Kiyoko Deguchi (出口聖子; 1935–2001), Naohi's third daughter
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Fifth Spiritual Leader: Kurenai Deguchi (出口紅; 1956–present), Kiyoko's niece, who has served as Fifth Spiritual Leader of Oomoto since 29 April 2001
Oomoto's spiritual headquarters, called Baishō-en (梅松苑), is in Ayabe, Kyoto, due to its association with Nao Deguchi's founding of the religion in Ayabe. However, its administrative headquarters, called Ten'on-kyō (天恩郷), is in Kameoka, Kyoto.
Scriptures
The two main scriptures (basic
kyōten 根本教典) used in Oomoto are:
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Oomoto Shin'yu (大本神諭, 277 sections), composed during 1892–1918 (originally dictated by Nao Deguchi as the Ofudesaki; reinterpreted and edited by Onisaburo Deguchi to become the Oomoto Shin'yu)
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Reikai Monogatari (霊界物語, 81 sections), composed during 1921–1934 (dictated by Onisaburo Deguchi)
Of the two, the Reikai Monogatari is by far the most commonly consulted and used scripture in present-day Oomoto.
Next in importance are two scriptures ( kyōten 教典) composed by Onisaburo Deguchi during the first decade of the 20th century, namely ()
There are also various other less commonly used texts, such as Izunome Shin'yu (伊都能売神諭, 37 volumes, composed during 1918–1919), and the Three Mirrors or San Kagami (三鏡, 844 chapters total) by Onisaburo Deguchi, which consists of the Water Mirror (水鏡, 249 chapters), Moon Mirror (月鏡, 212 chapters), and Jade Mirror (玉鏡, 383 chapters).
Sacred sites
Oomoto has numerous sacred sites, some of which are:
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Kutsujima (沓島), and nearby Kanmurijima (冠島) and Meshima (女島), considered sacred to Ushitora no Konjin (艮の金神)
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Takakuma-yama (高熊山) (354.9 metres) in Anao (穴太), Kameoka, Kyoto; Onisaburo Deguchi performed spiritual training for one week in a cave on the mountain during March 1–7, 1898
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Mount Hongū (本宮山) (92 metres) (also known as Tsuruyama 鶴山 or Maruyama 丸山
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Misen-zan (弥仙山) (664 metres) in Ayabe,
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Hachibuse-yama (鉢伏山) (1,221 metres) in Kami, Mikata District, Hyōgo,
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Ashiwake-yama (芦別山) (1,727 metres) in the Yūbari Mountains in Hokkaido, where the kami Kuni-no-Tokotachi-no-Mikoto (国常立尊) resides.
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Miyabaru-yama (宮原山), a mountain on Kikaijima (or Kikaigashima) in Kagoshima Prefecture, where the kami Toyokumonu-no-Mikoto (豊雲野尊) resides.
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The Kumayama ruins on Kumayama (熊山) (508 metres), a mountain in eastern Okayama
Festivals
Four major taisai are held for each of the four seasons.
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Setsubun taisai, February 3, Ayabe
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Maitreya]] taisai, May 5, Ayabe
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Zuisei taisai, August 7 (traditionally the 12th day of 7th lunar month), Kameoka
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Kaiso taisai, or the Foundress' Festival, November 6, Ayabe
Art
Oomoto and its adherents promote Japanese arts and culture, such as
Noh theater, calligraphy, ceramics, and the tea ceremony.
According to Onisaburo Deguchi, geijutsu wa shūkyō no haha.
This perspective was also shared by Oomoto follower
Mokichi Okada, who founded both the Church of World Messianity and the MOA Museum of Art in
Atami.
Use of Esperanto
The constructed language
Esperanto plays a major role in the Oomoto religion. Starting from the early 1920s, the religion has published a large amount of literature in Esperanto. Onisaburo Deguchi reportedly introduced Esperanto back when he had interfaith dialogues with the Baháʼí Faith in 1921. Many Oomoto facilities in Kameoka, Kyoto have multilingual signs in Japanese and Esperanto. Today, Oomoto continues to publish numerous books, periodicals, pamphlets, and websites in Esperanto; some materials (translation of Japanese texts, etc.) are actually more extensive in Esperanto than in English.
The creator of Esperanto, L. L. Zamenhof, is revered in Oomoto as a kami. The Oomoto affirmation of Zamenhof's enshrinement as a kami is stated, in Esperanto, as follows:
apoteozita]] en la kapeleto Senrej-ŝa.
The text above as translated into English is:
...The spirit of Zamenhof even now continues to act as a missionary of the angelic kingdom; therefore, his spirit was Apotheosis in the Senrei-sha shrine.
Doctrine
The Ōmoto kyōshi, also known as the (神人一致), states that:
The original Japanese text of the is:
The fundamental ways to reach God are the called the sandai gakusoku:
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tenchi no shinshō o kansatsu shite, shinkami no karada o shikō subeshi
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ban'yu no unka no naki o mite, shinkami no chikara o shikō subeshi
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katsumono no shinsei o kakugo shite shinkami no reikon o shikō subeshi
shidai kōryō are:
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matsuri – kannagara no daidō
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oshie – tenju no shinri. ('doctrine') is summarized in the 2018 book Oomoto no oshie (大本のおしえ).
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narawashi – tenjindō no tsune
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nariwai – tekigi no jimu
shidai shugi are:
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seiketsu shugi – shinshin shūbatsu no daidō
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rakuten shugi – tenchi kannagara no taidō
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shinten shugi – shakai kaizen no daidō
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tōitsu shugi – jōge itchi no daidō
A core Oomoto teaching is:
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bankyō dōkon – This was first mentioned as shōkeu dōkon in Chapter 6, Volume 23 of the Reikai Monogatari.
Beliefs and theology
Oomoto is essentially a
neo-Shinto religious movement. Oomoto doctrine has also integrated teachings and modern ideas on world harmony and peace.
God
In Oomoto, the one
Creator deity who created the universe is called Oomoto-sume-oomikami (大天主太神 or おおもとすめおおみかみ).
means "Great Origin", means "govern", and means "God". All are considered to be
Theophany of this one God. In an account from the
Reikai Monogatari, the universe began with the sudden advent of "ヽ" (). It then develops into "◉" (). This is the of and is the great origin of God.
Kami
Members of Oomoto believe in several , which are minor deities or spirits. The most important are Ushitora no Konjin, the of Nao Deguchi's initial divine possession in 1892;
Kuninotokotachi; and Hitsujisaru. Various religious figures from other religions, or even notable non-religious figures, are recognized as —for example, the creator of Esperanto, L. L. Zamenhof.
Cosmology
Oomoto's goal is the realization of the world of
Maitreya or ('the world to come'), which means heaven in the real world. It is expressed in various ways, such as ume de aite matsu de osameru (mentioned at the beginning of the
Oomoto Shin'yu), "purification of the world", "the opening of
Amano-Iwato of the world", "the world of
quartz", and so on.
Oomoto recognizes two realms, the physical world and the reikai, both of which are interconnected. In turn, the spiritual world consists of three parts:
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Takama-no-hara ()
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Ame-no-yachimata ()
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Ne-no-kuni ()
Nao Deguchi's prophecies stated that events which occur in Ayabe would also occur in Japan or throughout the world.
Meal prayer
In Oomoto, a prayer is often recited before meals, after which "
itadakimasu" is said. The prayer consists of three
tanka poems (known in Japanese as the "Three-Poem Song" 三首のお歌) composed by Oomoto's second spiritual leader,
Sumiko Deguchi (1883–1952). In 1976, Oomoto's third spiritual leader Naohi Deguchi adopted the prayer for use before meals. The prayer in Japanese, along with a literal English translation, is as follows.
The official Esperanto and Portuguese translations of the prayer, which do not always follow the exact meaning of the Japanese original, are:
Notable followers
One of the more well-known followers of Oomoto was
Morihei Ueshiba, a Japanese
and the founder of
Aikido. It is commonly thought that Ueshiba's increasing attachment to
pacifism in later years and belief that Aikido should be an "art of peace" were inspired by his involvement with the sect. Oomoto priests oversee a ceremony in Ueshiba's honor every April 29 at the
Aiki Shrine at Iwama.
Onisaburo Deguchi taught a type of meditation and spirit possesssion technique called chinkon kishin (鎮魂帰神) to some of his most devoted followers, many of whom went on to establish their own religions. They include:
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Masaharu Taniguchi (谷口雅春), founder of Seicho-No-Ie, was a follower of Oomoto prior to founding his own religion.
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Mokichi Okada (岡田茂吉), founder of the Church of World Messianity ( Sekai Kyūsei-kyō), was a follower of Oomoto prior to founding his own religion.
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Wasaburō Asano (浅野和三郎), a spiritualist who founded the Shinrei kagaku kenkyūkai
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Yonosuke Nakano (中野與之助), founder of Ananaikyo, was originally an Oomoto follower before founding his own religion.
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Yoshisane Tomokiyo (友清歓真), founder of Shintō Tenkōkyo, was originally an Oomoto follower before founding his own religion.
More recent Oomoto followers during the late 20th and 21st centuries include:
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Alex Kerr, American writer and Japanologist, worked for the Oomoto Foundation for 20 years starting in 1977.
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Bill Roberts, American writer active at the Oomoto Foundation
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Haruhisa Handa, founder of the religious organization World Mate
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Yamantaka Eye, visual artist, DJ and member of avant musical group Boredoms
Oomoto-inspired religions
Various religions have been inspired by Oomoto, many of which were founded by Oomoto followers familiar with 鎮魂帰神 () as practiced in Oomoto.
Since Oomoto believes that bankyō dōkon, these other new religious movements are not seen as heretical, but are in fact even encouraged.
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Ananaikyo
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Shintō Tenkōkyo
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Seicho-No-Ie
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Shōroku Shintō Yamatoyama
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"Divine light" ( johrei / okiyome-practicing) religions
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Church of World Messianity and related splinter groups such as Shinji Shumeikai
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Mahikari movement religions (including Sukyo Mahikari and World Divine Light)
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World Mate, founded by Haruhisa Handa in 1984
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Hikari Kyōkai (ひかり教会), founded by (1897–1963)
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Oomoto Hikari no Michi (大夲光之道), headquartered in Toyooka
Many of these religions have meditation and divine healing practices derived from Oomoto's 鎮魂帰神. They include:
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鎮魂帰神 in Ananaikyō
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鎮魂帰神 in Shintō Tenkōkyo
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神想観 in Seicho-No-Ie
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浄霊 in Sekai Kyūseikyō
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お浄め in Mahikari
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seishin tōitsu in Asano Wasaburō (浅野和三郎)'s spiritualist organizations
Various practices and teachings in Makoto no Michi are inspired by Oomoto, including similar spirit possession practices.
Further reading
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The Great Onisaburo Deguchi, by Kyotaro Deguchi, translated by Charles Rowe,
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Hino, Iwao (日野巌). The Outline of Oomoto. Kameoka, Japan, 1968.
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Murakami, Shigeyoshi (村上重良). Japanese Religion in the Modern Century. Translated by H. Byron Earhart. Tokyo, 1980. Originally published as Kindai hyakunen no shukyo.
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Yasumaru, Yoshio (安丸良夫). Deguchi Nao. Tokyo, 1977.
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Oomoto Overseas Department 海外宣伝課 (ed.) (1933). . Kameoka: Tenseisha. .
Publications from the Oomoto Foundation:
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(originally published in Japanese as Kyojin Deguchi Onisaburo in 1967)
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(originally published in Japanese as Ikigai no Tankyu in 1966 by Kodansha, Ltd.)
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(based on the Japanese book Kaiso-den by Sakae Oishi)
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Notes
External links
- Official websites
- Online scriptures and encyclopedic materials
- Others
