is a Shinto-based Japanese new religion founded by in 1920. Shinto Tenkokyo has several shrines ("jinja" 神社) on Mount Iwaki or "Iwaki-yama" () in Hikari, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Its headquarters is located at the southern base of the mountain in Tabuse.
History.
In 1920, the predecessor of the current organization was founded as in Shizuoka by Tomokiyo Yoshisane, who had been a magazine editor for Oomoto from 1918 and 1919. The organization, later renamed Shintō Tenkōkyo, was registered in 1922. In 1928, Tomokiyo moved Shintō Tenkōkyo from Shizuoka to Tabuse and constructed several shrines on Mount Iwaki in 1930.
Rituals.
Shintō Tenkōkyo considers its rituals to be a continuation of Ko-Shintō.
Every November, Shintō Tenkōkyo organizes a nighttime ritual ceremony (山上夜間特別修法) for "universal harmony and world spiritualization" (万有和合・世界霊化). Followers recite the "Ten Prayers" (十言神咒) in dedication to Amaterasu.
A key focus of its activities is , which was practiced extensively during World War II in order to pray for the protection of the Empire of Japan. The religion also practices (), a spirit possession technique devised by and subsequently transmitted by his disciple , that is also practiced in Oomoto and Ananaikyo. Shintō Tenkōkyo's practice of "chinkon kishin" still adheres closely to the original form as taught by Honda Chikaatsu during the 19th century. Today, "chinkon kishin" is strictly reserved for Shintō Tenkōkyo members and is not open to the general public.
Another ritual in Shintō Tenkōkyo is (). According to Tomokiyo, he received this ritual on October 28, 1920 during a "kishin" session with the kami, Ame no Uzume.
The sun goddess Amaterasu is the main deity worshipped. is a prayer in which the ten syllables of are pronounced as many times.
Texts.
Shintō Tenkōkyo's main religious text is (), a multiple-volume anthology of writings by , the religion's founder. There are three editions:
In October 1919, Tomokiyo published , a monograph about "chinkon kishin". After it quickly sold out, it was revised as in May 1920. This revised version is included in the first volume of "Tomokiyo Yoshisane zenshū" as published by Hachiman in 2004. The full text of "Shintō montai" (真道問対) by Honda Chikaatsu is attached at the end of "Chinkon kishin no gokui" (鎮魂帰神の極意). The text consists of 114 questions from Soejima Taneomi, along with answers from Honda, in literary Chinese.
 is a synopsis of Tomokiyo's main teachings and contains two chapters about "chinkon kishin". Originally published in August 1921, it is included in the first volume of all editions of "Tomokiyo Yoshisane zenshū" (友清歓真全集).
Shrines.
Shintō Tenkōkyo's shrines are located on Mount Iwaki (石城山), located to the north of the town of Tabuse in Yamaguchi Prefecture. The religion pronounces the name of the mountain as "Iwaki-yama", but outside the religion the conventional pronunciation is "Iwaki-san". It is the most sacred mountain of Shintō Tenkōkyo and is considered to be the earthly representation of the heavenly gathering place of the gods, similar to Oomoto's treatment of Mount Hongū in Ayabe.
Going clockwise from south and west to north and east, the Shintō Tenkōkyo shrines on Iwaki-yama are:
Iwakisan Kōgoishi (), the ruins of an ancient castle, is located to the northeast of the Shinto Tenkokyo shrine cluster.
To the west, Iwaki Jinja () and its affiliated auxiliary shrines ("setsumatsusha" 摂末社) predate the Shinto Tenkokyo shrines. Iwaki Jinja's auxiliary shrines are (clockwise from south and west to north and east):