Hello, i was wondering if you could tell me how Konkokyo faith differs from other forms of Shinto?
Yes!Everything such as the basic precepts of respecting nature, honoring/worshipp nature/the Universe, living in harmony with everything, honoring and worshipping ancestral spirits, living an honest upright life, sincerity in everything, etc. is the same as Shinto way of living. Konkokyo is basically Shinto in the broad, and more ancient sense as a way of day to day living, this is because Konkokyo (the faith of the deity Tenchi Kane no Kami) originated before the Meiji Restoration in 1868, (experiences with Tenchi Kane no Kami were recorded to have begun in 1859 or so). In the Meiji reformation, Shinto was segregated into categories, and now was a State Religion, called State (Kokka) Shinto.
In State Shinto, Amaterasu Omikami-sama was required to be worshipped as the highest deity, and only the kami in the Kojiki were allowed to be worshipped - not even Buddhas or Bodhisattvas.
Thus, Buddhist temples began to be shut down or seperated from shrines. For Konkokyo, since Tenchi Kane no Kami, the main deity of Konkokyo, was not a deity formally in the Kojiki, their faith had to be classified as “Sectarian Shinto” to survive the destruction and recieved the name Konko-kyo (金光教) meaning “The teaching of the golden light” (Based off the “Kane”, meaning gold, in Tenchi Kane no Kami’s （天地金乃神） name, the Golden Kami of the Universe)Kon 金 - GoldKo 光 - LightKyo 教 - Teaching
Ten 天 - HeavenChi 地 - Earth (Heaven and Earth, or Tenchi together is “Universe”) Kane (the other pronounciation is Kon) 金 - GoldOf 乃 - formal の, or “of”Kami 神 - Spirit/Deity “kyo” is a suffix meaning “teaching”. Such as the Japanese word for Buddhism is “Bu-kyo” 仏 教 (Teaching of the Buddha)
So, there is why the name is different to begin with .
After WWII, State Shinto changed into the mainstream Shinto we all know, Jinja Shinto. Most Shinto shrines are led by the Association of Shinto Shrines, which controls the precepts and traditions known as Jinja Shinto. It mixes ancient traditions with modern understandings and guidelines for practices and rituals. Konkokyo, as a result of having the same Shinto roots and traditions, follows the same as Jinja Shinto. However, Konkokyo keeps it’s name and status, because Jinja Shinto still heavily stresses to followers the importance of honoring and revering Amaterasu Omikami-sama as the highest deity, and obtain her ofuda, Jingutaima.In Konkokyo, we have a focus on Tenchi Kane no Kami, but they taught we should be free to honor the deity closest to us with a sincere heart - and we don’t place importance on any deity over the other, since they are all a part of Great Nature/the Universe equally. One cannot exist without the other, everything must live in harmony and balance, and thus one is not seen as greater than the other. So there’s a main difference between Konkokyo and Jinja Shinto. Minor differences include, due to the nature of Tenchi Kane no Kami-sama being more like conscious universal energy, or a force, and not a supreme deity or even deity as a singular figure, we do not enshrine Tenchi Kane no Kami. Tenchi Kane no Kami also requested not to create ofuda or omamori for them, since blessings were taught to originate from our inner hearts.
As well, in the past, ofuda and omamori were very expensive. Kami-sama didn’t want people who were poor to feel they could not receive blessings, so Kami-sama taught at places with their (Kami-sama’s) altar present, not to sell ofuda or omamori, but rather give something called “goshinmai” - this is a small packet with blessed sacred rice.
People could eat the rice for their continued health, and recognize the blessings of the Universe symbolically through the rice (which needs sun, rain, the earth, nutrients, and many things all together to grow, and is a staple for human living - in food, and at the time, as commerce like money too). So, we also don’t have things like ofuda or omamori in Konkokyo. But it’s not bad if someone who follows Konkokyo buys ofuda or omamori from another shrine or kami, in fact it’s encouraged if you sincerely want to, because it reflects a sincere faith, which is honorable and good, and makes you happy, which Kami-sama wants to see. But also not to feel bad or not blessed if you cannot afford them, was the meaning.We also don’t do things like Setsubun, Yakudoshi (Unlucky ages), or Unlucky/Lucky directions, or Impure/Pure spaces.
Setsubun (which I will write about soon, it’s today!) was practiced to drive out our “inner demons” represented by oni, and negativity and darkness. While this is good and fun too, Kami-sama tries to encourage us to make peace with our inner demons and recognize bad emotions aren’t unhealthy, but natural, and are only unhealthy when they get overwhelming.
Instead of throwing beans to get the “oni” away, we give sacred blessed beans to eat to give us vitality and strength, and to “sit down for tea” with our inner oni, so to speak, and overcome difficulties or sadness that come our way.
We also don’t do unlucky/lucky directions, ages, or pure/impure spaces because we feel everything in the Universe is a part of Kami-sama, all is sacred, and all is pure.
Every direction you go is sacred, Unlucky age is seen more as the age you will have to contribute more to society, or a great spiritual change in Konkokyo that may be difficult, but eventually rewarding. And that there is no distinction between pure or impure spaces, since everywhere is Kami-sama’s body and heart.
We do have a concept of sacred spaces, which means areas with particular high sacred energy, or a place where many kami dwell. But it is not that non-sacred spaces are impure, either. Then, finally, we also have a unique practice called "Toritsugi“ which means mediation. In Konkokyo, Toritsugi (Mediation) is a spiritual practice for people to establish a communication link between themselves and Tenchi Kane no Kami.
One can receive Toritsugi by a Konkokyo minister, generally at a Konkokyo church. A visitor enters the church, sits in front of the minister, and says whatever is on their mind.
It can be a request to resolve a problem, or a word of thanks. In Toritsugi, after the visitor says everything they have wanted to say, the minister relays the visitor’s words to Tenchi Kane No Kami. Tenchi Kane no Kami then replies their message to the minister, who will then relay it back to the person.
By understanding the message of Tenchi Kane No Kami’s teachings and advice, the visitor can receive guidance to their issues, or feel relieved from anxieties knowing the deity has heard their words.
Toritsugi can help the person put a problem into perspective and find solutions from within their own hearts.Tenchi Kane No Kami asks people to understand their teachings, thus to make people become aware of their relationship with the Universe and the ways of the Universe.
By working within the framework of the laws of the Universe instead of going against it, people can avoid troubles which lead to suffering.
While Toritsugi at churches is typically performed by ministers, followers of Konkokyo are also encouraged to perform Toritsugi in their daily lives to help others.
When they meet people who are suffering, the Konkokyo way is to listen to their problems, support them, and pray for their wellbeing and happiness. Tenchi Kane no Kami wishes for all people to become a mediator and help others.
And that’s mostly it! The main differences between the two. But the best thing is, you also don’t need to choose between the two. You can be both Konkokyo and Jinja Shinto at the same time. You can follow or worship in Tenchi Kane no Kami, while also consider about Yakudoshi age or participate in Setsubun for fun too. It’s not so strict, just some differences in views and interpretations, but ultimately not something like a segregation either. Actually, even as a Konko minister in Japan, you can get a dual license as a Jinja Shinto priest. As well, sometimes Konko priests assist in Jinja Shinto ceremonies, and vice versa. Hope this could help!
