The Japanese ’new religion’ Tenrikyo, founded by Nakayama Miki (1798-1887) in the late Tokugawa era, is arguably the largest of the thirteen Kyoha Shinto (’Sect Shinto’) groups that trace their institutional origins to the Meiji period. Under the joint leadership of Iburi Izo (1833-1907) and Miki’s grandson Nakayama Shinnosuke (1866-1914), Tenrikyo grew from a sparse collection of ko (religious confraternities) into a vast institutional network of branch churches within ten years of Miki’s death due to the aggressive propagation efforts of its first generation missionaries. This thesis surveys the historical, sociological and ideological contexts that surrounded the emergence of three schisms--Tenrin-O-Kyokai, Daidokyo, and Honmichi--which occurred at three separate stages within Tenrikyo’s transition from a small rural movement into a nationwide phenomenon. Despite the differences in the historical backdrops of these three schisms, themes of sacred space and charismatic authority were central issues in the emergence of each. / Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-194). / x, 194 leaves, bound ; 29 cm.

This study is based on field work done during a period of eight months when I lived in the Japanese farming village described in the paper. The project was carried out under the financial auspices of the Japanese Government. The religion Tenrikyō is what I describe as a 'totalitarian' system. That is, it regulates the lives of its members in all of their roles of life. The values and ideals of the religion emphasize the individual and his struggle to attain salvation. Each believer is expected to devote himself and everything he owns to the final fullfillment of the goals of Tenrikyō. The values and goals in operation in village Japan are in direct opposition to values such as those outlined for the religion. Community solidarity is of utmost importance to a Japanese village. In order to attain this solidarity each member of the village must subject himself to the will of the community. Thus the village too may be described as a 'totalitarian' system. When Tenrikyō entered the village of Sakōdo the meeting of the two 'totalitarian' systems produced a conflict which the village attempted to solve by formally ostracising the converts to the religion. This action was not satisfactory since it resulted in a weakening of the inner strength of the community. The only recourse was to accept the religion and make it dependant upon the village. This action eventually destroyed the 'totalitarian' nature of the religion and strengthened that of the community. This paper is an examination of this conflict and compromise and illustrates the type of reaction which occurs upon the meeting of two 'totalitarian' systems which hold opposing values and ideals. / Arts, Faculty of / Anthropology, Department of / Graduate