Koshinto (Ancient Shinto)

● 導入・山蔭神道とは (Introduction / What is Yamakage Shinto?)

“Yamakage Shinto is a sect of Koshinto (Ancient Shinto) that is said to hold a tradition spanning approximately 2,000 years. With a mission to ‘protect the Imperial Family from the shadows,’ successive heads of the lineage served as the Chief Court Physician (Ten’yaku-no-kami) in the Imperial Court until the Meiji Restoration.”

● 吉田神道について (About Yoshida Shinto)
“Fujiwara no Yamakage (circa 880 AD) held the rank of Jusanmi Chunagon (Provisional Middle Counselor). Yoshida Shinto is one of the Shinto sects centered around Yoshida Shrine, which was founded by Fujiwara no Yamakage. However, it was actually established by Yoshida Kanetomo, the head priest of the Yoshida Shrine family, who flourished 500 years after Yamakage’s time.”
“The Yoshida Shinto established by Yoshida Kanetomo was legally granted authority over the Shinto world during the reign of the fourth Tokugawa Shogun, Ietsugu. Structurally, it held many shrines under its umbrella until the Meiji Restoration.”

● 教え (Teachings)

“The sect places great importance on principles such as the ‘Principle of Light Monism’ (Koh Ichigen no Genri), which views all creation in the universe as having originated from a single source, conveying the core Shinto spirit of coexisting with nature.”

“What is the Hatuke Shinto tradition?”

“Hatuke Shintō is the Shintō tradition inherited by the Shirakawa family, descendants of Emperor Kazan, who held the hereditary office of Jingihaku (Chief of Shintō rites). The Yamakage lineage is often referred to as the ‘esoteric/inner Shintō of the Imperial Court,’ whereas the Beke lineage is regarded as the ‘exoteric/official Shintō.’

Originally, the object of purification was the Crown Prince. The ritual contained elements of spiritual training intended to prepare him to become emperor. During the ceremony, eight maidens (yaotome) stood around him in a circle aligned with the eight directions to perform the purification.”