The main Shinto schools with traditions traceable to early periods, according to authoritative published records are:
Bukka Shintō
These were the various forms of Shintō developed by Buddhist thinkers, also known as Bukke Shintō. These doctrines combine Buddhist elements with Shintō elements (Shinbutsu shūgō).
Goryū Shintō
Goryū refers to the Buddhist Dharma lineage. This Shinto schools was part of Ryōbu Shintō.
Hakke Shintō
The Shirakawa Hakuō House, in charge of the post of superintendent of the Department of Divinities (Jingi-kan) transmitted this school. Also called Shirakawa Shintō.
Hokke Shintō
These doctrines were influenced by the Nichiren sect of Buddhism which incorporated kami cults within its own system.
Inbe Shintō
This is the Inbe clan lineage and commonly held to have been created by Inbe Masamichi that was in charge of court rituals together with the Nakatomi clan.
Ise Shintō
Transmitted by priests of the Watarai clan at the Outer Shrine (Gekū) of the Grand Shrine of Ise (Ise Jingū). It is also called Watarai Shintō.
Jingidōke
A collective term for lineages which were mainly occupied with Shinto, these included the jingi clans (jingi shizoku) and clans connected to the Jingi-kan such as the Nakatomi and Inbe.
Jūhachi Shintō
Yoshida Kanetomo, taught his principles in his work Essentials of Prime Shinto (Yuiitsu Shintō myōbō yōshū).
"Ancient Shintō". These were the various doctrines and myths of Shintō before the integration of Buddhism elements.
Miwa-ryū Shintō
A form of Ryōbu Shintō that developed primarily at Byōdōji and Ōgorinji (Ōmiwadera), temples serving as the "parish temples" (jingū-ji) of Ōmiwa Shrine in Nara Prefecture.
Mononobe Shintō
Based on the text Sendai kuji hongi taiseikyō.
Ōgimachi Shintō
Originated by Suika Shinto by Ōgimachi Kinmichi's (1653–1733) transmission to the sovereign and court retainers. In 1680 Kinmichi presented a Shinto oath to Yamazaki Ansai, taking up a full-scale study of Suika Shinto.
Reisō Shintō
Buddhist Shintō (Bukka Shintō) created in the Edo period by Chōon Dō kai (1628–1695) and further developed by Jōin (1683–1739).
Ritō Shinchi Shintō
Created by Confucian scholar Hayashi Razan (1583–1657). Razan was the only Confucian scholar officially employed by the Tokugawa government.
Shugendō and its practitioners, shugen, teaches the attainment of supranormal, magico-religious power through ascetic activities in the mountains. It was submissive to Buddhism for some time, later dividing into sects with more or less Buddhist or Koshintō influence.
Suika Shintō
Created by Yamazaki Ansai, a Confucian-Shintoist of the early Edo period.
Taishi-ryū Shintō
Founded by Prince Shōtoku (Shōtoku Taishi, 574–622) and unifying Shintō, Confucianism, and Buddhism (sankyō itchi).
Created by the head court diviner Tsuchimikado Yasutomi. Yasutomi integrated the astrological and calendrical theories transmitted by the Onmyōdō specialists of the Abe clan.
Created by Kamo no Norikiyo (a.k.a. Umetsuji no Norikiyo, 1798–1862). Norikiyo developed his teachings on the basis of the Shinto transmissions at the shrine of Kamo wake Ikazuchi Jinja.
Unden Shintō
Founded by Shingon monk Jiun Onkō (1718–1804). It is also known as Katsuragi Shintō because Jiun lived on Mt. Katsuragi. It integrates esoteric Buddhism, siddham (Sanskrit philology), and Zen, as well as Confucianism and Shinto.
Founded by Yoshida Kanetomo (1435–1511), who called his tradition yuiitsu shintō ("only-one Shintō"). His adherents and Yoshida Shrine, until the end of the Edo period, retained the right to award ranks to all shrines and priests except for a few associated with the Imperial family.[2]
Yoshikawa Shintō
This is a lineage transmitted by Shinto scholar Yoshikawa Koretari (1616–1694).
One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shintō. It was organized by Shishino Nakaba (1844–84) based on the mountain faith to Mount Fuji (Fuji shinkō) founded by Hasegawa Kakugyō (1541?–1646?).
One of the thirteen sects of pre-war Shinto. Based on Fujidō, founded by Hasegawa Kakugyō (born in Nagasaki, 1541–1646). A mountain faith focused on Mount Fuji (Fuji shinkō).
One of the thirteen sects of prewar Shintō, founded by Hirayama Seisai (1815–1890).
Shintō-derived religious movements
Ananaikyō
An Ōmoto-lineage religion founded by Nakano Yonosuke (1887–1974).
Chikakusan Minshukyō Kyōdan
Based on the mountain-worship cult of Mount Ontake in the Kiso region founded by Nehashi Umetarō (1868–1922) as the Chikaku Kōsha (Chikaku Religious Association).
Chūshinkai
A movement focused on divination and onomancy, founded by Kumazaki Ken'ō (1881–1961).
Daihizenkyō
Founded by Orimo Nami (1893–1966).
Ennōkyō
Founded by Fukada Chiyoko (1887–1925).
Hachidai Ryūō Daishizen Aishinkyōdan
Founded by Ishikawa Sen (1886–1961), who declared to be possessed (kamigakari) by a spirit.
Hachidai Ryūōjin Hakkō Seidan
Founded by Demura Ryūsei (1926– ).
Hachirakukai Kyōdan
Founded by Ogawa Kōichirō (1919–80).
Hi no Oshie
Teaching of the Sun. Founded by Sakuma Nikkō (1884–1954) (Nikkō means "sun-light").
Hikari Kyōkai
Derived from Ōmoto. Founded by painter Okamoto Tenmei (1897–1963).
Hizuki no Miya
Founded by Fujimoto Toshinari (1930–1989). The founding of the religion is dated from January 11, 1956, when Fujimoto received a revelation from the kamiAmaterasu ōmikami.
Honbushin
A group from Tenrikyō lineage. Founded by Ōnishi Tama (1916–1969), the group originated in 1961 within Honmichi as the Tenri Mirokukai (Tenri Miroku Association) and later seceded.
Honmichi
Founded by Ōnishi Aijirō (1881–1958) a teacher in Tenrikyō.
Ijun
Founded by Takayasu Ryūsen (1934–) as an Okinawan religion.
Ishinkyō
Founded by Hashiguchi Reizui (1879–1963).
Izumo Shin’yū Kyōkai
Founded in 1968 by Hosoya Seiko (1927–) after she had practiced austerities in Izumo, Nara and Eiheiji.
Izumokyō
This is a religion reminiscent of sectarian Shinto (Kyōha Shintō). It was started by Kitajima Naganori (1834–93).
Jieidō
Lineage of Sekai Kyūseikyō, founded by Katsunuma Hisako (1927–).
Jingūkyō
With characteristics of sect Shinto (kyōha Shintō) and founded by Urata Nagatami and others.
Kakushin Shūkyō Nipponkyō
Originated in 1940, when the "Father-deity Kotoshironushi no ōkami" descended upon Chitose Makami (1879–1986).
Kannagarakyō
Founded by Mizuno Fusa (1883–1970).
Kikueikai Kyōdan
Founded in 1928 by the sculptor of Buddhist images Hayashi Shikō (1901–88). Shikō claimed that a golden sphere with the form of a "nine-star divination pattern" came floating towards him, after which he began to engage in spiritual healing.
Kogi Shintō
Founded by the Shinto priest Kuwabara Yachio (1910–) after World War II.
Koshintō Senpōkyō
Founded by Masai Yoshimitsu (1907–1970), and known for its claim to be related to the tradition of "ancient Shinto" (Koshintō).
Founded by Takeuchi Kiyomaro (also Ōmaro) (1874–1965) based on an ancient text known as the Takeuchi document [ja] (Takeuchi monjo).
Kuzuryū Taisha
Founded by Ōnishi Masajirō (1913–88) after receiving a dream oracle from the deity Benzaiten (Sanskrit Sarasvati) during a dream in 1954.
Kyūseishukyō
Resulting from the merging of four branches of Sekai Kyūseikyō, it began its activities in 1955 after the death of the founder of Sekai Kyūseikyō, Okada Mōkichi (1882–1955).
Makoto no Michi
Founded by Ogiwara Makoto (1910–81) who experienced paranormal powers since before World War II.
Makoto no Michikyō
Founded by Matsumoto Jōtarō (September 1881–1944).
Maruyamakyō
Founded by Itō Rokurobei (1829–94).
Misogikyō Shinpa
Founded by Sakata Yasuhiro (1962–).
Mitamakyō
Founded by Nagata Fuku (1891–1975).
Miyaji Shinsendō
Founded by Miyaji Suii (known as Kakiwa, 1852–1904) and with strong Taoist influence.
Nihon Jingū Honchō
Founded by Nakajima Shūkō (1902–88) who was deeply interested in the study of the traditional calendar (rekigaku) and the theory of five phases of matter (gogyō).
Nihon Seidō Kyōdan
Founded by Iwasaki Shōō (1934–) who had a mystical experience while in a coma.
Nikkōkyō
Founded by Teraguchi Kōjirō (1881–1960).
Ōkanmichi
Founded by Yamada Baijirō (1875–1941), a Tenrikyō teacher.
Known as Church of Perfect Liberty frequently abbreviated as merely "PL", founded by Miki Tokuharu (1871–1938), a Zen monk.
Reiha no Hikari Kyōkai
Founded by Hase Yoshio (1915–84).
Renmonkyō
Founded by Shimamura Mitsu (1831–1904) who was saved from serious illness by Yanagita Ichibei, who had studied the "marvelous law of things" (myōhō no ji).
Renshindō Kyōdan
Founded by Tanaka Jigohei (1886–1973).
Samuhara Jinja
Started in 1935 when Tanaka Tomisaburō (1868–1967) rebuilt a dilapidated shrine in Okayama.
Founded by Nagahashi Yasuhiko (1895–1981) in 1931.
Shin Nihon Shūkyō Dantai Rengōkai
Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan, founded by and for new Japanese religious movements. Established in 1951 with a membership of twenty-four groups.
Founded by Tazawa Seishirō (1884–1966) after dedicating a shrine to a "mountain kami" (yama no kami) in 1919, witnessing extraordinary astronomical phenomena, and hearing divine voices.
Shūkyō Hōjin Byakkō Shinkōkai
Founded by Goi Masahisa (1916–1980) emphasizes two characteristic Ōmoto doctrines, the notion that all religions emanate from the same root (bankyō dōkon), and the principle of world peace.
Shūkyō Hōjin Shikō Gakuen
Founded by Kawakami Seizan (1908–51).
Shūyōdan Hōseikai
Founded by Idei Seitarō (1899–1983).
Soshindō
Started focused on Matsushita Matsuzō (1873–1947), a spirit medium (reinōsha) active from the Taisho era (1912–26) to the World War II period.
Soshindō Kyōdan
Founded by Yoshioka Tajūrō (1905–87).
Subikari Kōha Sekai Shindan
Founded by the spiritualist manga artist Kuroda Minoru (1928– ).
Sukui no Hikari Kyōdan
A new religion deriving from Sekai Kyūseikyō, one several groups in opposition to that religion's policy of centralization (ichigenka) implemented in the mid-1960s.
Derived from the lineages of Ōmoto and Sekai Kyūseikyō, founded by Kōtama Okada (Sukuinushisama) (1901–74) on August 28, 1959 and established as a registered religious organisation on 1978 by Mr Okada's daughter Sachiko Keishu Okada (Oshienushisama), (1929– ).
Sumerakyō
Founded by Onikura Taruhiko after having experienced possession (kamigakari) by a deity around 1919.
Taireidō
Founded by Tanaka Morihei (1884–1928) who was said to have acquired a kind of supranormal power (reishiryoku) after a four-month ascetic seclusion in the mountains.
Taiwa Kyōdan
Emerged from Yamatokyō, founded by Hozumi Kenkō (1913–76) and his wife Hisako (1908–2003).
Tamamitsu Jinja
Founded by the spirit medium Motoyama Kinue (1909–74).
Ten'onkyo
Founded by Hachiro Fukuji (1899–1962) who experienced the ability to converse with a spirit, and thereafter received visitations from various deities.
Tenchikyō
Founded by Uozumi Masanobu (1852–1928).
Tengenkyō
Founded by Naniwa Hisakazu (1902–84).
Tenjōkyō
Founded by Ishiguro Jō (1908– ).
Tenjōkyō Hon'in
Founded by Kuramoto Ito (1895–1985).
Tenkōkyō
Founded by Fujita Shinshō (?–1966) who received at age nineteen a revelation from a deity he called Tenchikane no kami ("heaven-earth gold deity").
It was one of the thirteen sects of prewar Shinto. Founded by Nakayama Miki (1798–1887) after having a sudden experience of spirit possession (kamigakari) from a deity she called Tenri-O-no-Mikoto. in the tenth lunar month of 1863. Tenrikyo removed itself from its Sect Shinto classification when it was free to do so after World War II.
Tensei Shinbikai
Founded by Iwanaga Kayoko (1934–).
Tensenku Monkyō (Tendan)
Known locally as Tinsinkun Munchu (Tinkha), emerged from ancient Shintō (Koshintō) in the southern Ryukyu islands.
Tensha Tsuchimikado Shintō Honchō
Inspired in Tsuchimikado Shintō (Tensha Shintō).
Tenshin Seikyō
Founded by Shimada Seiichi (1896–1985).
Tenshindō Kyōdan
Founded by Tamura Reishō (1890–1968) who received the revelation of Kami on April 3, 1927. [1][permanent dead link] While working in the office of the Governor-General of Korea, Reishō studied the Daoistic magical arts transmitted in Korea since ancient times.[3]
Tenshinkyō Shin'yūden Kyōkai
Founded by Kamiide Fusae (1922–1980) who had a sudden experience of spirit possession (kamigakari) in 1958.
There may be some Shinto schools and sects, that even having a structure and followers, are not included in authoritative publications. This may be because of their small size and influence, fairly unknown presence or practices, or because those schools are new branches from older schools and still considered within their structure.
Notes
^MacKenzie, Donald A (2005). Myth of China and Japan. London, UK: Kessinger Publishing. p. 387. ISBN978-1-4179-6429-1.
^Tenshindō Kyōdan By Yumiyama Tatsuya, 2006/ 5/ 25, Establishment of a National Learning Institute for the Dissemination of Research on Shinto and Japanese Culture
Encyclopedia of New Religions, Shinshūkyō jiten. Inoue Nobutaka et al., eds., Kōbundō, 1990. ISBN4-335-16018-6
Encyclopedia of Shinto, Schools, Groups and Personalities. Institute of Japanese Culture and Classics, Kokugakuin University (2006) Edit Norman Havens ISBN4-905853-12-5
Religions Yearbook, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Shūkyō nenkan (1993), eds Japan Monbushō, Japan Bunkachō. ISSN 0583-1571
