IOverview
Ōmoto 大本 is a religious body that began in 1892 in Ayabe, Kyoto Prefecture, with words that Deguchi Nao believed a kami spoke through her. It was not one of the thirteen sects recognised before the war and joined the Association of Sect Shinto later.
In the religious history of twentieth-century Japan, Ōmoto matters far more than its membership would suggest. Its suppression by the state in 1921 and 1935 made it a much-studied case of relations between state and religion. Several postwar new religions, such as Seichō no Ie and Sekai Kyūseikyō, were founded by people who had once been active in Ōmoto.
IIHistorical Development
According to the church, in 1892 Deguchi Nao 出口なお, born in 1837, a poor widow in Ayabe, received a revelation from Kunitokotachi no Mikoto, a kami proclaiming the reconstruction and renewal of the three thousand worlds. She wrote down the kami's words in kana over many years, later edited as the Ōmoto Shin'yu 大本神諭.
In 1898 Ueda Kisaburō came to meet Nao, and in 1900 he married her daughter and took the name Deguchi Onisaburō 出口王仁三郎 (1871 to 1948). He systematised the teaching, organised the movement and dictated the Reikai Monogatari 霊界物語, which the church counts at 81 volumes. In 1921 the state arrested the leaders and destroyed structures at the headquarters, the first Ōmoto incident. The second, in 1935, was far harsher: the leaders were imprisoned and the facilities razed. After 1945 the group re-formed as Aizen-en, and in 1952 it registered as a religious corporation under the name Ōmoto.
- 1892Deguchi Nao's revelationThe church counts this as its beginning.
- 1898 and 1900Onisaburō joinsMeets Nao in 1898 and becomes her son-in-law in 1900.
- 1921First Ōmoto incidentLeaders arrested, structures at headquarters destroyed.
- 1935Second Ōmoto incidentA far harsher crackdown in which facilities are razed.
- 1946Re-formed as Aizen-enAfter the end of the war.
- 1952Religious corporation ŌmotoTakes back its old name under the new religious corporations law.
IIIBeliefs and Distinctive Features
Ōmoto teaches that all religions spring from one root, banpō dōkon 万教同根, that the world will be renewed into a realm of perfect benevolence it calls the world of Miroku, and that people take part in that renewal through love and kindness. Onisaburō held that art is the mother of religion, so the church treats Noh, tea ceremony, calligraphy and pottery as part of religious life.
A second distinctive feature is its internationalism. From the early 1920s Ōmoto used Esperanto as a tool for peace and founded the Universal Love and Brotherhood Association. Today it takes part in interfaith bodies such as Religions for Peace.
IVRitual and Everyday Life
Ōmoto's rites follow Shinto form: offerings, norito prayers, seasonal festivals. Alongside them come study of the two founders' scriptures and the practice of traditional arts as spiritual discipline. Major rites are held at the ritual centre in Ayabe, while mission work, publishing and international exchange are based in Kameoka.
VOrganisation and Distribution
Ōmoto has two centres in Kyoto Prefecture: the ritual centre in Ayabe and the mission centre in Kameoka, where the corporation is registered. The head, or kyōshu, comes from the Deguchi family, and according to the Association of Sect Shinto the fifth head is Deguchi Kurenai, born in 1956. For membership, the 2020 Religious Yearbook as cited on English Wikipedia gives 166,367. The Religious Information Research Center records about 170,000 in Japan and 8,800 abroad as of 2024.
Ōmoto should be distinguished from groups that split from it and from new religions with roots in its lineage. Those are separate organisations, and Ōmoto itself has issued notices that a group with a similar name is entirely unrelated.
VIIn Vietnam
The library has found no source recording Ōmoto activity in Vietnam. Vietnamese Esperantists may have come across Ōmoto through the international Esperanto movement, but there is no specific record to report as fact.
VIISymbol of the Branch
Ten Luminaries crest
十曜の神紋
VIIIOther Branches of Shinto
Shrine Shinto神社神道 Jinja ShintōThe largest form, centred on the nationwide network of shrines.
Folk Shinto民俗神道 Minzoku ShintōCustomary Shinto practised by ordinary people without systematisation: household altars, kami of the kitchen and well, village customs, seasonal and life-cycle rites.
Sect Shinto教派神道 Kyōha Shintō (called 宗派神道 Shūha Shintō by the Association of Shinto Shrines)Organised groups with founders, doctrines and members, mostly formed in the 19th century.Uses the common symbol of the path
Izumo Ōyashirokyō出雲大社教 Izumo ŌyashirokyōFounded in 1882 by Senge Takatomi, 80th chief priest of Izumo Taisha.Konkōkyō金光教 KonkōkyōFounded in 1859 by Konkō Daijin, headquartered in Asakuchi, Okayama.Uses the common symbol of the pathKurozumikyō黒住教 KurozumikyōFounded by Kurozumi Munetada, dated to 1814, headquartered at Shintōzan in Okayama.Uses the common symbol of the pathŌmoto大本 ŌmotoBegan with Deguchi Nao in 1892 in Ayabe, Kyoto.
Imperial Household Shinto皇室神道 Kōshitsu ShintōRites performed by the Emperor within the palace for the nation, the people and world peace, centred on Amaterasu.Historical Shinto schools両部神道, 吉田神道, 伊勢神道, 垂加神道, 復古神道Interpretive schools from the medieval to early modern period, including Ryōbu, Ise, Yoshida, Suika and Fukko Shinto.Uses the common symbol of the pathIXSources
The library cross-checks the sources below. Where they disagree, the page gives both.
?Quick Questions
Is Ōmoto Shinto?
Ōmoto uses Shinto ritual and belongs to the Association of Sect Shinto. Scholars also class it as a Japanese new religion, since it has a founder who received revelation and its own scriptures.
What were the Ōmoto incidents?
Two rounds of state suppression, in 1921 and 1935. The second was far harsher, with leaders imprisoned and facilities razed. The church re-formed after 1945.
Why is Ōmoto linked to Esperanto?
From the early 1920s Deguchi Onisaburō adopted Esperanto as a tool for peace and exchange between peoples, in keeping with the teaching that all religions share one root.
How many members does Ōmoto have?
166,367 in the 2020 Religious Yearbook, or about 170,000 in Japan plus 8,800 abroad according to 2024 data from the Religious Information Research Center.