Yoshikawa Shinto

Hanitsu Shrine (Inawashiro, Yama District, Fukushima Prefecture). It enshrines Masayuki Hoshina, the lord of the Aizu Domain, who was granted the spiritual title "Tsuchi no Tsunogami" by Yoshikawa Koretari for mastering the esoteric teachings of Yoshikawa Shinto.

Yoshikawa Shinto (吉川神道, Yoshikawa Shintō) is a doctrine of Shinto proclaimed in the early Edo period by Yoshikawa Koretari.

Overview

While inheriting Yoshida Shinto from his teacher Hagiwara Kaneyori, Yoshikawa further developed it and advocated a more moralistic form of Shinto known as "Yoshikawa Shinto."^[1]

Based on Yoshida Shinto but removing its Buddhist elements, Yoshikawa incorporated Neo-Confucian (Zhūzǐ) thought and used "Rikaku Shinto" (Rational-Principle Shinto) to expound a way of governing the nation. He emphasized morality and was critical of the hereditary shrine families (shake).^[2] Yoshikawa also incorporated official Confucian doctrines, uniting Shinto and Confucianism, and interpreted Shinto as the Way of ruler and subject. By stressing loyalty to the imperial family, he created a new current in early-modern Shinto that strongly influenced later movements such as Suika Shinto and pro-imperial thought.^[3]

Within Yoshikawa Shinto, Shinto was divided into "Gyōhō Shinto" (ritual-practice Shinto) centered on rites, and "Rikaku Shinto" (rational-principle Shinto) as a theory for governing the realm, holding the latter to be the true essence. He further taught that Shinto is the fundamental principle of the universe, and that deities such as Kuni-no-Tokotachi (国之常立神) inherently dwell in the hearts of all humans, a doctrine of the unity of kami and people.

Many lords, including Masayuki Hoshina of the Aizu Domain, sympathized with Yoshikawa Shinto, and the Yoshikawa family was appointed Shinto administrators (shintō-kata) under the Jisha-bugyō. Among Yoshikawa's disciples, Yamazaki Ansai later founded Suika Shinto.

Notes

1. 日本史用語研究会 (2009-02-02). 必携日本史用語 (in Japanese) (4th ed.). Jikkyo Shuppan. ISBN 9784407316599.
2. "Shinmasa's Education / New Hirosaki City History / Elegant Tsugaru Classics" (in Japanese). Hirosaki City Library. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
3. 全国歴史教育研究協議会 (2009-03-30). 日本史B用語集―A併記 (in Japanese) (Revised ed.). Yamakawa Publishing. ISBN 9784634013025.

References

• 日本史用語研究会 (2009-02-02). 必携日本史用語 (in Japanese) (4th ed.). Jikkyo Shuppan. ISBN 9784407316599.
• 全国歴史教育研究協議会 (2009-03-30). 日本史B用語集―A併記 (in Japanese) (Revised ed.). Yamakawa Publishing. ISBN 9784634013025.
• Hyōgo Prefecture Shrine Office (1968). 神道史年表（再販版） (in Japanese). Meibunsha.

See also

• Takateru Shrine – Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. Enshrines Tsugaru Nobumasa, a disciple of Yoshikawa Koretari, and features a unique shrine layout based on Yoshikawa Shinto.

External links

• Shinto Sōsetsu – Text of Shinto Taii Chū by Yoshikawa Koretari (National Diet Library)