Seicho-no-ie

A new religious organization based on various religions, founded by Masaharu Taniguchi. At the end of 1929 (Showa 4), Taniguchi received divine revelations such as "There is no substance," "All phenomena are manifestations of the mind," and "Know the true nature of life." The organization later took the name of the self-cultivation magazine "Seicho-no-Ie," which he launched the following March in 1930. The magazine symbolizes a "house" where people gather, filled with joy in the realization that the infinitely growing "life" is their true nature. In 1932, the magazine was compiled into a scripture called "The True Nature of Life," which claims that reading it will cure illnesses. In 1935, the organization called itself the educational organization Seicho-no-Ie, became a religious association in 1940, and a religious corporation in 1952 (Showa 27), changing its name to its current one in August 1957. His scriptures include "The True Nature of Life" (40 volumes), "The Truth" (11 volumes), "Selected Works of Masaharu Taniguchi", "Sweet Dharma Rain", "Words of Angels", and "Continued Sweet Dharma Rain". His doctrine, based on his own conversion experience, incorporates the teachings of various religions such as Buddhism, Shinto, and Christianity, as well as theories of modern philosophy and psychoanalysis, and by understanding the universe as a manifestation of eternal life, he advocates the unification of all religions. His training includes reciting scriptures, thoroughly holding memorial services for ancestors, and practicing "shinsokan" to overcome illness and suffering. Its headquarters (office) is located in Jingumae, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, and it has educational departments and dojos all over the country, with its head temple, Kensaiden, in Seihi-cho, Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and its special head temple, Yuusaiden, in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. It has two shrines, one missionary station, 126 others, 14,335 teachers, and 550,310 followers (Religious Yearbook, 2014 edition), and is spreading overseas, mainly in North America and throughout South America, mainly Brazil (266 overseas missionary facilities as of 2000).

[Minoru Sonoda]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

谷口雅春(まさはる)が創立した諸教系の新宗教教団。1929年（昭和4）末に「物質はない」「一切現象は念（こころ）の所現」「生命の実相を知れ」などの神示を受けた谷口が、翌1930年3月に創刊した修養誌『生長の家』を、のちにそのまま教団の名とした。無限に生長する「いのち」こそ自己の本質という自覚に悦(よろこ)びあふれる人々が集う「家」を象徴する。1932年に同誌をまとめ、読むと病気が治るとする教典『生命の実相』が発刊され、1935年に教化団体生長の家と名のり、1940年に宗教結社、1952年（昭和27）に宗教法人となって、1957年8月現名に改称した。教典には『生命の実相』全40巻、『真理』全11巻、『谷口雅春選集』『甘露(かんろ)の法雨(ほうう)』『天使の言葉』『続々甘露の法雨』がある。教義には、谷口自身の回心(かいしん)体験に基づいて仏教、神道(しんとう)、キリスト教など諸宗教の教説や近代哲学、精神分析などの学説を取り込んで、宇宙を久遠(くおん)生命の発現と把握することで万教帰一(ばんきょうきいつ)をも主張し、修行には、教典の読誦(どくじゅ)、先祖供養の徹底のほか、病気や苦悩を克服するために「神想観」を実修する。本部（事務所）を東京都渋谷区神宮前に置き、全国に教化部・道場を設け、長崎県西海(さいかい)市西彼(せいひ)町に総本山の顕斎殿(けんさいでん)、京都府宇治市に別格本山の幽斎(ゆうさい)殿がある。神社数2、布教所数1、その他126、教師数1万4335、信者数55万0310（『宗教年鑑』平成26年版）を数え、海外もおもに北米、ブラジル中心の南米全土への布教が進んでいる（2000年時点の国外布教施設266）。

［薗田　稔］

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