Ennokyo

{{Infobox religion

| icon = Ennokyo emblem closeup.jpg

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| name = Ennokyo

| native_name = 円応教

| native_name_lang = ja

| image = 円応教本部五法閣.jpg

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| caption = Ennokyo headquarters at Tanba-shi, Hyōgo Prefecture in 2025

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| type = Japanese new religion

| main_classification = Syncretic religion

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| scripture = Ennōkyō kyōten (円応教教典)

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| leader_title = Head priest

| leader_name = Fukada Hiromitsu (深田充啓)

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| language = Japanese

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| headquarters = Muramori (村森), Sannan-cho (山南町), Tanba-shi, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan

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| founder = {{nihongo|Fukada Chiyoko|深田千代子|}}

| founded_date = July 16, 1919

| founded_place = Tanba-shi, Hyōgo Prefecture

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| tax_status = Religious corporation

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| website = {{URL|http://www.ennokyo.jp/|ennokyo.jp}}

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{{Nihongo|Ennokyo|円応教|Ennō-kyō}} is a shinshūkyō (Japanese new religion).{{cite book | last=Reader | first=Ian | title=Japanese New Religious Movements | publisher=Oxford University Press | date=2006-10-26 | doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195137989.003.0015}} It is headquartered in Muramori (村森), Sannan-cho (山南町), Tanba-shi, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.{{cite web | title=概要｜円応教とは | website=円応教 | url=http://www.ennokyo.jp/about/outline/ | language=ja | access-date=2025-02-13}} It is a syncretic religion that combines features from Shinto, Buddhism, and other religious traditions. Ennokyo was founded in 1919 and was officially established as a religious corporation in 1948.

History

File:Fukada Chiyoko - foundress of Ennokyo.jpg

{{nihongo|Fukada Chiyoko|深田千代子|}} (October 3, 1887 – January 6, 1925), the {{nihongo|founder|教祖|kyōso}} of the Ennokyo religion, founded Ennokyo on July 16, 1919 when she received a divine revelation. She was born in Ibara (井原), Sannan-cho (山南町), Tanba City, Hyōgo Prefecture, near Ennokyo's present-day headquarters. She died on January 6, 1925 from valvular heart disease. Today, she is revered by Ennokyo followers as {{nihongo|Jishi'uin Ennō Chikaku Daishi|慈照院圓應智覺大姉}}.{{cite web | title=教祖の生い立ち｜教祖・教主・後継者 | website=円応教 | url=http://www.ennokyo.jp/about/history/history01/ | language=ja | access-date=2025-02-13}}

Fukada Nagaharu (深田長治; March 25, 1908 – April 3, 1976), Chiyoko's eldest son,{{cite thesis | last=Sakashita | first=Jay | title=Shinnyoen and the transmission of Japanese new religions abroad | publisher=University of Stirling | date=1998 | url=https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/handle/1893/2264}} was the leader of the religion until his death in 1976. On June 10, 1948, he officially registered Ennokyo as a religious corporation as a merger of the two organizations Ennō Shūhōkai (円応修法会) and Ennō Hōonkai (円応報恩会).{{cite web|url=https://rw-ktf.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/i_religionswiss/Neue_religioese_Bewegungen_in_Japan_heute_-_Ein_UEberblick__Lukas_Pokorny_2011_.pdf|title=Neue religiöse Bewegungen in Japan heute: Ein Überblick|first=Lukas|last=Pokorny|date=2011}}

On July 16, 1951, Fukada Nagaharu finished writing the {{nihongo|Daily Prayers|日課勤行文|Nikka Gongyōbun}}. On February 6, 1952, he published the {{nihongo|Ennokyo Scriptures|円応教教典|Ennōkyō Kyōten}} and {{nihongo|Doctrinal Outline|教義概要|Kyōgi Gaiyō}}. Fukada Nagaharu became vice-chairman and director of the {{Nihongo|Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan|新宗連|Shinshuren}} on November 28, 1975.{{cite web | title=初代教主のあゆみ｜教祖・教主・後継者 | website=円応教 | url=http://www.ennokyo.jp/about/history/history02/ | language=ja | access-date=2025-02-13}}

Fukada Hiromitsu (深田充啓; born February 27, 1937), the eldest son of the first head priest Fukada Nagaharu, became the second head priest on April 6, 1976. In 1979, he published {{nihongo|What is Ennokyo?|円応教とは|Ennōkyō to wa}}, a compilation of 277 questions and answers about Ennokyo.{{cite book| last=Fukada |first=Hiromitsu 深田充啓 |date=1979 |title=Ennōkyō to wa 円応教とは |publisher=Ennōkyō}} He is currently serving as Honorary Chairman of the Shinshuren.{{cite web | title=二代教主のあゆみ｜教祖・教主・後継者 | website=円応教 | url=http://www.ennokyo.jp/about/history/history03/ | language=ja | access-date=2025-02-13}} Fukada Keiko (深田惠子; born January 6, 1968), the eldest daughter of head priest Fukada Hiromitsu, is Fukada Hiromitsu's designated successor.{{cite web | title=教主後継者のあゆみ｜教祖・教主・後継者 | website=円応教 | url=http://www.ennokyo.jp/about/history/history04/ | language=ja | access-date=2025-02-13}}

Beliefs and doctrines

Ennokyo is a syncretic religion based on Shinto, Buddhism, and other religious traditions. It permits its followers to worship any deity, as long as {{nihongo|Ōmioya|大御親|}}, also known as {{nihongo|Ōmioya-sama|大御親様|}} (the name for God in Ennokyo), and its founder Fukada Chiyoko are both revered. Ennokyo encourages its followers to perform ancestor worship according to the family's or clan's own traditions.{{cite web | title=入教者への道しるべ｜よくあるご質問 | website=円応教 | url=http://www.ennokyo.jp/faq/believe/ | language=ja | access-date=2025-02-13}}

File:Ennokyo Jishoden.jpg

File:Ennokyo headquarters - view from train 2.jpg

Ennokyo has five official principles (教義の五綱目), which are:{{cite web | title=教義｜教え | website=円応教 | url=http://www.ennokyo.jp/oshie/kyougi/ | language=ja | access-date=2025-02-13}}

Mato (まと) ("object of worship"): God, Buddha, and other deities can all be worshipped as long as worship is performed with a sincere heart.
Sincerity (makoto 誠)
Love (ai 愛)
Virtue (zen 善)
Kage no gyō (陰の行) ("hidden good deeds")

The religion's official emblem consists of the kyūjitai kanji character 覺 (kaku), which means 'awakening', placed inside a five-petal flower. The five petals represent the five official principles (教義の五綱目).

Texts

Below is a list of Ennokyo scriptures and doctrinal texts.

Nikka gongyōbun (日課勤行文) (daily prayers)
Ennōkyō kyōten (円応教教典) (doctrine/scriptures)
Kyōgi gaiyō (教義概要) (summary of doctrines)
Kyōsoden (教祖伝) (biography of the foundress)
O-kyōso-sama (御教祖様) (manga version of the biography of the foundress)
O-kyōso-sama o-ibunshū (御教祖様御遺文集) (four volumes: upper, middle, lower, additional 上･中･下･補の4巻) (collection of writings by the foundress)
Jikaku hansei sangemon (自覚反省懺悔文) (self-reflection and repentance)
Seinen jikun (青年自訓) (self-instruction for youth)
Shinja kunkai no kaigi (信者訓戒の解義) (interpretation of guidance for believers)
Ennōkyō kisoku oyobi kitei (円応教規則及び規程) (Ennokyo rules and regulations)
Makoto no michi (まことの道) (the sincere path)

Ennokyo bookstore books 1.jpg

Ennokyo bookstore books 2.jpg

Ennokyo bookstore books 3.jpg

Ennokyo bookstore books 4.jpg

Ennokyo bookstore books 5.jpg

Affiliations

Ennokyo is part of the {{Nihongo|Federation of New Religious Organizations of Japan|新宗連|Shinshuren}}.{{cite web | title=公益財団法人新日本宗教団体連合会 | website=公益財団法人新日本宗教団体連合会 | url=http://www.shinshuren.or.jp/ | language=ja | access-date=2025-02-13}}{{cite web | title=New religions target negative image | website=The Japan Times | date=2001-08-15 | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2001/08/15/national/new-religions-target-negative-image/ | access-date=2025-02-13}}