Ananaikyo (Japanese: 三五教, Hepburn: Ananai-kyō, lit. 'Three-Five Religion') is a Shinto-based shinshūkyō (Japanese new religion). Ananaikyo was established by Yonosuke Nakano (中野與之助) on April 1949 in Shimizu, Shizuoka. It is currently headquartered in Yokosuka in Kakegawa, Shizuoka.
History
The religion's founder was Nakano Yonosuke (中野與之助; 1887–1974), who was originally an Oomoto practitioner. Nakano was influenced by Shinto priest and spirit medium Honda Chikaatsu (本田親徳); January 13, 1822 – April 9, 1889) and Honda's disciple Nagasawa Katsutate (長澤雄楯); August 8, 1858 – October 10, 1940).[1]
Beliefs
The name of the religion literally means "three-five religion", with "three" representing the triad of the sun, moon, and stars, and "five" representing the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Thus, "three and five" represent the teachings of both heaven and earth.[2]
Ananaikyo does not preach any worldly benefits, but rather places an emphasis on harmony with nature. The main scripture of Ananaikyo is Reikai-de Mita Uchū (霊界で観た宇宙), which consists of more than a dozen volumes.
The main deities revered are:[2]
- Kuni-no-Tokotachi (国常立大神)
- Ōkuninushi (大国主大神)
- Daimichihiko-no-Mikoto (大道彦命)
- Konohanasakuya-hime (木花咲耶姫大神)
- Ame-no-Uzume (天宇受売大神)
- Sarutahiko Ōkami (猿田彦大神)
- Ame-no-Tajikarao (天手力男大神)
- Tamayori-hime (玉依姫大神)
Observatories
Unusually for a Shinto-derived religion, Ananaikyo is known for building several astronomical observatories in Japan, since Ananaikyo states that "astronomy is religion" (天文即宗教, Tenmon Soku Shūkyō). In 1957, an observatory was built on Kanukiyama (香貫山) in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture but was later demolished in 1973 due to opposition against the new religion from locals.[3] Other observatories built by Ananaikyo, many of which are now defunct, include:[4]
- Gekko Observatory (月光天文台) in Kannami, Tagata District, Shizuoka Prefecture
- Kuniharu Observatory (国治天文台) in Okazaki, Aichi Prefecture
- Western Observatory (西部天文台) in Chikugo, Fukuoka Prefecture (established in November 1957, renamed Kyushu Observatory (九州天文台) in January 1958, closed in 1992)
- Bizan Observatory (眉山天文台) in Tokushima (established in March 1958, closed in 1968)
- Oshu Observatory (奥州天文台) in Nihonmatsu, Fukushima Prefecture (established in April 1958, closed in 1991)
- Nobi Observatory (濃尾天文台) in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture (established in November 1958, closed in 1991)
- Tohoku Observatory (東北天文台) in Kitakami, Iwate Prefecture (established in February 1959; demolished in 1996)
- Hi-no-kuni Observatory (肥之国天文台) in Yamaga, Kumamoto Prefecture (established in 1960; demolished in 1983)
- Shinano Observatory (信濃天文台) in Okaya, Nagano Prefecture (established in 1963; still standing as of 2015 but not open to the public)
See also
References
- ^ "Encyclopedia of Shinto詳細". 國學院大學デジタルミュージアム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ a b "三五教とは". ananaikyo (in Japanese). 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ 渡邉, 美和 (2016-02-08). "山本一清と三五教沼津香貫山天文台". 第6回天文台アーカイブプロジェクト報告会集録 (in Japanese). 6. 天文台アーカイブプロジェクト(京都大学総合博物館・研究資源アーカイブ＋理学研究科附属天文台＋理学研究科宇宙物理学教室): 15–31. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
- ^ 五味, 政美 (2015-01-15). "山本一清博士とあなない天文台". 第5回天文台アーカイブプロジェクト報告会集録 (in Japanese). 5. 天文台アーカイブプロジェクト(京都大学総合博物館・研究資源アーカイブ＋理学研究科附属天文台＋理学研究科宇宙物理学教室): 42–53. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)