Shirakawa Shinto
白川神道（しらかわしんとう）
Shirakawa Shinto
Shirakawa Shinto is a mainstream sect of the ancient Shinto tradition, the indigenous faith of the Japanese people as practiced prior to the introduction of Confucianism and Buddhism to Japan. The Shirakawa sect originated with the Shirakawa family, also referred to as the Shirakawa Hakuo family[1].The origin of the name Hakuo (haku [伯] indicating the status of a chief, and o [王], a title that indicates imperial lineage), suggests that the name has descended through generations from the family’s historical positioning as providers of the heir to the post of Jingi Haku. The Jingi Haku is the chief of the Jingi-kan, (or the Office of Shinto Affairs), and is the highest ranking official post of the Shinto priests. These priests were in charge of conducting imperial court rituals (those involving the Emperor) from the Heian period (794–1185) until 1868, or the end of the shogunate rule of the Edo period (1603–1868).
The history of court rituals goes back even further, to the reign of Emperor Jinmu (711 BC–585 BC), who ascended to the throne in 660 BC (according to the Nihon Shoki ["The Chronicles of Japan"][2], the first official history compiled in Japan, said to have been completed in 720). If we include today's 126th emperor, Emperor Naruhito, it can be said that these are highly venerable rituals with a long history of over two millennia.
Yet further back in history, before the formation of an ancient, full-fledged state in Japan, there existed a vast settlement centering on a part of present-day western Japan, where it is said that a great king played a highly important role as its ruler. This great king controlled both rituals and politics (as recorded in ["Records of Three Kingdoms"], a monumental history of ancient China by Chen Shou (233-297), which describes Japan prior to records of Kojiki ["Records of Ancient Matters"] and Nihon Shoki).
The details and particulars of performing rituals handed down by Shirakawa Shinto is a reflection of this ancient history (predating recorded history), and rites and ceremonies observed prior to the establishment of the ancient state (which increasingly became centered on the emperor and the introduction of personal deities). In other words, rituals that would have been practiced since the Jomon period have been preserved through the Shirakawa lineage.
One of these rituals still practiced in some of the oldest shrines in Japan is to regard various aspects of nature (interpreted as "workings") as kami (Shinto deities) and to pray for a bountiful harvest and daily peace through the spirit-dwelling object representing these kami, such as rocks, trees, water, etc. However, Shirakawa Shinto is distinguished not only by the practice of such rituals, but also by the preservation of its ancient traditions through the manner in which those involved in the rituals (including the emperor), are trained. This is typified by the tradition of passing on practices that are in harmony with nature, as represented by the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water).
In this way, Shirakawa Shinto has developed through respect for nature and the spirit of harmony with all living things. Shirakawa Shinto is passed on through traditional Shinto worship practices, while at the same time the practices of the imperial rituals continue to be further refined.
Since the Meiji era (1868–1912), the Shirakawa Shinto tradition has been passed down from generation to generation in the form of a single lineage. After studying Shirakawa Shinto as one of its legitimate inheritors, Kenji Nanasawa, founder of neten Inc., decided that in order to revive its essence as something valuable and meaningful in the modern age, that it was necessary to integrate Japanese cultural wisdom into a single entity. For that purpose, in 2012, he established Shirakawa Institute Foundation, a new place to foster learning and training, and built Hafuriden ("Hall of Celebration"), to serve as its center. The Shirakawa Institute is open to everyone, young and old, male and female, to learn the wisdom of court rituals.
The three pillars of Shirakawa Shinto practice at Shirakawa Institute are Harai [3](lit. "purification"), Chinkon [4] (lit. "repose of souls"), and Genrei [5] (lit. "word-spirits"). These foundations of training have been transmitted in a manner analogous to the handing down of the three sacred objects (representing the three primary virtues: valor [the sword], wisdom [the mirror], and benevolence [the jewel]) that are considered official proof of the emperor's succession to the throne in Japan.
Shirakawa Shinto, the core of ancient Shinto, inherits the mind and spirit of the ancient Jomon people, who revered nature as a deity and respected the existence and harmony of all beings. We hope to preserve and pass on this tradition, which has been handed down for thousands of years, so that it may become the source for creating a society in which nature and people coexist in this new era of the modern age.
English translation by Norie Fukuda-Matsushima
Copy Editing by Vanessa Byrne
[1] The Shirakawa Hakuho family began when Nobuzane-o, the grandson of the 65th Emperor Hanayama, was appointed as the Count of Jingi in the 3rd year of the Kantoku era (1046). Since then, until the end of the Edo period, the Shirakawa Hakuo family has been responsible for all the rituals related to the imperial family, including the Daijo Festival (the imperial enthronement ceremony), which is the first ceremonial offering of rice by a newly enthroned emperor, said to be the most important ritual for the succession to the throne.
[2] Nihon Shoki can be considered an historical equivalent to the privately written history of China, Shiji, by Sima Qian (c. 145–c. 90 BC) in China or the Histories, by Herodotus of Greece. It is written entirely in Chinese characters, intended to be read by the powerful and intellectuals of China, which was a developed country at that time.
[3] Harai is a series of prayers to cleanse oneself of the past and the future and bring one’s consciousness to the present moment.
[4] Chinkon is a meditation method to return life force energy to the dan tien area under the navel and bring the mental body into a meditative state.
[5] Genrei is defined as word-spirits that emerged from the purified mind and body (words free from human desires and emotions) through the ancient practice of "purification" and "repose." Thus, it is believed that divine will dwells within these words, and so when spoken, divine will is invoked.