Tenrikyo (Japanese new religion)
Japanese new religion founded by Nakayama Miki (1838) teaching faith in Tenri-Ō-no-Mikoto. Headquartered in Tenri City, Nara Prefecture. Practises distinctive sacred dance (Otefuri) and pilgrimage to the Jiba (sacred axis).
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — long-established Japanese new religion; relatively low control compared to NRMs.
Profile facts
In context
Tenrikyo is the largest of Japan's new religions, with substantial educational and humanitarian operations including Tenri University. Members make pilgrimage to the Jiba in Tenri City. Daily life regulation is light by NRM standards; tithing and educational expectations are present. The CLCI captures moderate-low patterns; many members live integrated mainstream lives.
History
Founded by Nakayama Miki in mid-19th-century rural Japan; now an established Japanese religion with substantial educational institutions.
Key control doctrines
- Nakayama Miki as Oyasama (parent god incarnate)
- Pilgrimage to the Jiba
- Otefuri sacred dance
General high-control-group recovery resources
Group-specific recovery resources have not yet been curated for this entry. The general references below apply across most high-control-group exits; see /resources for the full directory.
- ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) — Global referral and information service for questions about high-control groups; runs a helpline and a directory of cult-aware therapists.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center — Steven Hassan's organisation — BITE-model assessments, family-side guidance, and exit-counselling resources.
- ICSA Cult-Aware Therapist Directory — ICSA-maintained directory of licensed mental-health professionals with specific cult-recovery training.
- Combatting Cult Mind Control (Steven Hassan) — Foundational BITE-model book covering the structural mechanics of high-control groups and recovery; revised edition 2018.
- Take Back Your Life: Recovering from Cults and Abusive Relationships (Lalich & Tobias) — Practical recovery workbook by Janja Lalich and Madeleine Tobias.
See the full curated list at /resources.
Evidence by BITE axis
- Tithing and donations expected from active members
- Sacred dance (Otefuri) practice
- Pilgrimage expectations
- Tenrikyo theological materials are central
- Outside engagement broadly accepted
- Nakayama Miki's revelations as authoritative
- Universal salvation theology accommodates outside thinking
- Strong family-community emotional ties
- Mild social pressure to maintain Tenrikyo identity
Timeline
- 1838Nakayama Miki has her first revelation
- 1908Tenrikyo independence from Shinto state recognition
- ModernContinues as established Japanese religion
Sources
- Henry van Straelen, 'The Religion of Divine Wisdom' (1957) search ↗
- Tenrikyo Overseas Department publications search ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗ runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Key terms in this profile
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
You may also want to explore
Found something wrong on this profile?
We accept correction requests from anyone — current and former members, researchers, journalists, family members, and the listed organisation. Submissions are reviewed by an editor; we do not auto-publish.