Paper short abstract:

This presentation examines the theological doctrines and spiritual practices of Honda Chikaatsu (1822-1889) and discusses how these addressed and applied to the unique political and religious circumstances of the late nineteenth century.

Paper long abstract:

Honda Chikaatsu (1822-1889) was a Restoration Shintōist and Shintō spiritual practitioner of the late Tokugawa and early Meiji periods.

Prior scholarly studies on Honda Chikaatsu view his Spirit-Beckoning Method as deriving from archaic religiosity, or from mountain asceticism (Sangaku Shugendo) sects such as Ontake-kō. They see his religiosity as being closely related to Shamanistic New Religions that stand in contrast to State Shrine Shinto in the Meiji era.

However, when we read his writings and norito prayers, we can see that Honda Chikaatsu was strongly influenced by Mutobe Yoshika and Ōkuni Takamasa, two major scholars of the Hirata National Learning School before the Meiji restoration period. Through his connections with Soejima Taneomi and certain politicians from the former Satsuma Fief, Honda understood the religious policies of the Meiji Government, and this understanding informed his exegesis of the Kojiki. Honda's theological theories were created to address his apprehension toward the prospect of Christianity possibly rising to the status of state religion in Meiji era Japan. Honda countered Christian monotheism with his own doctrines regarding a supreme Shinto god. He claimed that Ame-no-Minaka-Nushi-no-Kami is the omniscient, omnipotent God of the universe, and that all human beings are his children to whom he bestowed their souls. Honda taught that if people were to be good servants of the Emperor while in this world, they needed to purify their souls that they have received from Ame-no-Minaka-Nushi-no-Kami; only by properly maintaining the heart that Ame-no-Minaka-Nushi-no-Kami loves, can they work effectively for the nation. Honda developed and propagated methods of divination (such as Spirit-Beckoning and oracle bone pyromancy) for receiving divine guidance in times of national crisis. He also deemed proper self-cultivation methods (such as Soul-Pacifying) as essential for the successful reception of divine oracles.

This presentation will focus especially on Honda's norito prayers and theological writings in discussing his spiritual practices and his arguments on the nature of God. In doing so it will take into account circumstances such as the domestic and foreign policies of the Meiji government and the tide of anti-Christian sentiment during the late nineteenth century.