Kurozumi-kyō

▪ Japanese religion

      prototype of the contemporary “new religions” of Japan, named for its founder, Kurozumi Munetada (1780–1850), a Shintō priest of the area that is now Okayama prefecture. The believers venerate the Shintō sun goddess Amaterasu as the supreme god and creator of the universe and consider the other traditional 8,000,000 Shintō kami (gods, or sacred powers) to be her manifestations. Devotional activities include daily morning worship of the sun, with breathing exercises, described as “swallowing the sun,” intended to bring about spiritual union with the sun and consequent physical well-being. The cult was officially recognized as a Shintō sect in 1846 and reorganized under its present name in 1876. It is still recognized as a denomination of Sect Shintō and in the late 20th century claimed over 200,000 followers.

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