Can Tenrikyō Transcend the Modern Family?: From a Humanistic Understanding of Hinagata and Narratives of Foster Care Activities
Conservative tendencies, based on the concept of the modern family, can be observed in the view of the family advocated by Tenrikyō in recent years, but this is not necessarily the case when looking at the actual activities of the group. Actually, the foundress Nakayama Miki (Hinagata, "divine...
| Published in: | Japanese journal of religious studies |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Nanzan Institute
[2003]
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| In: |
Japanese journal of religious studies
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| Further subjects: | B
Foster children
B Husbands B Sons B Tenrikyo B Mothers B Pastors B Foster Home Care B Division of labor |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | Conservative tendencies, based on the concept of the modern family, can be observed in the view of the family advocated by Tenrikyō in recent years, but this is not necessarily the case when looking at the actual activities of the group. Actually, the foundress Nakayama Miki (Hinagata, "divine model"), who did not have an ideal family in the worldly sense, as well as Miki's youngest daughter Kokan and Ueda Naraito, both also hinagata who were given the role of miko, are sources of spiritual strength for followers who have deviated from the framework of the ideal image of the family. In addition, meanings attached to the stereotypical precept of Tenriky6 related to the family, "women are pedestals," were formed and changed within the historic context of the modern age. With the present decline of the modern family, the actual practice of otasuke (salvation work) presents a new image of the family, which can be examined through the "church family" of those living together in Tenrikyo churches, especially those involved in foster care activities. I will demonstrate that these activities of the church are connected with the empowerment of women, and by focusing on the narratives of women active in foster care I will point out the postmodern (going beyond blood relationships), modern (based on a sexual division of labor), and premodern (retaining a household ie [Unrepresented Character] consciousness) nature of the church. |
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| Contains: | Enthalten in: Japanese journal of religious studies
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