Konkokyo

Konkōkyō (金光教, Konkō-kyō), or Konkō, is a Shinto sect with origins in Shinbutsu-shūgō beliefs. It is part of the Kyoha Shintō Rengōkai (教派神道連合会, Association of Sectarian Shinto). It was founded by Bunjirō Kawate (川手文治郎, Kawate Bunjirō; 1814–1883) (also known as Konkō Daijin (金光大神)) in 1859. Konkōkyō primarily worships a kami named Tenchi Kane No Kami (天地金乃神), as well as other kami, namely the Mitama no Kami (divine spirits of those who died). To which every Konko worship hall has two altars for this purpose. To define Konkōkyō with any particular theism is difficult. As it is a Shinto sect, its general belief system and worldview aligns with Shinto as a whole. It can be defined with various ideas depending on how one personally interprets the nature of Tenchi Kane no Kami, whether it is monotheist, polytheist, henotheist, pantheist, and so forth. Regardless of one's personal interpretation, Konkōkyō does not deny or exclude other deities or other religions.