27 Facts About Nakayama Miki

Nakayama Miki was a nineteenth-century Japanese farmer and religious leader.

Nakayama Miki is the primary figure of the Japanese new religion Tenrikyo.

Nakayama Miki began to attract followers, who believed that she was a living goddess who could heal people and bless expectant mothers with safe childbirth.

Nakayama Miki identified what she claimed to be the place where God created human beings and instructed her followers to mark the place with a pillar and perform the liturgy around it, which she believed would advance humankind toward the salvific state of the Joyous Life.

Tenrikyo doctrine maintains that Nakayama Miki was the fulfillment of God's promise to humankind at creation, which was that after a certain number of years had elapsed, God would be revealed through the soul of the mother of humankind at the place of creation and inform humankind of its origins, purpose, and means of salvation.

Nakayama Miki was born in Sanmaiden Village, Yamabe County, Yamato Province, or present day Tenri, Nara, to a family of the farming class.

Nakayama Miki's father Maegawa Hanshichi was a member of the Todo clan and held the title of musokunin, a samurai-like status which entitled him to have a surname and carry a sword, though without stipend.

Nakayama Miki was an ojoya, a head of a group of local villages.

At first, Nakayama Miki hesitated to agree to the request out of her desire to become a nun, but eventually she consented, on the condition that even when married she would be allowed to continue her Buddhist prayer.

In 1813, Nakayama Miki's in-laws entrusted her with the management of all household affairs.

The Life of Oyasama, Tenrikyo's biography of Nakayama Miki, portrays her as a diligent and productive worker.

Nakayama Miki's first daughter Omasa and second daughter Oyasu were born in April 1825 and September 1827 respectively.

Nakayama Miki's third daughter, Oharu, was born on 21 September 1831.

Nakayama Miki's fourth daughter, Otsune, was born on 7 November 1833 and died two years later in 1835.

Nakayama Miki's fifth daughter, Kokan, was born on 15 December 1837.

However, as the woman who regularly served as his medium, Soyo, was not available, he asked Nakayama Miki to serve as medium instead.

Over three days, the family made several refusals, asking the divine presence to leave, but with each refusal Nakayama Miki's trance grew in intensity and her responses became more severe.

On this day, according to Tenrikyo's doctrine, Nakayama Miki was settled as the Shrine of Tsukihi and the Tenrikyo teachings were founded.

In 1854, Nakayama Miki began to administer the grant of safe childbirth, first to her daughter Oharu during her pregnancy.

Recipients of the grant, Nakayama Miki instructed, would be assured of a rapid and easy delivery and would not need to observe the postnatal customs of the day, such as wearing an abdominal band, not eating certain foods, or leaning against a support.

From 1866 to 1875, Nakayama Miki taught the Mikagura-uta, the songs of Tenrikyo's liturgy, the Service.

From 1869 to 1882, Nakayama Miki composed what would later be called the Ofudesaki, a Tenrikyo scripture believed to contain her divine revelations.

In 1874, Nakayama Miki collected the kagura masks she had requested from her older brother Maegawa Kyosuke.

On 26 May 1875, Nakayama Miki located the Jiba, where she claimed was the spot where God created human beings.

Nakayama Miki instructed her followers to mark this spot with a stand called the Kanrodai, or the stand of heavenly dew.

The Life of Oyasama, Foundress of Tenrikyo is the official biography of Nakayama Miki published by the Tenrikyo Church Headquarters.

Efforts to compile a biography of Nakayama Miki began not long after her death in 1887.