Learning the Parental Heart of the Divine Founder through His Letters, Part V (Apr. 2026)

 Learning the Parental Heart of the Founder through His Letters, Part V

Kurozumi Munemichi, the Seventh Chief Patriarch

April 2026

After some time, we once again study “Learning the Parental Heart of the Founder God through the Kyosho*” here in Michigokoro. (*Kurozumikyō Kyōsho 黒住教教書, "The Collection of the Divine Founder’s Letters and Verses")

This time, the relevant Gobun 御文 (letters) are Nos. 61 through 73, dated from the 10th month of Bunsei 10 (1827) through the seventh month of the following year, during the fifth period of Edo service of High Disciple Ishio Kensuke, who accompanied his lord to Edo under the system of alternate attendance (sankin kōtai 参勤交代). However, because Kurozumikyō Kyoshō also includes Gobun Nos. 55 through 74 arranged in chronological order—including those addressed to Mr. Ichimori Hikorokurō, who entered Edo for the first time just before High Disciple Ishio completed his fourth term in March of Bunsei 10, as well as some letters without specified recipients—it has become somewhat difficult, unlike before, to focus solely on the exchange of letters between the Divine Founder and High Disciple Ishio as a continuous “flow” of teaching.

Since each Gobun contains precious teachings in every single word, I do not wish to reduce them to just a few lines of commentary. I cannot say what form future installments of Michigokoro will take, but as this series was begun out of gratitude to learn the “Parental Heart of the Divine Founder,” I ask that readers who wish to study the teachings in detail either enroll in the correspondence course of the Kyoshō curriculum, or at least open the Kyoshō and read and contemplate these Gobun—whether in the original or even in modern translation.

After High Disciple Ishio had already returned to Okayama upon completing his fourth term of Edo service, the letter addressed to Mr. Ichimori dated the 16th of the sixth month of Bunsei 10 (1827) is Gobun No. 57. It is precisely because Mr. Ichimori, following the example of his senior, wrote to the Divine Founder and carefully preserved the precious reply, that we in this Reiwa era are able to learn the Way directly through the handwritten letters of the Divine Founder. For this, we can only feel gratitude toward High Disciple Ishio and Mr. Ichimori.

Unlike the relationship between the Divine Founder and High Disciple Ishio—which may rightly be described as “an intimacy where liver and gall mutually illuminate one another”—the Divine Founder guided Mr. Ichimori, who was twenty‑seven years his junior, with a parental heart, as though toward a son. Even in the phrase, “Do not grow lax (do not be careless)…,” such parental concern is evident. Yet the style of the letter, beginning with solicitous words of care for Mr. Ichimori, is consistently marked by the same refined courtesy as in the letters to High Disciple Ishio. Thus, even toward a disciple younger by nearly a generation, the Divine Founder respected him as a full person (Bunshin 分心—each person’s portion of Amaterasu Ōmikami’s spirit— as that person’s “divine personality”), and from this we may deeply learn the Divine Founder’s way of relating to people.

Before Gobun No. 57 from the Divine Founder arrived, Mr. Ichimori must have written the following letter. Since courier service operated only twice a month (left Okayama for Edo on the second and the sixteenth days), it was, so to speak, something like today’s “chat” or real‑time internet communication. Thus Gobun No. 58 was dated the second day of the seventh month, and Gobun No. 59 the sixteenth day of the seventh month. The Divine Founder’s parental heart is deeply moving, as he responded with such attentiveness to Mr. Ichimori’s frequent letters.

In Gobun No. 60, dated the sixteenth day of the eighth month, the Divine Founder referred to High Disciple Ishio Kensuke, who was about to depart for his fifth term of Edo service: “Soon Master Kensuke (High Disciple Ishio) will be departing, so please hear from him in detail,” in effect saying, “After this, learn from High Disciple Ishio.” After that, there seem to have been no letters to Mr. Ichimori for a time. From Gobun No. 57 through Gobun No. 60, one senses the Divine Founder’s parental heart, concerned that Mr. Ichimori’s first Edo service was going smoothly yet perhaps a little too cheerfully, cautioning him, “Do not get carried away.”

The departure of High Disciple Ishio for his fifth Edo assignment came only four months after his previous return, a rather hurried interval. Gobun No. 61, dated the second day of the tenth month, is a reply written during his twenty‑day journey to Edo. In it, the Divine Founder declines, with respectful courtesy, High Disciple Ishio’s proposal for “missionary work in Osaka,” noting that he was then engaged in the “Thousand Days of Devotional Seclusion” at Imamura Shrine.

On the sixteenth day of the tenth month, in time for the next courier dispatch, the Divine Founder wrote two letters: Gobun No. 62 to High Disciple Ishio, and Gobun No. 63 to Mr. Ichimori. The former clearly expounds the essence of the Way: “Shintō is nothing other than living.” “Moment by moment, wherever things are brought to life, there is the Way of Amaterasu Ōmikami.” The latter gently embraces Mr. Ichimori, who seemed troubled, with the words: “If you are devoting yourself to entrusting all things to the Way, then there is nothing beyond that.” He further instructs him to consult in detail with High Disciple Ishio and another disciple, Mr. Aochi Tōshirō.

These letters impress upon us the Divine Founder’s parental heart—at once firm in teaching the Way’s essence, yet tender in guiding disciples through their personal concerns.

The next letter, Gobun No. 66 (including missing numbers), dated the sixteenth day of the first month of Bunsei 11 (1828), was addressed to High Disciple Ishio. In this and the following letters, the Divine Founder responds with restraint to Ishio’s ardent desire for active missionary expansion, saying “All things are according to Heaven’s will.” In Gobun No. 67, dated the second day of the second month, he again counsels moderation: “We must await the natural time.” And in Gobun No. 68, dated the sixteenth day of the second month, he continues with caution: “Above all, let prudence be your sole concern.” In this letter, he notes for the first time: “If my Thousand Days of Devotional Seclusion proceeds smoothly, it will be completed within the coming month.” His focus was clearly upon the fulfillment of this great discipline.

Between these, Gobun No. 69, dated the sixteenth day of the third month, was sent to Mr. Ichimori, whose Edo service had been extended by half a year due to his lord’s circumstances. The Divine Founder reassured him: “Entrust all things to Heaven.”

Finally, Gobun No. 70, dated the second day of the fifth month, is the first letter sent to High Disciple Ishio after the Divine Founder completed the Thousand Days of Devotion. Though the count of days was later supplemented (“This will be gradually made up…”), the fact that immediately after the fulfillment on the twenty‑ninth day of the fourth month he hastened to inform Ishio reveals the unwavering bond between them.

The subsequent letters—Gobun No. 71 (dated the second day of the sixth month), Gobun No. 72 (dated the sixteenth day of the sixth month), and Gobun No. 73 (dated the second day of the seventh month)—each contain precious teachings worthy of deep study. However, from the perspective of the Divine Founder’s parental heart toward High Disciple Ishio, there are no particular exchanges that call for special introduction here. Therefore, in this essay I will refrain from presenting them individually.

In contrast, Gobun No. 74, dated the second day of the eighth month, was addressed to Mr. Ichimori, who was nearing the end of his first Edo service, originally scheduled but extended by half a year, and was soon to return to Okayama. In this letter, one can truly feel the parental heart of the Divine Founder.

The letters sent to High Disciple Ishio after the completion of the Thousand Days of Devotion reveal less a tone of instruction and guidance, and more a heart of sharing together the profound gratitude of the sacred Way. Each Gobun thus contains teachings of deep and vital importance. For this reason, in this series—focused on introducing multiple letters from the standpoint of the Divine Founder’s parental heart—I must note in advance that future installments (likely a year from now) will center primarily on the letters to Mr. Ichimori.

The original Japanese version: 教書に学ぶ教祖神の親心　五