group of folk religious sects in Japan that were separated by a government decree in 1882 from the suprareligious national cult, State Shintō. They were denied public support, and their denominations were called kyōkai (“church”), or kyōha (“sect”), to distinguish them from the established shrines, called jinja, which were considered state institutions.

By 1908, 13 sects had been recognized by the government. Scholars have classified them into a number of groups according to characteristics of their religious faith. The main groups are:

(1) Revival Shintō: Shintō Taikyō (“Great Teaching of Shintō”); Shinrikyō (“Divine Truth Religion”); Izumo-ōyashirokyō, also called Taishakyō (“Religion of the Grand Shrine of Izumo”).

(2) Confucian sects: Shintō Shūsei-ha (“Improving and Consolidating School of Shintō”); Shintō Taisei-ha (“Great Accomplishment School of Shintō”).

(3) Mountain-worship sects: Jikkōkyō (“Practical Conduct Religion”); Fusōkyō (“Religion of Mount Fuji”); Mitakekyō, or Ontakekyō (“Religion of Mount Ontake”).

(4) Purification sects: Shinshūkyō (“Divine Learning Religion”); Misogikyō (“Purification Religion”).

(5) Utopian or faith-healing cults: Kurozumikyō (“Religion of Kurozumi,” named after its founder); Konkōkyō (“Religion of Konkō,” the name of the kami, or sacred power); Tenrikyō (“Religion of Divine Wisdom”).

The sects developed many splinter sects and devotional associations, so that by the end of World War II, when they were allowed to separate themselves, they had multiplied from the original 13 to 75.

In their emphasis on elaborate doctrines, proselytization, and missionary activity, some were prototypes of the “new religions” that have sprung up in modern Japan. Most influential of the Kyōha Shintō is Tenrikyō.