A palace-style building with yellow roof and white walls is one of the most prominent architectural features of the Yuanshan area of Taipei. On the 10th day of each month, the building is crowded with worshipers wearing black kimonos with the three characters "tien li chiao (Tenrikyo)" printed in white on them. The building is the headquarters of the Tenrikyo sect in Taiwan, which has two main branches in Chiayi and Changhua counties, and 61 smaller places of worship all over the island. It is estimated there are altogether 3,000 followers of the religion in the Republic of China.

Founded in 1838, Tenrikyo calls on its followers to worship God the Parent (called Tenri-O-no-Mikoto), who is said to have created the world and all mankind. Worshipers also believe that God the Parent gives all things life and his full protection. Human beings who do not know about this are apt to think they are living by their own power. As a result, they are selfish, and the world is full of disease, disputes and disasters, the religion holds.

In order to lead his children to live a full life, God the Parent revealed himself through the Foundress of the religion, Miki Nakayama, whom the God appointed as his "shrine" on Oct. 26, 1838, according to the religion.

Miki Nakayama was born at Sammaiden, Nara prefecture in Japan. Though a plain farming woman, she displayed love for mankind and enthusiasm for helping people throughout her life. Miki became the shrine of God the Parent when she was 41. From that time on, she spoke and acted in person the will of God the Parent, and taught people to abide by God's will in order to lead a life of joy.

The joyous life in accordance with God the Parent is not just an individual ideal. When illness, disaster, disputes and all the sufferings of man are resolved, there will be nothing but joy in the world, the religion holds.

To lead a life full of cheerfulness and brightness, people must first root out the concept that they are living by their own power. All ideas of opposing God's will are regarded as "dust." Only when the dust is swept away can mankind be saved. As it is believed that God the Parent is the true parent of all humanity, so all people are equally brothers and sisters. Tenrikyo follower must save not only himself but also all people.

He must first wipe out all the evils in his heart and pray for protection from God the Parent. The doctrines of Tenrikyo will then be spread from each individual to the family and to the world at large to build an earthly paradise.

The Tenrikyo Church, a branch of the Shinto religion, is headquartered at Tenri City in Nara prefecture in Japan. Services are performed around the Kanrodai at Jiba, said to be the place of the original creation of man.

For Tenrikyo followers, Jiba is the source of universal salvation and the home of all mankind, so the district is also called "Oyasato" (ancestral home). Many Tenrikyo followers make pilgrimages to Jiba to worship God the Parent.

There are several grand services at the Tenrikyo headquarters. The Autumn Grand Service held on October 26 commemorates the founding of Tenrikyo, the Spring Grand Service on January 26 commemorates the day the Foundress hid her physical being, while the Foundress' birthday Celebration Service is held on April 18. Besides monthly services, morning and evening worship is conducted at every temple.

To perform the religious rites, a Tenrikyo follower must first clap his hands four times and then chant the words "Sweep away evil and save mankind, Tenri-O-no-Mikoto" 21 times. During the monthly grand services, the worshipers dance to the music of nine instruments accompanying sacred songs. The music is composed and the dance is choreographed by the Foundress herself.

At first, persecution and interference by police increased in direct proportion to the growth of Tenrikyo. It was only after World War Ⅱ, therefore, that the doctrine spread rapidly. Now the religion has more than 3 million followers, and Tenrikyo has spread from Japan to other nations in Asia, Central and South America, Europe and Africa.

Before the Chinese Communists occupied the Chinese mainland, Tenrikyo dioceses had been set up in Peiping, Tientsin, Tsingtao, Shanghai, Nanking, Amoy, Mongolia and Northeast China.

Tenrikyo priests started to preach in Taiwan from the time the Japanese occupied the island. As the doctrine of Tenrikyo, which stresses respect for ancestors, filial piety, self-cultivation, and service to mankind, coincides with traditional ethics and the concept of universal brotherhood of the Chinese people, the religion is readily accepted in Taiwan. In 1973, the Ministry of Interior permitted the establishment of a Tenrikyo mission headquarters in Taiwan, and the number of followers has since grown rapidly. Besides engaging in religious activities, adherents sponsor such public service works as keeping the streets and parks clean.

Like many other religions, Tenrikyo helps to purify people's hearts and to encourage them to do good deeds. It provides further proof of the force and social function of religion.

[Picture Caption]

1. The headquarters of the Tenrikyo mission in Taiwan. During the monthly services, the worshipers perform special dances (3) to the accompaniment of sacred songs chanted by Tenrikyo followers (2). 4. To perform the religious rites, Tenrikyo followers clap their hands four times before praying. 5. The drum is one of nine instruments used to accompany sacred songs.

1. Tambourine. 2. zither. 3. Through hand dances, Tenrikyo followers are able to commune with God the Parent. 4. A scene at the monthly grand service.

to the accompaniment of sacred songs chanted by Tenrikyo followers.

During the monthly services, the worshipers perform special dances.

To perform the religious rites, Tenrikyo followers clap their hands four times before praying.

The drum is one of nine instruments used to accompany sacred songs.

Tambourine.

zither.

Through hand dances, Tenrikyo followers are able to commune with God the Parent.

A scene at the monthly grand service.