Hirayama Seisai (1815–1890) was a Japanese samurai and Shinto priest during the late Edo period and early Meiji era. He was born in Mitsu, Fukushima, and at the age of 20, traveled to Edo (now Tokyo) to study

Chinese literature The history of Chinese literature extends thousands of years, and begins with the earliest recorded inscriptions, court archives, building to the major works of philosophy and history written during the Axial Age. The Han dynasty, Han (202 ...

Japanese literature Japanese literature throughout most of its history has been influenced by cultural contact with neighboring Asian literatures, most notably China and its literature. Early texts were often written in pure Classical Chinese or , a Chinese-Japa ...

, and other subjects. In 1850, he became the adopted son of a government official and inherited his position. During the late

Edo period The , also known as the , is the period between 1600 or 1603 and 1868 in the history of Japan, when the country was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and some 300 regional ''daimyo'', or feudal lords. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengok ...

, he served as a close advisor to the

Tokugawa shogunate The Tokugawa shogunate, also known as the was the military government of Japan during the Edo period from 1603 to 1868. The Tokugawa shogunate was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu after victory at the Battle of Sekigahara, ending the civil wars ...

as a senior vassal. After the

Meiji Restoration The , referred to at the time as the , and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored Imperial House of Japan, imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji. Althoug ...

, he briefly retired from public life, but later became a Shinto priest and held various positions at shrines in

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

and Miyagi. In 1872, he founded the Shinto Taisei sect and served as its first head, he rallied for independence as a Shinto Sect in 1879, and gained it in 1882.井上順孝『教派神道の形成』（弘文堂　1991年）朝日日本歴史人物事典（朝日新聞出版） During his tenure as president Mitake-kyo also gained independence He died on May 22, 1890. His writings include "The Truth of Our Sect" and "The True Method of Cultivating the Way."

References

{{Authority control Japanese Shintoists Kannushi Shinto new religious movements Samurai 1815 births 1890 deaths