The teachings of Tenrikyo are based on God the Parent’s revelations contained in the Ofudesaki, the Mikagura-uta, and the Osashizu, which are collectively called the “Three Scriptures.”
The Ofudesaki, The Tip of the Writing Brush, was written in Oyasama’s own handwriting between 1869 and 1882. It is comprised of 1,711 verses divided into seventeen parts. The Ofudesaki clarifies God the Parent’s deep intention to save all human beings throughout the world and shows the path of salvation. The Ofudesaki is available in accurately typeset editions, which are based on careful research into Oyasama’s handwriting and published by Church Headquarters.
The Mikagura-uta, The Songs for the Service, was taught personally by Oyasama between 1866 and 1875 as the songs to accompany the Service. It consists of five sections: the first three sections are for the Kagura Service and the latter two—section four being the Eight Verses of the Yorozuyo and section five the Twelve Songs—for the Dance with Hand Movements. The Mikagura-uta is designed to explain important points of the teachings in an easy-to-understand and concise manner and serves as a reliable guideline for our life of faith. It is probably the most familiar of the Three Scriptures to most followers.
The Osashizu, The Divine Directions, is a collection of transcriptions of God the Parent’s directions given verbally through Oyasama and, after She withdrew from physical life, Izo Iburi, the Honseki. In the present edition of the Osashizu, Chinese characters are applied wherever possible since the original transcriptions were written almost entirely in the Japanese syllabary. This edition records Divine Directions that were delivered between 1887 and 1907. Through these directions, followers were provided with concrete guiding principles for their practice of faith according to the time and circumstances.
The Doctrine of Tenrikyo was compiled by Church Headquarters on the basis of the Three Scriptures and published in 1949. The Doctrine of Tenrikyo helps us learn about the teachings systematically.
From Tenrikyo no kangaekata kurashikata published by Doyusha Publishing Company