Tian-ti-chiao

Tian-ti-chiao (literally: Religion of the Heavenly Emperor), doctrinally, is a syncretistic religion. It is framed within the group of religions called Xiantian Dao (in Chinese, 先天道; pinyin, Xiāntiān Dào; literally, 'Path of Primordial Heaven'), spinoff of the Tien-te Sheng-chiao branch.

Features

It has Christian elements, such as the hierarchical structure and organization, taken from the organization of the Catholic Church.

The belief in a single Supreme Being Tian Di (or Tiandi) is also characteristic, the Tao as a figure of God, creator of man, endowing him with freedom. It has other properly Chinese doctrinal aspects: Confucian virtues, divination or mediums, magnetic power of the human mind, messianism and millenarianism.

Unites or harmonizes science and meditation, giving priority to the latter, proselytizing spirit, Qì healing power.

Politics

In the political aspect, this religion tries to liberate China from the communist system, perhaps for this reason of looking more towards China than towards Taiwan, it has fewer followers than the Yīguàn Dao branch.

Rating

It is qualified as an authentic religion and not as a sect, clearly differentiating itself from Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, due to its already mentioned aspects: soteriological, eschatological and messianic of universal altruism. However, the number of its faithful has grown considerably in recent years.

History

Less known, especially outside of Taiwan, than that of the Yīguàn Dao. It arose in China, its founder was Li-Ya-jie (1901-1994), whose religious name was Ji-chu Han-jin Lao-ren, was born in Shanghai, was a member of the "Society of Heavenly Virtue" 3. 4; (Tien-te Sheng-chiao) since 1930, spreading and preaching this religion throughout China, through the philosophy of religion and the cultivation of traditional virtues.

In 1937 he went to live in Hua Mountain, West Peak, in Shensi, as a hermit with his whole family, he had a mystical experience and received a message from Tiandi, The Lord of the High, Celestial Emperor.

He had another mystical experience during the Sino-Japanese War on the Yellow River, feeling called to be a savior of China and all humanity.

Arrived in Taiwan in 1949, wrote prescient articles on the political situation. In 1968 he went to Japan to teach and translate into that language his message from the Heavenly Emperor to save the world. He also founded the Philosophy of Religion Research Society. In 1980 this new religion appears already officially established.