Shinjō Itō
Shinjō Itō was the Japanese founder of Shinnyo-en, a Buddhist new religious group. He was born in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan. After a career as an aeronautic engineer, he dedicated himself to a religious life.
Also recorded as Shinjo Ito · Shinjou Itou
Shinjō Itō
- Born
- 1906 · Akita.
- Died
- 1989
- Nationality
- Japan · Empire of Japan
- Occupation
- artist · photographer · teacher · religious leader · buddhist monk · sculptor
- Languages
- Japanese
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Shinjō Itō was the Japanese founder of Shinnyo-en, a Buddhist new religious group. He was born in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan. After a career as an aeronautic engineer, he dedicated himself to a religious life.
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Shinjō Itō (1906–1989) was a Japanese and Japanese artist, buddhist monk and Buddhist monk, among other activities. The artist was born in Akita. Shinjō Itō worked for Tachikawa. Languages used include Japanese.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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He trained at the Daigo-ji monastery and became a Dai-Ajari of Shingon Buddhism and later founded Shinnyo-en in 1936. In 1950, a high-ranking disciple who worked in the temple office filed formal charges against Itō. He claimed he had been beaten during one of the sesshin trainings. Itō maintained that he was only trying to suppress the disciple's physical convulsions during the session. Itō was arrested on 20 August 1950, and the trial for the case lasted until March 1956, when he was sentenced to seven months imprisonment and three years of probation. Besides his work as a Buddhist teacher, Itō is also known as a Buddhist sculptor and photographer. His works were featured in a Centennial Exhibition throughout Japan in 2006 and a major exhibit at the Milk Gallery in New York City in 2008. Other exhibitions include a solo exhibit at the Westwood Art Forum in Westwood, Los Angeles, California from May 8, 2008 – June 29, 2008.
• Ito, Shinjo, Shinjo: Reflections, Somerset Hall Press, 2009.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1906
Shinjō Itō born at Akita.
1989
Shinjō Itō died.
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reference work
- “Shinjō Itō”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q523779: Shinjō Itō
General reference · Wikidata
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Bibliography printed in the source article · 4
- Kido, Shuri (2019), Sculpting the Buddha Within: The Life and Thought of Shinjo Ito. Boston: Wisdom Publications.
- Collins, Casey Ray. Mapping the Garden of Truth: Buddhist and idiosyncratic elements in the religious space of Shinnyo-en. The University of British Columbia. 2015. 10.14288/1.0166249.
- Dignan, Stephen. In Sculpture, Closer to Joy. THe New York Sun. February 21, 2008.
- Yabuuchi, Y. The Vision and Art of Shinjo Ito. Alinari 24 Ore. 2008. 978-886302002-1.
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The authorities additionally record the headings Shinjo Ito and Shinjou Itou. His recorded language was Japanese. His recorded confession was Shinnyo-en. He married Tomoji Itō. One child is recorded: Shinsō Itō. Recorded as artist, photographer, teacher, religious leader and buddhist monk.
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