Sect Shinto (教派神道, Kyōha Shintō, or 宗派, Shuha Shintō) refers to several independent organized Shinto groups that were excluded by Japanese law in 1882 from government-run State Shinto.[1] These independent groups have more developed theology than mainstream Shrine Shinto, which focuses more on rituals.[2] Many such groups are organized into the Association of Sectarian Shinto (教派神道連合会, Kyōha Shintō Rengōkai).[3] Before World War II, Sect Shinto consisted of 13 denominations, which were referred to as the 13 Shinto schools. Since then, there have been additions and withdrawals of membership.
Whereas Shrine Shinto is an aggregation of various shrines and customary beliefs in various parts of Japan (which became united under the Ise Grand Shrine after the Meiji period), Sect Shinto is based on the kokugaku (lit. 'national study') school of philosophy. Tenrikyo was categorized as Sect Shinto but is often considered a separate monotheistic religion.[4]