A living reference atlas

Atlas of Religious and Esoteric Lineages

Five thousand religious, mystical, Indigenous and esoteric lineages from around the world — what they are, where they came from, and where to read more.

Source-linked and transparently qualified. Editorial standards and correction criteria are public.

Created and maintained by Ayara and Kyle Jonathan B@KJB_and_AYARA

Entries: 5,000
Candidate geography relations: 7,326
Candidate country vocabulary: 162

Explore the index

Search five thousand distinct lineages

Entry data: effective Atlas view
Geography: candidate layer pending adjudication

271 lineages in the selected candidate country

Page 1 of 12

Atlas 0078Community-bound / restricted

Shugendō

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: medieval period–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0132Varies by lineage

Shingon Buddhism

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 9th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0133Community-bound / restricted

Tendai esoteric Buddhism (Taimitsu)

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 9th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0134Open / public

Rinzai Zen

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 12th century onward in Japan
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0135Open / public

Sōtō Zen

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 13th century onward in Japan
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0136Open / public

Nichiren Buddhism and daimoku practice

Buddhist Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 13th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0137Open / public

Jōdo Shinshū (Shin Buddhism)

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 13th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0621Open / public

Ōbaku Zen

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 17th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0622Open / public

Ji-shū

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 13th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0623Open / public

Yūzū Nembutsu tradition

Buddhist Traditions Practice / discipline

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 12th century onward
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0624Open / public

Watarai (Ise) Shintō

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 13th–14th century florescence; later influence
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0625Open / public

Tsuchimikado Shintō

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 17th–19th century, with later revival claims
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0715Open / public

Aum Shinrikyo / Aleph

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 1984–present through successor organizations
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0716Varies by lineage

Sukyo Mahikari

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 1959/1978 institutional lineage–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0717Open / public

Church of World Messianity and Johrei

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: Japan, Brazil
Period / origin: 1935–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan, Brazil

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Atlas 0718Open / public

Happy Science

Modern Spiritual Movements New religious movement

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 1986–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0860Institution-specific

Jōdo-shū

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 12th century–present
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0861Institution-specific

Hossō school

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 7th century–present through temple institutions
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0862Scholarly / historical only

Sanron school

Buddhist Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 7th–12th centuries; later doctrinal influence
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0900Scholarly / historical only

Suika Shintō

East Asian Traditions Philosophical / theological school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: 17th–19th centuries; later influence
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0901Scholarly / historical only

Hakke / Shirakawa Shintō

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: medieval period–19th century
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0902Initiatory

Honzan-ha Shugendō

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: medieval period–present through successor organizations
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0903Varies by lineage

Tōzan-ha Shugendō

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: medieval period–19th century; successor lineages persist
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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Atlas 0904Community-bound / restricted

Ryukyuan noro priesthood

East Asian Traditions Lineage / school

Public geography: Japan
Period / origin: pre-modern–present in diminished local forms
Evidence status: Directly cited

Candidate countriesJapan

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