Tenrikyo recognizes three sacred texts, often referred to collectively as its scriptural foundation. The Ofudesaki, “Tip of the Writing Brush,” is composed of 1,711 poetic verses written by the foundress, Nakayama Miki (Oyasama), and is regarded as a direct revelation from God the Parent. The Mikagura-uta, “Songs for the Service,” provides the lyrics for the central liturgical performance and embodies the core teachings in musical and ritual form. The Osashizu, “Divine Directions,” records oral revelations given through designated mediums after Oyasama, offering concrete guidance for community life and the resolution of various problems. Together, these texts articulate the vision of the Joyous Life and the relationship between humanity and the divine parent.

In worship, the Mikagura-uta stands at the heart of Tenrikyo’s ritual life. Its verses are sung and accompanied by prescribed hand movements and dance (teodori) during the Service (including the Kagura Service and the Seated Service), so that scripture is not only read but enacted. Through this performance, worshippers express gratitude, seek salvation and healing, and symbolically participate in the divine work of world renewal. The Ofudesaki, by contrast, is primarily studied and recited for doctrinal understanding, shaping the believer’s grasp of divine intention, causality, and the path toward the Joyous Life. The Osashizu, though not typically recited in the formal Service, informs decisions, attitudes, and communal practices, functioning as a living source of counsel in the everyday life of the faith community.

In this way, Tenrikyo’s scriptures are woven into both formal ritual and daily practice. They are read, sung, danced, and pondered in study and discussion, allowing adherents to internalize their teachings not only intellectually but through the body and the shared life of the community. The texts thus serve as a continuous invitation to align thought, feeling, and action with the divine parenthood at the heart of Tenrikyo, and to let worship overflow into a way of life marked by gratitude, moral purification, and joy.