Founder and Organisation

Founder Doshin So

Born in February 1911 in Sakuto-cho (now Mimasaka-shi), Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

Doshin So visited China at the age of seventeen, where he traveled around extensively. During this sojourn, he became a student of Wen Laoshi who belonged to the Songshan Shaolinsi school of martial arts, under whom Doshin So mastered numerous techniques.

He spent one year in Manchuria in Northeast China (under Soviet military control) after World War II ended.

Amidst the postwar turmoil, he witnessed the naked depths of action to which human beings could descend which convinced him that everything including law, military, and politics depended on the personal quality of leaders. This realization made him determined to develop individuals with compassion, courage, and a sense of justice as the only way to achieve true peace. Since then Doshin So devoted his time and energy to create a unique education system, combining “philosophy” of Riki Ai Funi (Harmonization of strength and love with unification of intellect and compassion) on the one hand and “mastery of techniques” with the spirit of Jiko Kakuritsu (establishment of self) and Jita Kyoraku (mutual happiness for oneself and others) on the other hand to educate people who would contribute to society.

In 1947, after coming back to Japan, Doshin So established Shorinji Kempo in Tadotsu-cho, Kagawa Prefecture, based on the spirit of Ken Zen Ichinyo (unity of ken, the physical body, and Zen, mind and spirit). In establishing Shorinji Kempo, Doshin So became its first Shike.

Doshin So passed away in May 1980.

Shorinji Kempo’s Organization

Shorinji Kempo Group

Shorinji Kempo, a combination of “philosophy,” “mastery of techniques,” and an “educational system” founded by Doshin So, is made up of four organizations: SHORINJI KEMPO UNITY general corporation, Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji, Zenrin Gakuen, and the World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO). Underthe symbol logo mark adopted in April 2005, each of these Shorinji Kempo organizations has offered social education services individually as well as cooperatively as part of One Shorinji Kempo Worldwide.

SHORINJI KEMPO UNITY General Corporation

One Shorinji Kempo Worldwide features no separate schools and was founded by Doshin in 1947 in order to nurture people through an educational system which combines teachings and techniques. In order to protect the continued spread and proper conveyance of these goals, the Shorinji Kempo Intellectual Property Conservation Corporation was established in 2003. It was renamed SHORINJI KEMPO UNITY in 2006, and became a general corporation in 2008. Its mission is to protect Shorinji Kempo’s intellectual property, while also working to support activities which promote Shorinji Kempo’ s goal of nurturing of people.

Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji

Kongo Zen Sohonzan Shorinji is a religious organization with the unique philosophy of pursuing “Jiko Kakuritsu” (self-establishment) and “Jita Kyoraku” (mutual happiness for oneself and others) through Shorinji Kempo’s “Shin Shin Ichinyo” training and application of the teaching to dayto-day life. Believing that a man is a “seed of

potentiality” that houses the workings of the eternal universe, Kongo Zen preaches the virtue of nurturing this potential and realizing a peaceful and rich society through mutual respect and cooperation. At some 2,000 monastary scattered all over Japan, cross-generational students, both young and old, are enjoying the training

Zenrin Gakuen

First established in 1952 to train Shorinji Kempo instructors, it places Shorinji Kempo’s teachings at the core of its educational philosophy. Through Zenrin Gakuen Senmon Gakko (technical college) as well as courses offered around Japan, Zenrin Gakuen is dedicated to nurturing people. A high school was established in 2013 as part of Zenrin Gakuen’s continuing efforts to offer new educational opportunities.

World Shorinji Kempo Organization (WSKO)

Shorinji Kempo was created in Japan but it started spreading to the rest of the world in the late 1960s. Today, it is taught and practiced in 37 countries (as of Apr. 2016) worldwide. All the country federations and their branches of WSKO are actively engaged not only in the training of Shorinji Kempo but also in various social service activities. Shorinji Kempo which was created by one person, Doshin So, now functions as a heart-to-heart bridge connecting people all over the world and promotes vigorous international exchanges across boundaries of race, culture, religion, and language.