Abstract
In the Taisho period (1912-1926) there appeared a semi-academic journal titled Hentai-shinri (Abnormal Psychology), which was published by the Japanese Association for Mental Medicine (Nihon Seishin Igaku Kai). This journal not only aimed at the establishment of scientific psychotherapy, but also began reproaching contemporary religious and spiritual groups as "superstitions." It especially and fiercely attacked Omotokyo, one of the most rapidly growing new religions and its method of spirit possession called Chinkon-kishin. Seishin-igaku, however, which was advocated by Hentai-shinri, was not what Seishin-igaku means today. This word was strategically used as an antithesis to the materialism of orthodox medicine. Though the Seishin-igaku of Hentai-shinri has been regarded as a rationalistic movement, it shared common ground with Chinkon-kishin. This common ground was centered around the word Seishin. In this paper, the historical background and meaning of the conflict between Hentai-shinri and Omotokyo over Seishin will be discussed, for which hypnotism, unconsciousness, spritualism, psychology, and psychiatry will be key terms.
