Mikao usui biography
Mikao usui photo.
Mikaomi Usui was born in the village of Yago in Gifu prefecture in Japan on August 15, 1865; where his ancestors had lived for eleven generations. His family belonged to the Tendai sect of Esoteric Buddhism.
Mikao usui biography
When he was four, he was sent to a Tendai monastery to receive his primary education. He was a very bright student.
He grew up during a period of time when Japanese society was going (and growing) through dramatic changes.
Since 1641 (before Usui's time) all Europeans and foreigners, except the Dutch, had been expelled - and those who were allowed to remain, did so by being confined to special trading centers in Nagasaki. Christianity was made illegal, and the Japanese were made to register at Shinto temples.
Japan did not open its doors to the West until the 1850's, and the ban on Christianity was not lifted until 1873.
During this time (1860's - 1890's) of moving from a feudal society to an industrialized one, Japan was also looking for spiritual direction for its peopl