Nichiren

Life

Nichiren, born Zennichimaro on 16 February 1222 in Kominato, Awa Province (now Chiba Prefecture), Japan, was a Buddhist monk and founder of Nichiren Buddhism. Born to a fisherman’s family, he entered Seichō-ji Temple at age 12 in 1233 to study Buddhism. Ordained as a monk in 1237, he adopted the name Nichiren in 1253. After studying at Mount Hiei and other temples, he declared in 1253 that chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo (devotion to the Lotus Sutra) was the true path to salvation. His outspoken criticism of other Buddhist schools led to multiple exiles, including to Izu (1261–1263) and Sado Island (1271–1274). He survived an attempted execution at Tatsunokuchi in 1271, which he viewed as a spiritual rebirth. Nichiren died on 13 October 1282 at Ikegami, Musashi Province (now Tokyo), and his ashes are enshrined at Kuon-ji Temple on Mount Minobu.

People Who Influenced Their Thought

• Shakyamuni Buddha: Nichiren revered the Buddha’s teachings in the Lotus Sutra as the ultimate truth, shaping his doctrine of universal salvation.
• T’ien-t’ai (Zhiyi): The Chinese monk’s systematization of the Lotus Sutra provided Nichiren with a doctrinal foundation for his teachings.
• Saichō: The founder of Japan’s Tendai school influenced Nichiren’s emphasis on the Lotus Sutra, though Nichiren rejected Tendai’s eclecticism.
• Dengyō Daishi: Saichō’s posthumous name, his focus on national spiritual unity inspired Nichiren’s vision of Japan as a Buddhist land.

Main Ideas and Publications

Nichiren’s teachings centered on the Lotus Sutra as the supreme Buddhist scripture, advocating chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo to attain enlightenment and transform society. His key concepts include the Three Great Secret Laws (the Gohonzon, the Daimoku, and the Kaidan) and the belief that all beings possess Buddha-nature. His major works include:

• Risshō Ankoku Ron (1260): A treatise urging Japan’s leaders to embrace the Lotus Sutra to avert national calamities, criticizing other Buddhist sects.
• Kaimoku-shō (1272): Written during his Sado exile, it defends his mission and explains the trials of a true Buddhist practitioner.
• Kanjin-no Honzon-shō (1273): Introduces the Gohonzon, a mandala inscribed with Nam-myoho-renge-kyo, as the object of devotion.

Nichiren emphasized shakubuku (assertive propagation) to convert others, believing his teachings could unify Japan and establish a peaceful Buddhist nation.

Controversies around His Main Work or Thought

Nichiren’s confrontational stance against other Buddhist schools, particularly Pure Land, Shingon, and Zen, sparked intense controversy. His 1260 Risshō Ankoku Ron provoked the Kamakura shogunate and rival sects, leading to his arrest and exile to Izu in 1261. His prediction of foreign invasion (later linked to the Mongol invasions of 1274 and 1281) was seen as seditious, culminating in his near-execution in 1271. Critics, including Tendai monks, accused him of fanaticism and divisiveness. Posthumously, some modern scholars, like Jacqueline Stone, argue his aggressive propagation alienated potential followers, while others, such as Anesaki Masaharu, praise his uncompromising commitment to the Lotus Sutra. His nationalist rhetoric, interpreted as advocating a Buddhist Japan, was later co-opted by 20th-century ultranationalists, sparking debates about his legacy’s political misuse.

Key People Influenced by Their Thought

• Nikkō: Nichiren’s disciple who founded the Nichiren Shōshū sect, preserving his teachings and the Gohonzon at Taiseki-ji Temple.
• Ikki Kita: The nationalist drew on Nichiren’s vision of spiritual renewal to advocate for a Shōwa Restoration in the 20th century.
• Sadao Araki: The militarist incorporated Nichiren’s spiritual nationalism into his Kōdō-ha ideology during the 1930s.
• Tsunesaburō Makiguchi: Founder of Sōka Gakkai, who revived Nichiren’s teachings in the 20th century, emphasizing lay practice and social reform.

Legacy

Nichiren’s establishment of Nichiren Buddhism and his emphasis on the Lotus Sutra transformed Japanese Buddhism, inspiring millions worldwide through modern movements like Sōka Gakkai while leaving a complex legacy tied to spiritual and nationalist ideals.