Nichiren

Nichiren (日蓮)
A painting of Nichiren kept at Kuon-ji, Minobu, Yamanashi.
School	Mahayana, Tendai, Nichiren Buddhism
Personal
Nationality	Japanese
Born	February 16, 1222
Died	November 21, 1282 (age 60)
Senior posting
Based in	Japan
Title	Nichiren Shōnin, Nichiren Daishōnin, Nichiren Daibosatsu, Risshō

Nichiren (日蓮; February 16, 1222 – November 21, 1282) was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period (1185–1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, which claims to contain Gautama Buddha's teachings towards the end of his life, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment. Nichiren believed that this sutra contained the essence of all of Gautama Buddha's teachings related to the laws of causality, karma, and leading all people without distinction to enlightenment. This devotion to the sutra entails the chanting of Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō "homage to the Lotus Sutra", a phrase referred to as the daimoku, as the essential practice of the teaching.

Nichiren Buddhism includes various schools such as Honmon Butsuryū Shū, Nichiren Shōshū, the Nichiren Shū confederation of schools, and lay movements such as Risshō Kōsei Kai or Soka Gakkai, each claiming to be the only true follower of their founder, with their own interpretations of Nichiren's teachings. However, despite the differences between schools, all Nichiren sects share the fundamental practice of chanting daimoku. While all Nichiren Buddhist schools regard him as a reincarnation of the Lotus Sutra's Visistacaritra or Jōgyō Bosatsu (上行菩薩), some schools of Nichiren Buddhism's Nikkō lineages regard him as the actual Buddha of this age, or the Buddha of the Latter day of the Law and for all eternity.

In the 20th century, Nichirenism was a fascist movement led by Nichiren Buddhists who attempted a wave of assassinations in an attempt to further ultranationalist goals in 1932. The result is known as the League of Blood Incident. Two months after, in the May 15 Incident, Japanese naval officers, including some associated with the League of Blood, assassinated Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi.

Life

Birth

Nichiren was born on February 16, 1222 in the village of Kominato (today part of the city of Kamogawa), Nagase District, Awa Province (within present-day Chiba Prefecture). Nichiren's father, a fisherman, was Mikuni-no-Tayu Shigetada, also known as Nukina Shigetada Jiro (d. 1258) and his mother was Umegiku-nyo (d. 1267). On his birth, his parents named him Zennichimaro (善日麿) which has variously been translated into English as "Splendid Sun" and "Virtuous Sun Boy" among others. The exact site of Nichiren's birth is believed to be submerged off the shore from present-day Kominato-zan Tanjō-ji (小湊山　誕生寺), a temple in Kominato that commemorates Nichiren's birth. In his own words, Nichiren stated that he was "the son of a chandala family who lived near the sea in Tojo in Awa Province, in the remote countryside of the eastern part of Japan."

Education

Nichiren began his Buddhist study at a nearby temple of the Tendai school, Seichō-ji (清澄寺, also called Kiyosumi-dera), at age 11. He was formally ordained at 16 and took the Buddhist name Zeshō-bō Renchō (Rencho meaning Lotus Growth). He left Seichō-ji shortly thereafter to study in Kamakura and several years later traveled to western Japan for more in-depth study in the Kyoto–Nara area, where Japan's major centers of Buddhist learning were located. In 1233 he went to Kamakura, where he studied Amidism, a pietistic school that stressed salvation through the invocation of Amitābha (Japanese Amida), the Buddha of infinite compassion, under the guidance of a renowned master. After having persuaded himself that Amidism was not the true Buddhist doctrine, he passed to the study of Zen, which had become popular in Kamakura and Kyōto. He then went to Mount Hiei, the cradle of Tendai, where he felt the original purity of the Tendai doctrine corrupted by the introduction and acceptance of other doctrines, especially Amidism and esoteric Buddhism. To eliminate any possible doubts, Nichiren decided to spend some time at Mount Kōya, the centre of Shingon Buddhism, and also in Nara, Japan's ancient capital, where he studied the Risshū, which emphasized strict adherence to the Vinaya, the code of monastic discipline and ordination. During this time, he became convinced of the pre-eminence of the Lotus Sutra and in 1253, returned to Seichō-ji.

Initial teaching

On April 28, 1253, he expounded the daimoku teachings for the first time, marking his Sho Tempōrin (初転法輪: "first turning the wheel of the Law"). With this, he proclaimed that devotion and practice based on the Lotus Sutra was the correct form of Buddhism for the current time. At the same time he changed his name to Nichiren, nichi (日) meaning "sun" and ren (蓮) meaning "lotus". This choice, as Nichiren himself explained, was rooted in passages from the Lotus Sutra.

After making his declaration, which all schools of Nichiren Buddhism regard as marking their foundation (立宗: risshū), Nichiren began propagating his teachings in Kamakura, then Japan's de facto capital since it was where the shikken or regent for the shogun and the shogun himelf lived and the government was established. He gained a fairly large following there, consisting of both priests and laity. Many of his lay believers came from among the samurai class.

It is claimed that in 1253 Nichiren predicted the Mongol invasions of Japan: a prediction which was validated in 1274. Nichiren viewed his teachings as a method of efficaciously preventing this and other disasters: that the best countermeasure against the degeneracy of the times and its associated disasters was through the activation of Buddha-nature by chanting and the other practices which he advocated.

Treatise (first remonstrance)

When Nichiren is exiled in 1261, Nichirō wants to follow Nichiren; but Nichirō is forbidden to do so -- Postcard artwork, circa 1920s.

Nichiren then engaged in writing, publishing various works including his Risshō Ankoku Ron (立正安国論): "Treatise On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land", his first major treatise and the first of three remonstrations with government authorities. He felt that it was imperative for the sovereign to recognize and accept the singly true and correct form of Buddhism (i.e., 立正: risshō) as the only way to achieve peace and prosperity for the land and its people and end their suffering (i.e., 安国: ankoku). This "true and correct form of Buddhism", as Nichiren saw it, entailed regarding the Lotus Sutra as the fullest expression of the Buddha's teachings and putting those teachings into practice. Nichiren thought this could be achieved in Japan by withdrawing lay support so that the deviant monks would be forced to change their ways or revert to laymen to prevent starving.

Based on prophecies made in several sutras, Nichiren attributed the occurrence of the famines, disease, and natural disasters (especially drought, typhoons, and earthquakes) of his day to teachings of Buddhism no longer appropriate for the time.

Nichiren submitted his treatise in July 1260. Though it drew no official response, it prompted a severe backlash, especially from among priests of other Buddhist schools. Nichiren was harassed frequently, several times with force, and often had to change dwellings.

Nichiren was exiled to the Izu Peninsula in 1261, and pardoned in 1263. He was ambushed and nearly killed at Komatsubara in Awa Province in November 1264 by forces led by Lord Tōjō Kagenobu.

Failed execution attempt

The following several years were marked by successful propagation activities in eastern Japan that generated more resentment among rival priests and government authorities. After one exchange with the influential priest, Ryōkan (良観), Nichiren was summoned for questioning by the authorities in September 1271. He used this as an opportunity to make his second government remonstration, this time to Hei no Saemon (平の左衛門, also called 平頼綱: Taira no Yoritsuna), a powerful police and military figure who issued the summons.

Two days later, on September 12, Hei no Saemon and a group of soldiers abducted Nichiren from his hut at Matsubagayatsu, Kamakura. Their intent was to arrest and behead him. According to Nichiren's account, an astronomical phenomenon — "a brilliant orb as bright as the moon" — over the seaside Tatsunokuchi execution grounds terrified Nichiren's executioners into inaction. The incident is known as the Tatsunokuchi Persecution and regarded as a turning point in Nichiren's lifetime called Hosshaku kenpon (発迹顕本), translated as "casting off the transient and revealing the true," or "Outgrowing the provisional and revealing the essential".

Second exile

Konpon Temple was built on Sado where Nichiren lived during his exile.

Unsure of what to do with Nichiren, Hei no Saemon decided to banish him to Sado, an island in the Sea of Japan known for its particularly severe winters and a place of harsh exile.

This exile, Nichiren's second, lasted about three years and, though harsh and in the long term detrimental to his health, represents one of the most important and productive segments of his life. While on Sado, he won many devoted converts and wrote two of his most important doctrinal treatises, the Kaimoku Shō (開目抄: "On the Opening of the Eyes") and the Kanjin no Honzon Shō (観心本尊抄: "The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind") as well as numerous letters and minor treatises whose content containing critical components of his teaching.

Gohonzon

A Gohonzon used in Nichiren Buddhism

During his 1272 exile on Sado Nichiren inscribed the first Gohonzon (御本尊).

Return to Kamakura

Nichiren was pardoned in February 1274 and returned to Kamakura in late March. He was again interviewed by Hei no Saemon, who now was interested in Nichiren's prediction of an invasion by the Mongols. Mongol messengers demanding Japan's fealty had frightened the authorities into believing that Nichiren's prophecy of foreign invasion would materialize (which it later did in October of that year; see Mongol invasions of Japan). Nichiren, however, used the audience as yet another opportunity to remonstrate with the government.

Retirement to Mount Minobu

With the exception of a few short journeys, Nichiren spent the rest of his life at Minobu, where he and his disciples erected a temple, Kuon-ji (久遠寺), and he continued writing and training his disciples. Two of his works from this period are the Senji Shō (撰時抄: "The Selection of the Time") and the Hōon Shō (報恩抄: "On Repaying Debts of Gratitude"), which, along with his Risshō Ankoku Ron (立正安国論: "On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land"), Kaimoku Shō ("The Opening of the Eyes"), and Kanjin no Honzon Shō ("The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind"), constitute his Five Major Writings. He also inscribed numerous Gohonzon for bestowal upon specific disciples and lay believers. Many of these survive today in the repositories of Nichiren temples such as Taiseki-ji (大石寺) in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, which has a particularly large collection that is publicly aired once a year in April.

Death

Nichiren spent his final years writing, inscribing Gohonzon for his disciples and believers, and delivering sermons. In failing health, he was encouraged to travel to hot springs for their medicinal benefits. He left Minobu in the company of several disciples on September 8, 1282.

He arrived ten days later at the residence of Ikegami Munenaka, a lay believer who lived in what is now Ikegami Honmon-ji. On September 25 he delivered his last sermon on the Risshō Ankoku Ron, and on October 8 he appointed six senior disciples—Nisshō (日昭), Nichirō (日朗), Nikkō (日興), Nikō (日向), Nichiji (日持), and Nitchō (日頂)—to continue leading propagation of his teachings after his death. Nichiren Shōshū believes that Nichiren designated five senior priests and one successor, Nikko.

On October 13, 1282, Nichiren died in the presence of many disciples and lay believers. His funeral and cremation took place the following day. His disciple Nikkō left Ikegami with Nichiren's ashes on October 21, reaching Minobu on October 25. Nichiren's original tomb is sited, as per his request, at Kuon-ji on Mount Minobu.

Development of Nichiren's teachings

Main article: Nichiren Buddhism

The Kamakura period of 13th century Japan, in which Nichiren was born - was characterised by natural disasters, internal strife and confusion within Mahayana schools about whether: "...the world had further entered a period of decline" referring to the Latter Day of the Law. Nichiren attributed the turmoil in society to the invalid teachings of the Buddhist schools of his time, including the Tendai sect in which he was ordained: "It is better to be a leper who chants Nam-myōhō-renge-kyō than be a chief abbot of the Tendai school". Examinations of such breaks and continuities have been useful in illuminating the sources of Nichiren's ideas and to what extent Nichiren's thought is original or derivative of his parent tradition. Setting out to declare his own teachings of Buddhism, Nichiren started at the age of 32 by denouncing all Mahayana schools of his time and by declaring the correct teaching as the Universal Dharma (Namu-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō) and chanting as the only path for personal and social salvation. At the age of 51, Nichiren inscribed the Object of Veneration in Buddhism, the Gohonzon,"never before known" as he described it. Other contributions to Buddhism were the teaching of The Five Guides of Propagation, The doctrine of the Three Great Secret Dharmas and the teaching of The Three Proofs for verification of the validity of Buddhist doctrines. There is a difference between Nichiren teachings and almost all schools of Mahayana Buddhism regarding the understanding of the Latter day of the Law, Mappō. Nichiren, on the other hand, believed that the teachings of the Lotus Sutra will flourish for all eternity, and that the Bodhisattvas of the Earth will propagate Buddhism in the future.

Nichiren criticized other Buddhist schools for their manipulations of the populace for political and religious control. Citing Buddhist sutras and commentaries, Nichiren argued that these schools were distorting the Buddhist teachings for their own gain. Nichiren stated his criticism clearly, in his Risshō Ankoku Ron (立正安国論): "Treatise On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land", his first major treatise and the first of three remonstrations with government authorities.

After Nichiren's death, his teachings were interpreted in different ways. As a result, Nichiren Buddhism encompasses several major branches and schools, each with its own doctrine and set of interpretations of Nichiren's teachings.

Writings

A section of the Risshō Ankoku Ron

Some Nichiren schools refer to the entirety of Nichiren's Buddhism as his "lifetime of teaching". Many of his writings still exist in his original hand, some as complete writings and some as fragments. Others survive as copies made by his immediate disciples. His existing works number over 700, including transcriptions of orally delivered lectures, letters of remonstration and illustrations. Today's Nichiren schools can not agree however, which of his writings can be deemed authentic and which are apocryphal. Nichiren declared that women could attain enlightenment, therefore a great number of letters were addressed to female believers. Some schools within Nichiren Buddhism consider this to be a unique feature of Nichiren's teachings and have published separate volumes of those writings.

In addition to treatises written in kanbun (漢文), a formal writing style modeled on classical Chinese that was the language of government and learning in contemporary Japan, Nichiren also wrote expositories and letters to disciples and lay followers in mixed-kanji–kana vernacular as well as letters in simple kana for believers who could not read the more-formal styles, particularly children. He is also known for his "kanbun", many of his writings preserved in the libraries of the empire had been lost at the end of the Boshin War.

Some of Nichiren's kanbun works, especially the Risshō Ankoku Ron, are considered exemplary of the kanbun style, while many of his letters show unusual empathy and understanding for the down-trodden of his day. Many of his most famous letters were to women believers, whom he often complimented for their in-depth questions about Buddhism while encouraging them in their efforts to attain enlightenment in this lifetime.

Important writings

The five major writings that are common to all Nichiren Buddhism are:

• On Establishing the Correct teaching for the Peace of the Land (Rissho Ankoku Ron) - written between 1258-1260 CE.
• The Opening of the Eyes (Kaimoku-sho) - written in 1272 CE.
• The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind (Kanjin-no Honzon-sho) - written in 1273 CE.
• The Selection of the Time (Senji-sho) - written in 1275 CE.
• On Repaying Debts of Gratitude (Ho'on-sho) - written in 1276 CE.

Nichiren Shōshū and Soka Gakkai revere ten major writings. In addition to the five listed above, they also revere:

• On Chanting the Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra (Sho-hokke Daimoku-sho) - Written in 1260 CE.
• On Taking the Essence of the Lotus Sutra (Hokke Shuyo-sho) - written in 1274 CE.
• On the Four Stages of Faith and the Five Stages of Practice (Shishin Gohon-sho) - written in 1277 CE.
• Letter to Shimoyama (Shimoyama Gosho-soku) - written in 1277 CE.
• Questions and Answers on the Object of Devotion (Honzon Mondo-sho) - written in 1278 CE.

Posthumous titles and status in major lineages

Nichiren Statue

In his writings, Nichiren refers to his identity in a variety of ways, nevertheless always related to the Lotus Sutra. For example: "I, Nichiren, am the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra".

Nichiren believed his proselytisation had fulfilled the vows the bodhisattva Viśiṣṭacāritra (Jōgyō (上行)) gave in the Lotus Sutra; Nichiren Shū understands that Nichiren was thus Jōgyō's reincarnation.

After his death, Nichiren has been known by several posthumous names intended to express respect toward him or to represent his position in the history of Buddhism. Most common among these are Shōnin 聖人 "saint, sage" and Daishōnin "大聖人" "great sage". "Shōnin" is commonly used within Nichiren Shū. "Daishōnin" is the title used by followers of most, but not all, of the schools and temples derived from the Nikkō lineage, most notably Nichiren Shōshū and Sōka Gakkai, who regard Nichiren as the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.

Bibliography

• The English Buddhist Dictionary Committee (2002). The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism., Tokyo, Soka Gakkai, ISBN 4-412-01205-0

English translations of Nichiren's writings

• The Major Writings of Nichiren Daishonin (WND). Soka Gakkai, Tokyo, 1999.
• Heisei Shimpen Nichiren Daishonin Gosho (平成新編　日蓮大聖人御書: "Heisei new compilation of Nichiren Daishonin's writings"), Taisekiji, 1994
• The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I. Burton Watson and the Gosho Translation Committee. Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4
• The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume II. Burton Watson and the Gosho Translation Committee. Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01350-2
• The Record of the Orally Transmitted Teachings. Burton Watson, trans. Soka Gakkai, 2005, ISBN 4-412-01286-7
• Writings of Nichiren Shonin, Doctrine 1, University of Hawai'i Press, 2003, ISBN 0-8248-2733-3
• Writings of Nichiren Shonin, Doctrine 2, University of Hawai'i Press, 2002, ISBN 0-8248-2551-9
• Writings of Nichiren Shonin, Doctrine 3, University of Hawai'i Press, 2004, ISBN 0-8248-2931-X
• Writings of Nichiren Shonin, Doctrine 4, University of Hawai'i Press, 2007, ISBN 0-8248-3180-2
• Writings of Nichiren Shonin, Doctrine 5, University of Hawai'i Press, 2008, ISBN 0-8248-3301-5
• Writings of Nichiren Shonin, Doctrine 6, University of Hawai'i Press, 2010, ISBN 0-8248-3455-0
• Letters of Nichiren. Burton Watson et al., trans.; Philip B. Yampolsky, ed. Columbia University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-231-10384-0
• Selected Writings of Nichiren. Burton Watson et al., trans.; Philip B. Yampolsky, ed. Columbia University Press, 1990. ISBN 0-231-07260-0

External links

• Life of Nichiren Shonin by Ryuei Michael McCormick
• Renso Den, An Illustrated Life Story of Nichiren Daishonin with pictures by K. Touko1920
• An English biography of Nichiren on the website of the Myokanko, a Japanese group associated with Nichiren Shoshu
• Official Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Website
• Official Nichiren Shoshu Website
• Official Nichiren Shu Website
• Official Nichiren Buddhist Association of America Website
• Nichiren - a Man of Many Miracles (日蓮と蒙古大襲来 Nichiren to mōko daishūrai) - 1958 film by Kunio Watanabe.