Departments
NICHIREN
日蓮宗
“Nichiren Buddhism”
The Nichiren sect is a distinctly Japanese branch of Buddhism. The sect is named for its founder, Nichiren Shonin (1222-82). Nichiren Buddhism shares many of the beliefs of other Buddhist sects, with a few unique characteristics. A core element of Nichiren Buddhism is the recitation of the so-called Lotus Sutra. Followers of the Nichiren sect believe that each time they recite this sutra, they move closer to a state of enlightenment.
Nichiren himself was very passionate about his own views of the Buddhist faith. He lobbied authorities to make his version of Buddhism the official state religion, and declared that followers of other sects should be executed as heretics. He even dismissed the founders of other sects as “buffoons” or “devils.”
Nichiren was twice sent into exile for his extremist beliefs; but he won many followers and significant prestige when he correctly predicted the Mongul invasion of 1274. By the mid-1400s, over half of the residents of the Kyoto region practiced Nichiren Buddhism; but later crackdowns by government authorities reduced their numbers.
The legacy of Nichiren Buddhism extends into modern times. The sect founded the Soka Gakkai, or “Value-Creating Society” in 1930. Following World War II, followers of Nichiren Buddhism founded the Komeito, or “Clean Government Party,” which is still a force in Japanese politics.