Nichiren

Portrait of Nichiren, place of storage: Kuon-ji

Nichiren (1885); Woodcut by Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)

Nichiren ( Japanese 日 蓮 , German "sun lotus"; * March 30, 1222 ( traditional : Jōō 1/2/16); † November 14, 1282 (traditional: Kōan 5/10/13)) was a Japanese Buddhist reformer. Even if Nichiren himself never explicitly founded his own school and, according to current knowledge, he never resigned from the Tendai school, the various schools of Nichiren Buddhism see him as their founder.

Childhood and youth

Nichiren was born in Kominato Village in Awa Province , now Chiba Prefecture . The temple Tanjō-ji was later built in his place of birth in his honor. Due to changes in the coastline, the current temple is a bit removed from his place of birth. At the age of twelve, still bearing the name Zennichimaro , he left his parents' house to receive a Buddhist education at the nearby Seichō-ji of the Tendai school.

As he later wrote, throughout his youth he was preoccupied with the question of the meaning of life. Many questions arose during his studies, especially in view of the confusing diversity of Buddhist schools and the contradictions in the Buddhist canon . According to legend, at the age of twelve he prayed in front of a statue of the Bodhisattva Kokuso (Akashagarbha) with the wish to become the "wisest man in Japan".

When he was fifteen years old (or sixteen depending on the source), he decided to be ordained a priest and took the religious name Zeshō-bō Renchō (translated: "shining sun"). Shortly thereafter, he went on a study trip to Kamakura , the seat of government at the time, and then on to Kyoto and other cities to deal with all the most important teachings of his time. During this ten-year study, he came to believe that the essential core of Buddhism can be found in the Lotus Sutra .

Proclaiming his teaching

At the beginning of 1253 he returned to Seicho-ji and prepared to teach his teaching. On the morning of April 28, 1253 he recited the mantra " Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō " (also called (O-) daimoku) for the first time on a nearby mountain and then proclaimed his teaching in the courtyard of the temple. He called himself Nichiren from then on. This event is also known as the " Rikkyo Kaishu Declaration ".

Shortly afterwards he went to the then capital of Japan, Kamakura, to spread the Lotus Sutra there. Japan in the 13th century was a troubled time, marked by armed conflicts within the ruling families as well as the constant threat of an invasion by the Mongols . Natural disasters and famines did not make people's lives easier. For Nichiren, these catastrophic events were due to the fact that the government as well as parts of the population invoked Buddhist teachings that seemed turned away from the world and put off a better life in the hereafter.

Conflicts with the state

On July 16, 1260, Nichiren finally presented the then most powerful man in the country, Hōjō Tokiyori (a former regent of the Kamakura shogunate ), a pamphlet entitled " Rissho Ankoku Ron " (About securing peace in the country by spreading the truth Law). In this book, Nichiren made the adherence to, in his view, superstitious religious practices responsible for the situation in Japan and emphasized that in the age of the decline of the Dharma only the Lotus Sutra could lead to enlightenment. In essence, Nichiren points out that the Lotus Sutra emphasizes the dignity of human life and that this, as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha, should be the starting point for all action. This writing, which was written in a dialogue form between guest and host, represents one of the core points of the teachings of today's Nichiren Buddhism to this day. Nevertheless, it should be made clear at this point that the " Rissho Ankoku Ron " was written in feudalist Japan has been. The criticism of religion and politics should be understood in the context of the 13th century, a time when the formulation of exclusive truth claims and practices was not unusual. The new Buddhist schools of the Kamakura era ( Jōdo-shū and Zen -shu ) were each dedicated to a single form of practice, which thus achieved absolute status.

Some schools of Nichiren Buddhism , especially those that are in the tradition of the Nichiren Shōshū, see even today in the " Rissho Ankoku Ron " a reason for their continued unyielding attitude towards other (Buddhist) creeds. To translate the content of this text literally into our time with regard to other Buddhist traditions is critically questioned by schools such as the Nichiren-Shū.

exile

Example of a Gohonzon

Nichiren continued to preach his doctrine and gathered large numbers of followers, which aroused displeasure from the government and religious authorities. One consequence of this was the sometimes violent persecution of his followers during his lifetime and also afterwards, for example in Matsubagayatsu , Komatsubara and Tatsunokuchi . He himself was exiled to the Izu peninsula and later for three years (1271–74) on the island of Sado . At the place of his exile, near the present-day village of Niibo, the Konpon-ji temple was built in the 17th century , and not far from it, marking the place that Nichiren used to go to for meditation, the Jisso-ji temple . However, Nichiren wrote other writings, including those addressed to the government. He encouraged his followers with letters, which have survived in large numbers to this day and are referred to as Gosho or Goibun . The " Kaimoku Sho " (opening the eyes) and the " Kanjin no Honzon Sho " (the object of devotion) are among the most important scriptures . The latter script serves as the theoretical basis for Nichiren's calligraphic mandala , the Gohonzon . From 1272 he began to make these mandalas for some of his followers. An example of this is the so-called Shutei Gohonzon used in the Nichren Shu , which is based on a model by Nichirens.

The last few years on Mount Minobu

Pagoda of Kuon-ji Temple on Mount Minobu

In 1274, Nichiren retired to Mount Minobu, which became the site of his self-imposed exile for the last eight years of his life, and where he founded the Kuon-ji Temple in 1281 . Here he summarized his teachings further and wrote, among other things, writings such as the " Senji Sho " (The choice of time). At the age of 61, his health deteriorated. In September 1282 he left Mount Minobu for a cure at the Hitachi hot spring . On the way there, his condition deteriorated so much that he had to stop at the residence of the Ikegami brothers in what is now Tokyo, where the Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple is now located . There he finally died in the company of his followers in the early morning of October 13, 1282. Nichiren was finally cremated here and, according to his wishes, his remains were transferred to Kuon-ji.

Development after Nichiren's death

However, some time after Nichiren's death, disagreements appeared among his students. However, the formation of various official schools within Nichiren Buddhism did not occur until the 19th century. The two great traditional schools are:

• The Nichiren-shū (dt. "Nichiren school"), in which Nichiren is venerated as the embodiment of the Bodhisattva Jōgyō , consisting of temples, which refer to the Nichiren students Nisshō , Nichirō , Nikō , Nichiji , Nikkō and Nitchō .
• The Nichiren Shōshū ("True Nichiren School"), whose temple is based solely on the Nichiren disciple Nikkō and was also known as the Fuji School.

In the 20th century numerous new religious groups emerged, also called Shinshukyo in Japanese , which refer to Nichiren's teachings. The best known are:

• Bussho Gonenkai Kyōdan
• Hokkekō
• Kenshōkai
• Kokuchūkai
• Myōchikai Kyōdan
• Myōdōkai Kyōdan
• Nipponzan-Myōhōji-Daisanga
• Reiyūkai
• Risshō Kōseikai
• Shōshinkai
• Sōka Gakkai International

Names and titles in literature

Nichiren statue

In literature, Nichiren Shōnin ( 日 蓮 上人 ) and Nichiren Daishōnin ( 日 蓮 大 聖人 ) are mostly spoken of - the latter name is mainly used in schools that refer to the Nichiren student Nikkō. The difference between these two names is that Shōnin could be translated as "wise man" or "saint", while Daishōnin could be translated as "great wise man" and thus represents an increase.

In 1358 the Japanese imperial court awarded him the title Nichiren Daibosatsu ( 日 蓮 大 菩薩 , "Great Bodhisattva Nichiren") and in 1922 the title Risshō Daishi ( 立正 大師 , "Great Teacher Risshō").

literature

Translations of Nichiren's writings

• The Gosho Nichiren Daishonins, Volumes I to IV, published by SGI-D, Mörfelden-Walldorf 1986–1997.
• The Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I , Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4 .
• The Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume II , Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01350-2 .
• Nichiren. The writings of Nichiren Daishonin. 1st edition Freiburg im Breisgau: Verlag Herder, 2014
• Yampolsky, Philip B. ed. Selected Writings of Nichiren. New York / Oxford: Columbia University Press, 1990
• Kyotsu Hori (transl.); Sakashita, Jay (ed.): Writings of Nichiren Shonin , Doctrine 1, University of Hawai'i Press, 2003, ISBN 0-8248-2733-3 .
• Tanabe Jr., George (ed.), Hori, Kyotsu: Writings of Nichiren Shonin , Doctrine 2, University of Hawai'i Press, 2002, ISBN 0-8248-2551-9 .
• Kyotsu Hori (transl.), Sakashita, Jay (ed.): Writings of Nichiren Shonin , Doctrine 3, University of Hawai'i Press, 2004, ISBN 0-8248-2931-X .
• Kyotsu Hori (transl.), Jay Sakashita (ed.): Writings of Nichiren Shonin , Doctrine 4, University of Hawai'i Press, 2007, ISBN 0-8248-3180-2 .
• Kyotsu Hori (transl.), Sakashita, Jay (ed.): Writings of Nichiren Shonin , Doctrine 5, University of Hawai'i Press, 2008, ISBN 0-8248-3301-5 .
• Kyotsu Hori (transl.), Sakashita, Jay (ed.): Writings of Nichiren Shonin , Doctrine 6, University of Hawai'i Press, 2010, ISBN 0-8248-3455-0 .
• Burton Watson (trans.), Philip B. Yampolsky, (ed.): Letters of Nichiren , Columbia University Press, 1996. ISBN 0-231-10384-0 .
• Burton Watson (trans.), Philip B. Yampolsky, (ed.): Selected Writings of Nichiren , Columbia University Press, 1990. ISBN 0-231-07260-0 .

Secondary literature

• Anesaki, Masaharu. Nichiren, the Buddhist prophet, Cambridge: Harvard University Press (1916) digitized version (PDF; 6.9 MB)
• Borsig, Margareta von. Life from the lotus blossom: Nichiren Shōnin, Buddha's witness, fighter for the lotus law, prophet of the present, Freiburg im Breisgau, Aurum Verlag, 1976
• JA Christensen, Nichiren - Leader of Buddhist Reformation in Japan, Nichiren Buddhist International Center, 1981. ISBN 0-87573-086-8 .
• Kirimura, Yasuji: The Life of Nichiren Daishonin , Nichiren Shoshu International Center, Tokyo 1980. ISBN 4888720096 .
• Matsudo, Yukio. Nichiren, the practitioner of the Lotus Sutra; Books on Demand 2009; ISBN 3837091937 .
• Petzold, Bruno. Buddhist Prophet Nichiren: A Lotus in the Sun. Tokyo: Hokke Janaru, 1978.
• Little one, Christoph . "Nichiren." In Religion in Past and Present, 4th ed. Vol. 6. Edited by Hans Dieter Betz et al., 284 6. Tübingen, 2003
• Little one, Christoph . "Nichiren-shōshū." In Religion in Past and Present, 4th ed. Vol. 6. Edited by Hans Dieter Betz et al., 284 6. Tübingen, 2003
• Little one, Christoph . Buddhism in Japan: history, teaching, practice. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2015 [2011]
• Stone, Jacqueline I. Original Enlightenment and the Transformation of Medieval Japanese Buddhism, University of Hawai'i Press (Jun 30, 2003), ISBN 0-8248-2771-6 .
• Matsunaga Alicia, and Daigan Matsunaga. Foundation of Japanese Buddhism: 2: The Mass Movement. Los Angeles et al. Tokyo: Buddhist Books International, 1976.
• The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism. Soka Gakkai, 2002, ISBN 4-412-01205-0 online
• A Dictionary of Buddhist Terms and Concepts, Nichiren Shōshū International Center (NSIC), Tokyo, 1983. ISBN 4-88872-014-2 .
• Yoshiro Tamura, Japanese Buddhism, A Cultural History, Kosei Publishing Co., Tokyo 2005, ISBN 4-333-01684-3 .
• Lotus seeds: The Essence of Nichiren Shu Buddhism, Nichiren Buddhist Temple of San Jose, ISBN 978-0970592002

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Anesaki, Masaharu, Nichiren, the Buddhist prophet, Cambridge: Harvard University Press (1916), p.13
2. ^ The Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I , Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4 , introduction p. XXV
3. ↑ Jacqueline I. Stone: Review: Biographical Studies of Nichiren, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 26 / 3–4, pp. 443-444,1999
4. ↑ JA Christensen: Nichiren - Leader Of Buddhist Reformation In Japan , Jain Publishing Company 2001, ISBN 0-87573-086-8
5. ↑ Anesaki, Masaharu, Nichiren, the Buddhist prophet, Cambridge: Harvard University Press (1916), p.34
6. ↑ Murano, Senchu ​​(2003). Two Nichiren Texts. Berkeley, CA: Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research. pp. 9-52. ISBN 1886439176
7. ^ Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I. Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4 , pp. 6–32 Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land ( Memento of the original from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
8. ↑ Jacqueline Stone: Rebuking the Enemies of the Lotus, Nichirenist Exclusivism in Historical Perspective; Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 21 / 2-3, 1994, p. 232
9. ↑ Jacqueline Stone: Rebuking the Enemies of the Lotus, Nichirenist Exclusivism in Historical Perspective; Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 21 / 2-3, 1994, p. 232
10. ^ Cook, Francis, H .: "Japanese Innovations in Buddhism". In: Prebish, Charles, ed. (1994), "Buddhism, a Modern Perspective," Pennsylvania State University, p.230. ISBN 0271-01185-8
11. ↑ Rissho Ankoku Ron: Annotated version of a priest of the Nichiren-shū, English ( Memento of the original from December 16, 2004 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
12. ^ The Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vome I. Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4 , pp. 202. Banishment to Sado ( Memento of the original from September 28, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
13. ^ Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I. Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4 , pp. 220–298 The Opening of the Eyes ( Memento of the original from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
14. ↑ Murano, Senchu ​​(2003). Two Nichiren Texts. Berkeley, CA: Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research. pp. 61-114. ISBN 1886439176
15. ^ Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I. Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4 , pp. 354–382 The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind Established in the Fifth Five-Hundred-Year Period after the Thus Come One's Passing ( Memento of the original from September 21, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
16. ↑ Who's Who on the Gohonzon? ( Memento of the original from July 9, 2004 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Rev. Ryuei Michael McCormick. 
17. ^ The Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I , Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4 , p. 466 Reply to Niiama ( Memento of the original from June 24, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
18. ^ Gosho Translation Committee: The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Volume I. Soka Gakkai, 2006. ISBN 4-412-01024-4 , pp. 538–594 The Selection of the Time ( Memento of the original from September 22, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
19. ^ The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism. Soka Gakkai, 2002, ISBN 4-412-01205-0 Entry: Nichiren ( Memento of the original from May 30, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
20. ^ Fire in The Lotus , Daniel B. Montgomery, Mandala 1991, pp. 138-180, ISBN 1-85274-091-4
21. ^ Fire in The Lotus , Daniel B. Montgomery, Mandala 1991, p. 159, p. 294, ISBN 1-85274-091-4

Web links

• Georg Schmid: [1]
• Literature by and about Nichiren in the catalog of the German National Library
• Bernhard Scheid: Nichiren's lotus fundamentalism
• Life of Nichiren Shonin by Ryuei Michael McCormick