Question 1

Who is Nichiren and why is he a central figure of Japanese Buddhism?

Accepted Answer

Nichiren, born in 1222 in a fishing village in Awa Province, was a Buddhist monk who founded a school entirely centered on the Lotus Sūtra. What makes him unique is that he claimed this text contained the ultimate essence of the Buddha's teaching, and that simply reciting it — the daimoku “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō” — was enough to attain salvation, even for the illiterate. The key point to remember is that he thus broke with the scholarly practices reserved for the monastic elite, making the spiritual path accessible to everyone. His legacy lives on today through schools such as Nichiren-shū and Sōka Gakkai.

Question 2

What is the role of the Gohonzon in Nichiren practice?

Accepted Answer

The Gohonzon is a mandala calligraphed by Nichiren himself, representing the universe of the Lotus Sūtra. It serves both as an object of veneration and as a support for meditation: the faithful gaze at it while reciting the daimoku. What sets it apart from a simple pious image is that it is conceived as a representation of the Buddhist Law itself, a visual distillation of the doctrine. To understand its importance, one must remember that Nichiren saw in this mandala the means to achieve enlightenment here and now, rather than in a future life.

Question 3

Why was Nichiren persecuted by the authorities of his time?

Accepted Answer

In 1260, Nichiren submitted his treatise Risshō Ankoku Ron to the shogunal regent Hōjō Tokiyori, in which he claimed that natural disasters — earthquakes, famines, epidemics — were caused by the abandonment of true Buddhism in favor of schools such as the Pure Land. What is striking here is that he did not merely criticize: he demanded that the state ban the other schools, which earned him the hostility of the authorities and of rival monks. The key to this episode is that he blended religion and politics, which was unacceptable to the shogunate. The consequence: he was exiled twice — first to Izu (1261), then to the icy island of Sado (1271-1274).

Question 4

How does Nichiren's daily life reflect his teaching?

Accepted Answer

Nichiren's life was frugal and paced by prayer. In the morning, he rose before dawn to recite the Lotus Sūtra and the daimoku. In the afternoon, he wrote treatises and letters, or debated with other monks. In the evening, there was another meditation session by the light of an oil lamp. What is often forgotten is that his vegetarian diet and his patched robe were not merely signs of piety: they bore witness to his voluntary poverty, especially during his exile on Sado, where he survived in a freezing hut with very little food. For him, these ordeals were proof of the rightness of his path.

Question 5

What is the key vocabulary for understanding Nichiren's teaching?

Accepted Answer

Several terms are essential. The daimoku is the recitation of the title of the Lotus Sūtra, a formula of universal salvation. The Gohonzon is the mandala that serves as a support for veneration. The mappō refers to the era of the “End of the Law,” a period of decline in which, according to Nichiren, only the Lotus Sūtra can save beings. Finally, the gongyō is the daily practice of reciting the sūtras, morning and evening. The key point to remember is that this vocabulary is not abstract: it structures the lives of the faithful and gives meaning to every ritual gesture.

Question 6

What are the key places associated with Nichiren's life?

Accepted Answer

Nichiren was born in Kominato (in present-day Chiba Prefecture), where a temple commemorates his birth. He studied at the Seichō-ji monastery, where he proclaimed his teaching in 1253. He preached and was nearly executed in Kamakura, the shogunal capital. He was exiled to the island of Sado, where he wrote his major works under very harsh conditions. Finally, he withdrew to Mount Minobu, where he taught until his death at Ikegami in 1282. To understand this, one must picture each of these places as marked by a decisive stage in his spiritual struggle.

Question 7

What historical event during Nichiren's lifetime confirmed his prophecies?

Accepted Answer

Nichiren had predicted a foreign invasion of Japan. Indeed, in 1274 and 1281, the Mongol fleets of Kublai Khan attacked the country, but were driven back by typhoons — the famous kamikaze (“divine winds”). What is striking is that his disciples saw in these storms the confirmation of his warnings: natural disasters were a divine sign. Less a coincidence than a story of legitimation, this episode reinforced the idea that Nichiren was a prophet protecting Japan.

Question 8

What do Nichiren's texts say about his mission?

Accepted Answer

In the Kaimoku Shō (1272), written while in exile on Sado, he declared: “I will be the pillar of Japan, I will be the eyes of Japan, I will be the great vessel of Japan.” The key point to remember is that he saw himself as a savior sent to guide the country toward true Buddhism. In the Risshō Ankoku Ron, he linked calamities to the abandonment of the Lotus Sūtra. These texts are not mere treatises: they are manifestos in which he asserts that the salvation of Japan depends on his doctrine, a stance that explains both his boldness and the persecutions he endured.

Question 9

What typical objects accompany Nichiren practice?

Accepted Answer

Besides the Gohonzon, the faithful use a string of prayer beads (juzu) to count the recitations of the daimoku, and sometimes a bell or a drum to pace collective prayer. The scroll of the Lotus Sūtra is also central, although the practice emphasizes the title rather than the entire text. What distinguishes these objects is that they are not decorative: they are functional, designed to support a daily practice accessible to everyone, literate and illiterate alike.

Question 10

What anecdote illustrates the divine protection Nichiren is said to have enjoyed?

Accepted Answer

In 1271, as he was about to be beheaded at Tatsunokuchi (near Kamakura), tradition holds that a brilliant light — sometimes described as a comet or a meteor — streaked across the sky, terrifying the soldiers, who dared not carry out the sentence. What is often forgotten is that this episode is less a miracle than a foundation story: it serves to show that Nichiren was protected by higher forces, which strengthened the faith of his disciples. The incident then led to his exile on Sado, where he wrote his major texts.

Nichiren(1222 — 1282)

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