Nichiren
Buddhist sects日蓮宗 ・ Reading: にちれんしゅう
Definition
Where it came from
Nichiren Buddhism traces back to the monk Nichiren, who taught in Japan during the 13th century. He came to believe that the Lotus Sutra held the complete truth of the Buddha's teaching, and that reciting its title was enough to connect an ordinary person to that truth. This is why the school centres on the phrase Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, often called the daimoku.
What you notice at the temple
At a Nichiren temple you will often hear the chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, sometimes kept steady by a hand drum. The main object of devotion is usually not a statue but a mandala of written characters called the gohonzon. Many of these temples show the character 妙 or the word Myoho on lanterns, banners, and roof tiles, which is a recognisable clue to the school.
How it sits among the others
Nichiren is one of the major schools of Japanese Buddhism, alongside Zen, Pure Land, and Shingon. It stands apart in its single focus on the Lotus Sutra and its chant, rather than seated meditation or devotion to Amida Buddha. Several later movements grew from its teachings, so you may meet related groups that share the same daimoku.
Common questions
- What do people chant at a Nichiren temple?
At a Nichiren temple people chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo, known as the daimoku, which expresses devotion to the Lotus Sutra. The chant is often repeated steadily and sometimes accompanied by a hand drum.
- Who founded Nichiren Buddhism?
Nichiren Buddhism was founded by the monk Nichiren, who taught in Japan during the 13th century. The school takes his name and is built around his teaching that the Lotus Sutra holds the full truth of the Buddha.
- How is Nichiren different from Zen or Pure Land Buddhism?