Japan’s largest “new religions.” To an extent not seen
in other Buddhist sects, the religious energy of mod-
ern Nichiren Buddhism has shifted to lay movements.
Despite considerable differences of interpretation
and ritual observance, all these various groups revere
Nichiren and the Lotus Sutraand recite the title or
DAIMOKU of the Lotus in the formula “Namu
Myoho-renge-kyo,” as Nichiren taught. (The actual
pronunciation of the daimokumay vary slightly ac-
cording to the particular group.) This practice, deemed
especially suited to the present era, known as the
“Final Dharma age” (mappo), is said to manifest indi-
viduals’ innate potential for buddhahood and lead to
positive transformation of the world. Reciting portions
of the Lotus Sutraand chanting the daimokuare per-
formed at all formal ceremonies and constitute the ba-
sic practice of both clergy and laity. In addition to
annual rites conducted by temples of all Buddhist sects,
such as New Year’s observances and memorial services
for the dead at the equinoxes and during the summer
Obon festival, Nichiren Buddhist temples and lay so-
cieties perform ritual observances on dates sacred to
their tradition, usually transposed from the lunar to
the Western calendar. These include Nichiren’s birth-
day (celebrated February 16); the date of his first ser-
mon, said to mark the founding of the Nichiren school
(April 28); commemorations of various persecutions
that Nichiren faced in propagating his teachings; and
the day of his death or NIRVANA(October 13).The founder Nichiren
Nichiren is often counted as one of the founders of the
“new Buddhism” of the Kamakura period (1185–
1333). He was born in Kominato in Awa Province
(Chiba prefecture) in humble circumstances. At age
twelve he entered a nearby temple, Seichoji or Kiyosu-
midera, for study and was ordained four years later, in- Driven by a desire to understand the truth of the
NICHIRENSCHOOL
A Nichiren priest paying respect to Mount Fuji from atop neighboring Mount Minobu, Japan, 1991. © Don Farber 2003. All rights re-
served. Reproduced by permission.