Nichiren

Nichiren Daishonin (born 1222, died 1282) was a Japanese Buddhist monk who founded Nichiren Buddhism. He asserted that the Lotus Sutra is the supreme teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha and that the simplest, most inclusive practice is the daimoku: Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

He was born in 1222 in Awa Province (present-day Chiba Prefecture). He studied Tendai Buddhism on Mount Hiei near Kyoto, but grew critical of what he saw as corruption and the ineffectiveness of existing schools. He traveled and composed letters and treatises defending the Lotus Sutra, arguing for a single, accessible form of practice for all people.

Teachings: Nichiren taught that the Lotus Sutra contains the ultimate teaching and that enlightenment is accessible in this life. The central practice is chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and propagating the sutra to others. He rejected exclusive reliance on ritualistic practices, priestly mediation, or devotion to other Buddhas or sects, and urged social engagement aligned with the Lotus Sutra’s truth.

Legacy: After his death, followers formed several Nichiren Buddhist schools, notably Nichiren Shū and Nichiren Shōshū, and later lay movements such as Soka Gakkai emerged in the 20th century. His writings, collected as Gosho, include Risshō Ankoku Ron (On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Nation) and Kaimoku Shō (The Opening of the Eyes). Nichiren remains a central figure in Japanese Buddhism and is studied for his emphasis on the Lotus Sutra, immediate practice, and social engagement.