| chiren is a form of popular Buddhism. Its founder, | | | | missionaries came to Japan in about B.E. 2100 (1557 |
| Nichiren, was a monk of militant and nationalistic spirit. | | | | C.E.), Nobunaga, then the most powerful man in Japan, |
| He taught that one should have absolute faith in the | | | | encouraged their activities. Nobunaga even attacked |
| eternal Sakyamuni Buddha, that the only true doctrine | | | | the monastic armies on Mount Hiei, burned about 3,000 |
| was the teaching of the | | | | monasteries and killed all of their inhabitants. Though he |
| Saddharmapunฺdฺarika sutra, and that | | | | could not defeat the abbot Kennyo of Osaka and both |
| peace and happiness both of the individuals and of the | | | | parties had to accept an agreement, the political and |
| nation could be achieved only by the practice of this | | | | military power of the monasteries declined and never |
| true teaching. Its followers are taught to keep devotion | | | | recovered. The influence of Japanese Buddhism has |
| to the Sutra and to turn the teaching into practice by | | | | never reached a high degree of strength since then. |
| repeating the words: Namu Myo Horengekyo - | | | | The government support to Christianity, however, did |
| Homage to the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law. | | | | not last long, for the quarrels between the Portuguese |
| Nichiren attacked all other sects by declaring their | | | | and the Spanish priests and between the Spanish and |
| doctrines and practices to be false and dangerous to | | | | the Dutch priests which broke out between B.E. 2136 |
| the welfare of the country. He and his sect came into | | | | and 2154 made the ruler conscious of the danger of |
| violent conflict with them and suffered serious troubles | | | | Christian priests as a political machine. This led to the |
| through persecution. In spite of this, the sect continued | | | | persecution of the Christians and, finally, to the adoption |
| to grow. Its founder and followers even believed that | | | | of the exclusion policy in B.E. 2167 (1624 C.E.). In order |
| its teaching would be accepted all over the world. | | | | to put an end to the influence of Christianity and to use |
| With the rise of these new sects, Buddhism was | | | | the influence of Buddhism for its own benefit, the |
| completely accepted by the Japanese people. If the | | | | government turned to Buddhism, brought the Buddhist |
| Heian period marked the nationalization of Buddhism in | | | | institutions under strict state control, and made them |
| Japan, it was during the Kamakura period that the | | | | useful in maintaining its power. Moreover, Confucianism |
| popularization of Buddhism was achieved. Then | | | | was greatly encouraged. Thus, Buddhist institutions |
| Buddhist temples were erected in most of the small | | | | weakened and their intellectual activities declined. While |
| towns and villages. Though many subsects have | | | | the people turned to worldly pleasures and sought |
| appeared within the old sects, especially after World | | | | material wealth, the temples encouraged these through |
| War II, no new major Buddhist sect has been founded | | | | the rites and beliefs which satisfied worldly ends, and |
| in Japan since that time. | | | | the monks and priests themselves adopted lives of |
| After the Kamakura period, the seat of shogunate | | | | indolence and negligence. Thus, throughout the |
| was moved to Kyoto. In spite of civil wars and natural | | | | Tokugawa or Edo period (B.E. 2146 - 2410/ 1603- 1867 |
| disasters, cultural leadership was maintained by | | | | C.E.), during which the capital was established at Edo |
| Buddhist monks, especially those of Zen, and thearts | | | | or Tokyo, there was no significant development in |
| flourished as never before. The influence of Zen found | | | | Japanese Buddhism and it was during : his period that |
| its expression in the development of the tea | | | | there arose a movement to make Shinto the national |
| ceremony, flower arrangement, No drama, garden | | | | eligion of Japan. |
| making, painting and other works of art, and also of | | | | The modernization of Japan started with the beginning |
| Judo, Kendo and Bushido, which is the ethical code of | | | | of the Meiji period in B.E. 2411 (1868 C.E.) when the |
| the samurai. | | | | power and administration was restored from the |
| The Suppression of Buddhism | | | | shogun to the emperor, the policy of national seclusion |
| Constant internal wars and disorder during the period | | | | came to an end, and Western culture was freely |
| of about one hundred years beginning with the rebellion | | | | imported and imitated. Then, to affirm the supreme |
| of B.E. 2010 (1467 C.E.) brought to an end most of the | | | | power of the emperor by his divinity and to strengthen |
| great families of the former periods and brought about | | | | nationalism, Shinto was separated from Buddhism and |
| the rise of some new powerful families and great | | | | established as the national religion. Buddhist beliefs and |
| social changes. Priests and monks were engaged in | | | | worship were forbidden in the Imperial Household. |
| warfare and battle either to protect themselves or to | | | | There was even a movement called Haibutsu Kishaku |
| gain power. There were also many conflicts between | | | | to eradicate Buddhism in Japan. It was a time of crisis |
| religious groups such as the followers of Nichiren, | | | | for Buddhism, though it was able to some degree to |
| those of Shinran and the monk soldiers of Tendai. | | | | recover its strength and the government had to soften |
| They even took sides with some feudal lords against | | | | its anti-Buddhist policy. |
| the other. Therefore, when Portuguese Christian | | | | |