Buddhism in Japan Comes Part 3

3. Nichiren Buddhism is a popular form. Its founder, Nichiren, was a monk of the militant and nationalistic spirit. He taught that one must have absolute faith in the eternal Buddha Sakyamuni, the only true doctrine was the teaching of sutra ฺ d ฺ Saddharmapun Arika, and that peace and happiness of individuals and the nation could be achieved through the practice of this teaching is true. His followers have learned to keep the Sutra and devotion education into practice by repeating the words Namu Myo Horengekyo – Homage to the Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law. Nichiren attacked all other sects, declaring their doctrines and practices that is false and dangerous to the welfare of the country. He and his sect came into violent conflict with them and suffered serious disruptions by persecution. Despite this, the cult continues to grow. Its founder and followers even believed that his teaching would be accepted worldwide.

With the rise of these new sects, Buddhism was accepted in its entirety by the Japanese people. If the Heian period marked the nationalization of Buddhism in Japan was during the period Kamakura and the popularization of Buddhism has been reached. So Buddhists temples have been built in most cities and towns. Although many have sub- its appearance in the ancient sects, especially after World War II, no new important Buddhist sect was founded in Japan since that time.

After the Kamakura period, the seat of the shogunate was transferred from Kyoto. Despite civil wars and natural disasters, cultural leadership is maintained by Buddhist monks, especially those of Zen, and
arts flourished as never before. The influence of Zen has found expression in the development of the tea ceremony, flower arrangements, no There is drama, this garden, painting and other works of art, and as Judo, Kendo and Bushido, which is the code of ethics of the samurai.

Repression of Buddhism
Constant internal wars and disorder during the period of almost one hundred years after the rebellion of BE 2010 (1467 AD) end the most important families of antiquity and caused the emergence of new wealthy families and large social changes. The priests and monks were engaged in war and the battle, either to protect or to gain power. There were many conflicts between religious groups like the disciples of Nichiren and Shinran Tendai monk soldiers. Even some allied with each other feudal lords. Therefore, when the Portuguese Christian missionaries arrived in Japan in about BE 2100 (1557 AD), Nobunaga, then the most powerful man in Japan have encouraged their activities. Nobunaga same armies attacked the monastery on Mount Hiei, burned about 3,000 monasteries and killed all its inhabitants. Although he could not overcome the Abbe Osaka Kenny and both parties had to accept an agreement, the political and military power of the monasteries declined and never recovered. The influence of Japanese Buddhism never achieved a high degree of force from then.

Government support to Christianity, however, did not last long, because of disputes between the Portuguese and Spanish priests and among the Spanish priests and the Netherlands, which broke out between 2136 and 2154 BE was the rule of awareness of the dangers of the Christian priests as a political machine. This led to persecution of Christians and, finally, the adoption of the policy of exclusion in BE 2167 (1624 CBS). To end the influence of Christianity and the use of the influence of Buddhism in its favor, the government turned to Buddhism, Buddhist institutions under strict state control, and was useful to maintain their power. In addition, Confucianism was strongly encouraged. Therefore, Buddhist institutions weakened and diminished intellectual activities. While people once again sought worldly pleasures and material wealth, through these temple rituals and beliefs that encouraged the world to meet, and the monks and priests approved life of indolence and neglect. Thus, during the entire period Edo or Tokugawa (BE 2146-2410 / 1603-1867 AD), during which the capital was established Edo or Tokyo, there were no significant developments in Japanese Buddhism, and has been for: a period during which there was a movement eligion a Japanese Shinto.

The modernization of Japan began with the beginning of the Meiji period in BE 2411 (1868 AD), when the power and the administration has been restored from the shogun to the emperor, the national policy of isolation has ended, and Western culture has been imported freely and imitated. Then, to assert the supreme authority of the divinity of the emperor and to strengthen nationalism, has separated Shinto from Buddhism and found that religion national. beliefs and Buddhist worship were banned in the imperial household. There was even a movement called Haibutsu kishaku to eradicate Buddhism in Japan. There was a time of crisis Buddhism, but he recovered to some extent its strength and the government had to relax their anti-Buddhist.

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