Esoteric Buddhism within the Framework of the Lotus Sutra

Buddhism of Nichiren
Gykai Sekido
Nichiren (1222-82) is recognized as having established an original form of
Buddhism which placed the Lotus Sutra at the center of its doctrine. However, there are
opinions saying that esoteric Buddhism was a major influence on his thinking. That he
copied works related to esoteric Buddhism and made a vow to AkASagarbha
Bodhisattva, revered in esoteric Buddhist circles, during the time of his studies are cited
as evidence. Similarities between the Mandalas of Nichiren and those of esoteric
Buddhism, his connection to and criticism of Tmitsu (Shingons esoteric Buddhism)
and Taimitsu (the esoteric interpretations elaborated within Japanese Tendai), and
quotations related to esoteric Buddhism in his Ch-hoke-ky (references and notes from
various Buddhist texts written in the margin spaces and on the reverse sides of the pages
of his text of the Lotus Sutra) are pointed out as additional indications of esoteric
Buddhisms presence. (Sakai Keijun, The influences of Taimitsu on Saint Nichiren;
Tendai Gakuh no.25, 1982; Lucia Dora Dolce, Esoteric Patters in Nichirens
interpretation of the Lotus Sutra; Leiden University, 2002, etc.)
However I take these to be a part of the developmental process of Nichirens
Buddhism. Surviving several experiences of persecution raised Nichirens consciousness
and recognition of himself as a propagator of the Lotus Sutra. To that end he took note
of doctrines of the various forms of Buddhism he encountered throughout his period of
study and transcended them as he established the original Lotus Sutra Buddhism.
Esoteric Buddhism was one of those forms, however I believe it is not suitable to overemphasize the relation between the character of his Buddhism and esoteric Buddhism.
This is a focal point of my research toward concretization of this relationship.
1) Esoteric Buddhist texts transcribed by Nichiren
In 1233, at the age of twelve, Nichiren entered the Seich-ji temple (the Tientai temple of Hieizan [Mt. Hiei] of the Yokawa tradition) in Awa province (currently
Chiba Prefecture), not far from his home village of Kominato, and there he received his
elementary education. Young Nichiren studied many subjects such as Impermanence,
Confused Standpoints of the Various Schools, and Doubts and Questions Regarding
the Pure Land Teaching. It seems that he was studying the doctrine of the Pure Land
School since his youth in order to gain mastery of a sense of impermanence. Later, in a
letter to a follower, Myh Bikuni Gohenji, (reply to a female believer) he wrote:

I wanted to plant Buddhas seed in my heart and to get over the distress of
life and death. Then I believed in Amitbha Buddha because many people
believed in that teaching, and I have chanted Amitbhas name since I was a
child. But, I made my one vow because I came to have doubt about Pure Land
teachings. (Shwa Teihon Nichiren Shnin Ibun, Minobusan Kuonji, 1952,
pp.1553)
In 1238, at the age of seventeen, Nichiren copied a manuscript that was kept at
Kanazawa Bunko (Shmy-ji temple, Kanagawa Prefecture) at Kiyosumi, in the monks
residence where Dzen-b (Nichirens master teacher for becoming a Buddhist priest)
lived. The source document, the Juketsu-entaragish-tketsu, is attributed to Enchin (the
fifth head priest of Hieizan Enryaku-ji temple), and is a commentary about the early
period of Hongaku-shis (the doctrine of original state of enlightenment). This writing
comes after Enchins Juketsush, but it is just an esoteric reading of that work. In the
postscript to his transcription, Nichiren wrote:

In 1238, at the age of seventeen, Zesh-b (then Nichirens name) copied

this document in Dzen-bs residence on the east side of the Seich-ji temple
of Awa province. In the future when people see this, they shouldnt criticize
my copying errors. (Nichiren Shnin Shinseki Shsei vol.5, Hz-kan,
1977, pp.299)
Nichiren went to Kamakura, a former capital of Japan, and also to Kyoto and
Naracenters of Japanese Buddhism and cultureand continued to study the doctrines
of Buddhism. It is said that he studied at Hieizan, Onj-ji, Kya-san, Shiten-n-ji, etc.,
but there are no historical materials that give precise confirmations. But, it is historically
confirmed that, in 1251, he copied a work of Kakuban (1095-1143), a late Heian
Shingon thinker, called the Gorin-kuji-my-himitsu-gishaku (Interpretation of the FiveElement Stupa and Nine-Letter Mantra). It was a secret text of the Shingi Shingon
school, which Kakuban founded. This document is famous for having united the
Amitbha Buddha faith with esoteric Buddhism. It insisted that the embodiments of
Mahvairocana and Amitbha were one and the same, and skillfully tried to adopt the
doctrine of the Pure Land school to esoteric Buddhism. The Five-Elements were the
Godai, (the five great elements: earth, water, fire, wind, space) and the Nine-Letter
Mantra referred to the nine syllables of the Amitbha Mantra. By means of a supposition
that the Nine-Character Mantra was the same entity as the Five-Element Stupa, this
document argued the idea that Mahvairocana and Amitbha were the same body.
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The copying of this document is pointed out as an indication of esoteric

Buddhisms relationship with the doctrine of Nichiren. From the postscript to the
transcription noting that it was completed at about 8 p.m. on November 24, in 1251, at
Kyoto, it can be inferred that Nichiren worked well into the night. There is an opinion
that Hun-ji temple at the west gate Hossh-ji temple of Kyoto is the place where
calligraphic copies were made. (Shwa-teihon, pp.2875, Kushida Ryk; Shingon
Mikky Seiritsukatei no Kenky, Sankib busshorin, 1964). And, Nichirens name is
contained in records (Rishin Ketsumyaku, preserved in Kanazawa-bunko) of the
Shingon schools Ono branches, which is given as proof of his lineage in the Shingon
esoteric Buddhism.
Since Nichirens writings such as the Shugo-kokka-ron, the Rissh-ankoku-ron,
etc., contain quotes from various other works like the Senchaku-sh (a justification of
Pure Land Buddhism as the most effective method of salvation written by Hnen [11331212]), the Zaija-rin by Mye (1173-1232), the Jdo-ketsugi-sh, by Kin (1145-1216),
the Dan-senchaku (writings criticizing Pure Land Buddhism from the position of
existing Buddhism, by Jsh [?-?]), and the Ken-senchaku, (an argument from the
position of Pure Land Buddhism, by Rykan [1148-1227]), it is understood that he read
these works. Many writings from various schools are inscribed in Nichirens Ch-hokeky as well. It can be guessed that Nichiren studied various schools of Kegon (Flower
Garland) Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and esoteric Buddhism of the Shingon school,
even while Tien-tai doctrine was central in his thinking.
But Nichiren couldnt encounter the best master for himself while he was
studying. His master teacher when he became a priest, Dzen-b, was fearful of the
criticisms of Tj Kagenobu (in 1253, the local steward of Nichirens birthplace) and of
the priests from Pure Land Buddhism in the Seich-ji temple, and he couldnt protected
Nichiren from them. Disappointed, Nichiren left the Seich-ji temple of his hometown.
Historical materials from 1363 (Nichidai-jikken-tait-mond-ki) show that he
was the pupil of Shunpan (1182-1262?; chief of doctrine at the Hiei-zan Enryaku-ji
temple). But he was just one of many students, and Shunpan wasnt the master teacher
for his Buddhist life. Nichiren encountered the Nirvana Sutra doctrine to rely on the
Dharma, not on persons at that time. The Dharma to be relied on is the Lotus Sutra, and
no persons are masters except for SAkyamuni Buddha. He studied various schools of
Buddhism peripherally to the Tien-tai school, and his copies of documents related to
esoteric Buddhism are but a few historical materials within his period of study. One
might think that he was particularly taken with esoteric Buddhism if one focuses only
that copying of documents, but one should rather consider the entire period of study
encompassing the whole life of the one who established the religion which placed the
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Lotus Sutra at the top of many sutras. Esoteric Buddhism was a rich concept that
interested him within that time, however it would be difficult to conclude that it became
the nucleus of Nichirens Lotus Sutra Buddhism.

2) Fud-aizen-kankenki
As a conclusion to his studies Kamakura, Kyoto etc., Nichiren declared the
establishment of Lotus Sutra Buddhism. On the morning of April 28, 1253, he faced the
rising sun at the top of Mt. Kiyosumi and chanted Namu-myh-renge-ky (The sacred
title of the Lotus Sutra). This is the moment the Nichiren School began. Nichiren gave
his first sermon to his former master and fellow monks, but he shocked his audience by
criticizing the doctrine of the Pure Land school. The local steward, Tj Kagenobu, a
Pure Land school follower, heard that sermon and got angry. Then Nichiren fled to
Kamakura from the Seich-ji temple.
A little while after that, Nichiren experienced a dream of the figure of Aizen
(Rgarja) on New Years Day of 1254, and he experienced the figure of Fud (Acala)
in dreams from the 15th to 17th. He wrote a description of those experiences on June 25,
1254; that description, the Fud-aizen-kankenki, is preserved at the Myhon-ji temple in
Chiba Prefecture. Fud (Immovable) is a messenger of Dainichi (Mahvairocana) who
presents a frightful form, holding a sword in his right hand and a rope in his left. Aizen
is the god of love in Shingon esoteric Buddhism, and although he has an angry and
fearsome appearancehis whole body is red, he has three eyes and six hands, and the
crown of a lion on his headhe is full of affection. On Nichirens Mandala (object of
worship), the names of Fud and Aizen are written in siddhaman ancient Sanskrit
scriptwhich may be an indication of the great influence the experience of these dreams
had on him. And although not historically confirmed, it is said that Nichiren
commissioned a painting of the figures of Fud and Aizen on the back of which he
wrote a dated inscription.
Nichiren become a priest at Seich-ji temple (the Tien-tai temple of the
Yokawa tradition at Mt. Hiei) where Kokuz-bosatsu (AkASagarbha) is the principal
object of worship. It can be assumed that he experienced esoteric Buddhisms secret
transmissions because he learned Tien-tai esoteric Buddhism simultaneously with the
Tien-tai exoteric doctrine. (See the section: Nichirens Mandalas and the Mandalas of
esoteric Buddhism)

3) The Role of Kokuz-bosatsu (A

AkASagarbha Bodhisattva)
Nichiren was a youth of great talent. Desiring to increase his wisdom, he prayed
to AkASagarbha. In the Dainichi-ky-sho (Ta-jih ching-shu, a commentary on the
Mahvairocana Sutra), it is written:

The beneficial works and wisdom of AkASagarbha are immeasurable;

he is unobstructed in all things and freely abides in the universe.
This bodhisattva was possessed of immeasurable good virtue and wisdom. Many
people believed in him as a bodhisattva who could bring their wishes to realization. He
is the central figure in the Kokuz-in division of the Taiz-kai Mandala (the Matrixstore Realm Mandala). It seems to be a historical fact that Nichiren prayed to
AkASagarbha. Seich-ji temple is a Tien-tai temple, and, with its geographical
features, it is not unreasonable to assume that it was a location for typical forest training,
and faith in AkASagarbha. Additionally, with the practice of gumonji-h(a ritual
training for acquiring good memory) as a backdrop to that, it can be thought that he
prayed to AkASagarbha in his youth. Central to this ritual is the invocation of the
mantra of AkASagarbha 10,000 times in a day, and to continue this for 100 days. This
ritual aims at increasing ones memoryit is said that if practitioners complete this
ritual, they will never forget any of their experiences. Kkai (774-835), before going to
China, wrote in his Sang-shiiki (a treatise on Buddhisms philosophical excellence) that
he completed this ritual. But Nichirens wish is thought to be the genuine desire of a boy
wanting to improve his performance in school.
4) Nichirens Mandalas and the Mandalas of esoteric Buddhism
The meaning of the Mandala of Shingon esoteric Buddhism is the existence of
true nature and essence. In the drawing it harmoniously expresses the stage of
enlightenment and the world of Buddha, who was complete in all virtues. There is the
Taiz-kai Mandala that expresses the principle of the dharma-body of Mahvairocana
Buddha based on the Mahvairocana Sutra, and Kong-kai Mandala expressing the
wisdom of the dharma-body of Mahvairocana Buddha based on the Diamond-Peak
Sutra. Shingon esoteric Buddhism and Tien-tai esoteric Buddhism use both Mandalas
as the foundation of doctrine.
Nichirens Mandalas are graphic configurations in the middle of which are
inscribed the title of the Lotus Sutra and names of deities. The invocation of SAkyamuni
Buddha is inscribed to the left of the title of the Lotus Sutra, and Tah Nyorai
(Prabhtaratna, Many Treasures Buddha) is inscribed to the right. The Four Great
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Bodhisattvas (the leading disciples of the eternal Buddhathe Bodhisattvas Jgy,

Muhengy, Jgy, and Anrygy)are inscribed at both sides of two Buddhas in the
upper portion. ManjuSri and the names of other bodhisattvas are written in the middle
area, along with names of guardian deities and disciples such as SAriputra. And other
guardian deities such as Kishibo-jin (HArItI) and the masters of Chinese and Japanese
Tien-tai tradition such as Chih-i (538-597) and Saich (767-822) are inscribed in the
lower area. The four guardian kings are arranged in the four corners, and the siddham
inscriptions of Fud and Aizen are written along both sides. Nichirens signature (ka;
seal) appears in the very bottom part.
It has been said that the world of the Taiz-kai Mandala and the Kong-kai
Mandala from Shingon esoteric Buddhism are the archetypes of Nichirens Mandala. It
is also said that he varied the arrangement of various honored ones pictured on the
Mandala of Shingon esoteric Buddhism by expressing them with written characters.
Another item offered as proof is that Fud (Messenger of Dainichi Buddha) and Aizen
(the Love God of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism) also appear in Nichirens Mandalas.
Another focus is that Nichiren employed two siddham inscriptions for his seal, using
until May 1278, and

from June 1278.

Additionally, it is said that some Mandalas serving as principal objects of

worship from the Hoss SchoolShinrans (1173-1262) Myg-honzon (An
invocation of Amitbha Buddha written in Sino-Japanese logographs in the middle of a
scroll), and Myes (1173-1232) Kmy-honzon (Mandala of Amitbhas universally
shining light)became the basic forms of Nichirens Mandalas in the same time period.
But I dont think that these were cases of other principal objects of worship being taken
as a hint for him. And I think that, in the world of religion, it is not uncommon to
independently make the same figures into venerable ones and into objects and focuses of
faith: Nichiren and the audience on Vulture Peak look up at the scene of the discourse;
SAkyamuni Buddha sits down with Prabhtaratna in the Stupa of Many Treasures that
is floating in the air; then bodhisattvas and various venerable ones surround them. Such
a three-dimensional composition of the eternal Buddha of the Lotus Sutra (especially in
chapter 16) is expressed in Nichirens Mandalas. I think that the expression of this
picture of the world of eternal Buddha of the Lotus Sutra through written characters is
Nichirens originality.
5) Nichirens reception and criticism of Shingon and Tien-tai Esoteric Buddhism
Before moving on to Kyoto, Nichiren initially came back to Kiyosumi when he
finished studying in Kamakura in the spring of 1242. At that time he wrote his first
thesis, the Kaitai-sokusin-jbutsugi. He focused on the acceptance of the Buddhist
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preceptswhich was a foundation subject of Saichand he discussed the Buddhist

precepts of HInayAna Buddhism, Provisional Mahyna Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra,
and Shingon esoteric Buddhism. He emphasized the excellence of the Buddhist precepts
of Shingon esoteric Buddhism that were introduced to the disciple by the master. When
Nichiren criticized Honens (1133-1212) Senchaku-sh (a treatise justifying the chanting
of Amitbha Buddhas name as the most effective method of salvation) with his treatise,
the Shugo-kokka-ron, in 1259, one can often find assertions of the justice of the Lotus
Sutra and Shingon esoteric Buddhism in the text.
On the other hand, he criticized Shingon esoteric Buddhism in his writings
before his banishment to Sado in 1271. In the Sh-hokke-daimoku-sh (1260), he points
out that the Mahvairocana Sutra does not reveal the meanings of the Buddhas
teachings, and in the Rissh-ankoku-ron (1260), he says that the prayers of Shingon
esoteric Buddhism are not effective. Kkai is criticized in the Ky-ki-ji-koku-sh (1262).
The classifications of Jj-shin (the ten stages of mind) by Kkai, and classifications by
Zenmui (637-735, SubhakarashiMha), Kongchi (671-741, Vajrabodhi), and
Fuk (705-774, Amoghavajra) are criticized in his Ken-hb-sh (1262). And in his
Zenmui-sh (1266), he criticizes the Commentary on the Mahvairocana Sutra by
Zenmui. And in his Hmon-kashin-sh (1269), he writes that Shingon esoteric
Buddhism plagiarized the Ichi-nen-san-zen concept (the three thousand realms are
contained in one mind) from Tien-tai doctrine.
It seems that he didnt criticize the Tien-tai esoteric Buddhism before his
banishment to Sado. Such criticism came forth during and after that, showing up in
detail during his Minobu-san days (in his hermitage at Mt. Minobu). In the Risshankoku-ron (1260), and the Hmon-kashin-sh (1269), Nichiren considered Ennin (794864, the third head priest of Hieizan Enryaku-ji temple) as a traditional master of
Japanese Tien-tai Buddhism. But Ennin is criticized in the Kaimoku-sh, (1271), and
the Kit-sh (1271) from Nichirens Sado days. Ennin and Enchin (814-891, the fifth
head priest of Hieizan Enryaku-ji temple) are criticized in Minobu-san treatises such as
the Senji-sh (1275), the Hon-sh (1276), and others.
There are some that find an indication in this that Shingon esoteric Buddhism
and Tien-tai esoteric Buddhism exist as an undercurrent of Nichirens doctrine. Dr.
Asai argues that Nichirens Lotus Sutra Buddhism was formed when he transcended the
doctrines of Tien-tai that he had learned. In line with the opinion of Dr. Asai, I think
that Nichiren transcended the doctrines of various schools learned during his period of
study, including Shingon esoteric Buddhism and Tien-tai esoteric Buddhism. He then
established his original Lotus Sutra Buddhism. (Asai End, Jko nihon tendai honmon
shisshi, Heirakuji shoten, 1973)
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6) On the Quotations of Esoteric Buddhism in Nichirens Ch-hoke-ky

The Ch-hoke-ky is a copy of the Lotus Sutra in which Nichiren wrote
references and notes from various Buddhist texts into the margin spaces and on the
reverse side of the document. There are a few comments that are Nichirens opinions. Of
the 2015 entries, 900 are quotations from three works of Tien-tai Chi-i: the Hokkegengi (Profound Meaning of the Lotus Sutra), the Hokke-mongu (Words and Phrases of
the Lotus Sutra), and the Maka-shikan (Great Concentration and Insight). But, there are
many entries connected with the Kegon (Hua-yen) school, the Sanron (San-lun-tsung)
school, the Hoss (Fa-hsiang) school, and the Shingon (Shingon-dharani) school. There
are only a few entries (seven examples) related to the Jdo (Pure Land) school. There
are about 50 quotations regarding esoteric Buddhism from the Mahvairocana Sutra, the
Diamond Peak sutra, the Susiddhikra Sutra, etc., in the Ch-hoke-ky. These chosen
selections are characteristic esoteric Buddhist assertions, the main points of the sutras,
and their own explanatory materials.
During his period of study and development, Nichiren copied the Gorin-kujimy-himitsu-gishaku, an esoteric writing of Kakuban, a Heian Shingon thinker, and the
Juketsu-entaragish-tketsu, an esoteric document attributed to Enchin from early period
of Hongaku shis. He was a critic of the Pure Land school early-on in his life, and,
before his banishment to Sado, he also became critical of Shingon esoteric Buddhism
and Kkai. He became critical the Tien-tai esoteric Buddhism after his banishment.
Given that background, there are opinions that Nichiren was heavily influenced by
doctrines of esoteric Buddhism, and that it is proven by his quotations of esoteric
Buddhism in his own Ch-hoke-ky. But, upon researching commentaries in Nichirens
collected writings regarding the body of esoteric Buddhism-related materials in the Chhoke-ky, it can be seen that Nichirens purpose in quoting esoteric Buddhism in the
Ch-hoke-ky is never as a supportive reference, but rather is a criticism of esoteric
Buddhisms doctrines and of Kkais classification. (Sekido Gykai On the Quotations
of Esoteric Buddhism in Nichirens Ch-hoke-ky, abstract, Journal of Indian and
Buddhist Studies, 2011, pp.221)

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