''Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō'' (
Kanji
are logographic Chinese characters, adapted from Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script, used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are ...
: ) is a
Japanese sacred phrase chanted within all forms of
Nichiren Buddhism
Nichiren Buddhism (), also known as ''Hokkeshū'' (, meaning ''Lotus Sect''), is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese Buddhist priest Nichiren (1222–1282) and is one of the Kamakura period school ...
. In
English, it means "Devotion to the Mystic Dharma of the ''Lotus Flower Sutra''" or "Homage to the Sublime Dharma of the ''Lotus Sutra''".
The words refer to the
Japanese title of the
''Lotus Sūtra'' (
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
: ''Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra''). The phrase is referred to as the () or, in honorific form, () meaning ''title'', and was publicly taught by the Japanese Buddhist priest
Nichiren
was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period. His teachings form the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, a unique branch of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism based on the '' Lotus Sutra''.
Nichiren declared that the '' Lotus Sutra ...
on 28 April 1253 atop Mount Kiyosumi, now memorialized by
Seichō-ji temple in
Kamogawa, Chiba prefecture,
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
.
In Nichiren Buddhism, the practice of prolonged Daimoku chanting is referred to as (). Nichiren Buddhist believers claim that the purpose of chanting is to reduce suffering by eradicating negative karma and all karmic retribution, while also advancing the practitioner on the path to
perfect and complete awakening.
History
''
Lotus Sutra'' devotion had a long history in China and Japan (especially in the
Tiantai school), but it was generally associated with chanting whole chapters of the sutra, or the whole sutra itself, not simply the title. A homage similar to the daimoku is found in Chinese ritual texts belonging to the Tiantai school, such as in the Lotus Repentance of
Zhiyi, the founder of the tradition. However, these homage phrases are only recited once as part of the entire ritual, not as a repetitive chant.
The ''Fahua ch'uan-chi'', a
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...
Chinese ''Lotus Sutra'' devotional text, contains at least two stories of individuals being saved from hell by reciting "Námó miàofǎ liánhuá jīng", but this is just a single recitation, and the text does not discuss its use as a chant used in continuous religious practice.
In Heian period Japan
The actual practice of chanting the Daimoku, or the title of the ''Lotus Sutra'' (in Japanese: Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō), was popularized by the
Kamakura-period Buddhist reformer
Nichiren
was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period. His teachings form the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, a unique branch of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism based on the '' Lotus Sutra''.
Nichiren declared that the '' Lotus Sutra ...
(1222–1282). While often assumed to be his original innovation, historical evidence suggests that the practice existed in Japan way before his time. Early references to Daimoku chanting appear in
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
(794–1185) texts, such as ''Shui ōjōden'' and ''Hokke hyakuza kikigakisho'', where it was associated with devotion to the ''Lotus Sutra''. Nichiren, however, transformed this practice by giving it a comprehensive doctrinal foundation and advocating it as the sole means of salvation in the degenerate age of the Final Dharma (
mappō).
Fukūken-saku Kannon in the Hokke-dō (Lotus Sutra Ritual Hall) of . Kannon (Guanyin), who appears in the ''Lotus Sutra'', was often associated with the daimoku during the Heian period.">Tōdai-ji. Kannon (Guanyin), who appears in the ''Lotus Sutra'', was often associated with the daimoku during the Heian period.
The idea that the title of the sutra held the power of the entire sutra could have been influenced by the fact that
Zhiyi, the Chinese founder of the
Tiantai school, had explained in his commentary to the ''Lotus Sutra'' (''Fahua Xuan Yi'') that the title of the sutra contained within it the entire meaning of the whole sutra, and that it signified the sublime (miao 妙) nature of ultimate reality itself.
[Rhodes, Robert F. (2016)]
Tiantai Hermeneutics: Zhiyi's Interpretation of the Lotus Sutra Presented in the Miaofa lianhua jing xuanyi
In ''The Buddha's Words and Their Interpretations,'' ed. Takami Inoue and Imre Hamar, 139–153. Kyoto: The Shin Buddhist Comprehensive Research Institute, Otani University.
The earliest authenticated use of the Japanese daimoku dates back to 881, in a prayer composed by
Sugawara no Michizane for his deceased parents. In this prayer, the daimoku was actually paired with an homage to
Kannon bodhisattva (as ''Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu, Namu myōhō renge kyō'').
Similarly, the ''Kachio engi'' (possibly dated to the 9th century) states that the monk Shōnyo taught the chanting of Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō and Namu
Amida Nyorai.
By the late 10th and early 11th centuries, the daimoku was being chanted on the
Tendai school stronghold of
Mt. Hiei as an expression of devotion to the Dharma. There is evidence of the Daimoku's use in sutra burials, inscriptions on statues, and other religious practices, indicating its growing significance in both monastic and aristocratic circles.
These examples are often associated with Amida Buddha or Kannon. For example, a Kannon statue installed in 1012 at Koryuji temple included inscriptions of the daimoku along with the
nembutsu
file:玉里華山寺 (21)南無阿彌陀佛古碑.jpg, 250px, Chinese Nianfo carving
The Nianfo ( zh, t=wikt:念佛, 念佛, p=niànfó, alternatively in Japanese language, Japanese ; ; or ) is a Buddhist practice central to East Asian Buddhism. ...
(Namu Amida Butsu).
The ''Kūkan'' (''Contemplation of Emptiness''), a text (questionably) attributed to the Tendai monk
Genshin
, also known as , was a prominent Japanese monk of the Tendai school, recognized for his significant contributions to both Tendai and Pure Land Buddhism. Genshin studied under Ryōgen, a key reformer of the Tendai tradition, and became well kn ...
(942–1017), states that those who "abhor the impure Saha world and aspires to the
Pure Land of Utmost Bliss should chant " which can be interpreted as honoring correspondingly the
three jewels of Buddhism.
[ in Payne, Richard K.. ''Re-Visioning 'Kamakura' Buddhism'', Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1998. https://doi.org/10.1515/9780824843939.] Similar passages which contain the daimoku as a devotional chant is found in the works of Genshin's disciples, like Kakuun (953-1007), and Kakuchō (952/960-1034).
By the late 12th century, the daimoku began to be chanted repeatedly, similar to the
nembutsu
file:玉里華山寺 (21)南無阿彌陀佛古碑.jpg, 250px, Chinese Nianfo carving
The Nianfo ( zh, t=wikt:念佛, 念佛, p=niànfó, alternatively in Japanese language, Japanese ; ; or ) is a Buddhist practice central to East Asian Buddhism. ...
(chanting of
Amida Buddha's name), as seen in records of rituals and ceremonies from this time. Stories from setsuwa (Buddhist tales) further illustrate the daimoku's role as a simple yet powerful practice, accessible even to those with limited knowledge of Buddhism. These tales emphasize the ''Lotus Sutra''
's salvific power, suggesting that even uttering its title could form a bond with the Dharma and lead to salvation. However, the practice was not yet as widespread among the common people, remaining more prominent among monks and the nobility.
In a story found in the ''Hokke hyakuza kikigakisho,'' the daimoku (here: ''Namu ichijō myōhō renge kyō'') is recited by an illiterate Chinese monk who could not learn to chant the ''Lotus Sutra'' itself, and the practice later saves him from hell.
Furthermore, during this period, a class of people known as "title chanters" (daimyōsō) emerged, who intoned the daimoku at public lectures and other ceremonies. These figures may have helped spread the practice before the rise of Nichiren Buddhism.
The 12th century practice of the daimoku was often paired with the nembutsu or associated with
Pure Land Buddhism
Pure Land Buddhism or the Pure Land School ( zh, c=淨土宗, p=Jìngtǔzōng) is a broad branch of Mahayana, Mahayana Buddhism focused on achieving rebirth in a Pure land, Pure Land. It is one of the most widely practiced traditions of East Asi ...
. One example from the early 12th century is in the ''Shui ōjōden (Gleanings of Biographies of People born in the Pure Land''), which contains a description of the practice in the context of Pure Land devotion. The text describes how Tachibana no Morisuke (d. 1096) is said to have recited the name of Amida Buddha and the title of the Lotus Sutra every evening while facing West.
In another example, the artist
Unkei (1150–1223) describes how during a ritual copying of the ''Lotus Sutra,'' various devotees would perform three bows for each line of the sutra he copied. With each bow they would recite the daimoku and the nembutsu. Unkei also mentions how local lay supporters of the project also chanted the nembutsu and the daimoku several thousand times.
The title of the ''Lotus Sutra'' was also used by the Tendai school for
esoteric yoga, especially in the Lotus Ritual (Hokke Hō), an esoteric Buddhist rite based on the Lotus Sutra and
Chinese Esoteric Buddhism. This rite made use of mandalas, mantras and dhāraṇīs, including the
dhāraṇīs taught in the ''Lotus Sutra'', as well as the daimoku.
[Dolce, Lucia]
“Hokekyô to mikkyô,” [The Lotus Sutra and Tantric Buddhism
/nowiki>">he Lotus Sutra and Tantric Buddhism">“Hokekyô to mikkyô,” [The Lotus Sutra and Tantric Buddhism
/nowiki>in ''Hokekyô to Nichiren'', vol. 1 of ''Shirizu Nichiren'', 5 vols, Komatsu Hôshô and Hanano Jûdô, eds, Tokyo: Shunjûsha, 2014, pp. 268-293.
The ''Shuzenji-ketsu''
One medieval Tendai oral teachings text (''kuden homon''), the ''Shuzenji-ketsu (Doctrinal Decisions of Hsiu-ch'an-ssu),'' contains an example of daimoku chanting. The ''Shuzenji-ketsu'' recommends the chanting of daimoku as a deathbed practice, stating that this practice is a "Dharma container" which can include within it the Zhiyi#Threefold Truth and Threefold Contemplation">threefold contemplation of Tiantai. The text mentions that "through the workings of the three powers of the Wondrous Dharma
harma, Buddha, Faith one shall at once attain enlightened wisdom and will not receive a body bound by birth and death."
The text also teaches daimoku recitation as a method of contemplating the three thousand realms in one thought (ichinen sanzen), again at the time of death, and pairs it with recitation of the name of
Kannon bodhisattva.
The text also teaches daimoku recitation as part of a contemplative rite described as follows:
You should make pictures of images representing the ten realms and enshrine them in ten places. Facing each image, you should, one hundred times, bow with your body, chant Namu Myoho-renge-kyo with your mouth, and contemplate with your mind. When you face the image of hell, contemplate that its fierce flames are themselves precisely emptiness, precisely provisional existence, and precisely the middle, and so on for all the images. When you face the image of the Buddha, contemplate its essence being precisely the threefold truth. You should carry out this practice for one time period in the morning and one time period in the evening. The Great Teacher Zhiyi secretly conferred this Dharma essential for the beings of dull faculties in the last age. If one wishes to escape from birth and death and attain bodhi, then first he should employ this practice. – ''Shuzenji-ketsu,'' trans. Jacqueline Stone
The dating of the ''Shuzenji-ketsu'' is uncertain and it has provoked much scholarly controversy in Japan. Scholars disagree on whether the work influenced or is influenced by Nichiren, as well as whether it predates him, post-dates Nichiren, or whether it emerged independently at around the same time.
Shimaji Daito (1875-1927) for example, places it in the cloistered rule period (1086-1185).
Tamura Yoshiro meanwhile dates the work to 1250-1300.
Takagi Yutaka meanwhile agrees with the view that the text is from the late
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. It followed the Nara period, beginning when the 50th emperor, Emperor Kammu, moved the capital of Japan to Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). means in Japanese. It is a ...
and that it demonstrate's the era's concern for a proper death. Many scholars have noted that devotion to Amitabha and the Lotus Sutra were key elements of the Buddhism of the Heian period, where they were seen as complementary. The Tendai school at mount Hiei was known for a schedule of practice which focused on ''Lotus Sutra'' rites in the morning and Pure Land practices in the evening. This custom was later described through the motto "daimoku in the morning and nembutsu in the evening."
Nichiren
The Tendai ''Lotus Sutra'' revivalist
Nichiren
was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period. His teachings form the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, a unique branch of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism based on the '' Lotus Sutra''.
Nichiren declared that the '' Lotus Sutra ...
(1222-1282) is known today as the greatest promoter of the daimoku in the history of
Japanese Buddhism. Nichiren saw the repetition of the daimoku as the supreme and highest practice, since the title of the sutra contained the entire
Buddhadharma and the seed of
Buddhahood
In Buddhism, Buddha (, which in classic Indo-Aryan languages, Indic languages means "awakened one") is a title for those who are Enlightenment in Buddhism, spiritually awake or enlightened, and have thus attained the Buddhist paths to liberat ...
itself.
Nichiren frequently quotes passages from the ''Lotus Sutra'' in which the Buddha declared the sutra to be his highest teaching, such as "among those sutras the ''Lotus'' is the foremost!", and "this sutra is king of the sutras." Nichiren writes in his ''Kanjinhonzonshō'':
The bodhisattva practices cause the virtues of the Buddha. The practices and virtues of Sakyamuni, the World-honored One, are contained in the Five Characters: ''Myōhō Renge Kyō''. When we keep these Five Characters, we shall automatically receive the merits that the Buddha obtained by his practices.
Nichiren also writes that the daimoku has the following meanings:
1) the name of the combination of the Dharma and its simile, 2) the name of the reality of all things, 3) the name of the teaching of the One Vehicle, 4) the name of faith in the Original Buddha, and 5) the name of the supremacy of the teaching.
According to Stone, who draws on Takagi Yutaka's work, Nichiren's daimoku practice was influenced by three key elements: earlier Heian-period daimoku practices, medieval Tendai doctrine (as seen in texts like the ''Shuzenji-ketsu''), and the nembutsu tradition popularized by
Hōnen. Nichiren synthesized these influences to create a unique and exclusive practice centered on the daimoku, which became the core of his new school of Buddhism.
Nichiren gives a detailed interpretation of the daimoku in his
''Ongi kuden'' and in other works. His interpretations are influenced by the writings of
Tiantai Zhiyi.
For Nichiren, reciting the daimoku was equivalent to reciting the entire ''Lotus Sutra''. He believed that the merit and enlightenment of the Buddha would be "spontaneously transferred" to those who embraced and chanted the daimoku. This would erase their evil
karma
Karma (, from , ; ) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called ...
and allow them to attain Buddhahood in this very body.
Jacqueline Stone writes that "Nichiren stressed salvation through faith rather than through meditative insight, and this position also represents orthodoxy for the major Nichiren denominations today."
However, Nichiren also held that the practice of daimoku recitation could purify the mind and lead to insight. For example, in Becoming a Buddha in One Lifetime (Issho jobutsu sho), Nichiren writes:
Even right now, the deluded mind in a single thought-moment of ignorance is an unpolished mirror. But if one polishes it, it will surely become the bright mirror that is the true suchness of the Dharma nature. Profoundly arouse the mind of faith and day and night, morning and evening polish it without neglect. How should one polish it? Simply chanting Namu-myōhō-renge-kyō is what is called polishing.
Nichiren's ''
Kanjin honzon shō'', one of his most significant works, established the doctrinal foundation for chanting the daimoku as a practice of "mind contemplation" (觀心) suitable for the final Dharma age. In this text, Nichiren taught that the awakened Śākyamuni Buddha's accumulated practices and resulting merits are fully contained within the five characters of the daimoku, and are immediately transferred to the practitioner upon chanting. Consequently, one can achieve the merits of the six perfections without pursuing each practice individually. The ''Kanjin honzon shō'' also introduced the concept of the “great maṇḍala” (
daimandara), a calligraphic representation of the Lotus assembly inspired by esoteric iconography. Nichiren created over 120 examples of this maṇḍala, in which the daimoku is prominently inscribed down the center, flanked by the names of Śākyamuni and
Many Jewels Buddha, reflecting the scene described in the Lotus Sūtra where these Buddhas sit together in the jeweled stūpa. Nichiren taught that through faith in the Lotus Sūtra and the chanting of the daimoku, the devotee "enters" this maṇḍala, thereby participating in the enlightened reality of the primordial Buddha.
Nichiren's emphasis on daimoku as an exclusive practice paralleled (and may have been influenced by) the development of
Hōnen's exclusive ''
nembutsu
file:玉里華山寺 (21)南無阿彌陀佛古碑.jpg, 250px, Chinese Nianfo carving
The Nianfo ( zh, t=wikt:念佛, 念佛, p=niànfó, alternatively in Japanese language, Japanese ; ; or ) is a Buddhist practice central to East Asian Buddhism. ...
''. Although Tendai and other Buddhist traditions included recitation-based practices (usually based on nembutsu,
mantras or whole sutras, like the ''
Heart Sutra
The ''Heart Sūtra'', ) is a popular sutra in Mahayana, Mahāyāna Buddhism. In Sanskrit, the title ' translates as "The Heart of the Prajnaparamita, Perfection of Wisdom".
The Sutra famously states, "Form is emptiness (''śūnyatā''), em ...
'' or ''
Amitabha Sutra''), Nichiren elevated the chanting of the daimoku to an exclusive and universal method of attaining enlightenment. Nichiren claimed that the daimoku was the ''only'' method to happiness and salvation suited for the
age of Dharma decline, while other practices were useless.
[Stone, Jacqueline. “Rebuking the Enemies of the Lotus: Nichirenist Exclusivism in Historical Perspective.” ''Japanese Journal of Religious Studies'', vol. 21, no. 2/3, 1994, pp. 231–59. ''JSTOR'', http://www.jstor.org/stable/30233527. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.] As such, mixing the daimoku with other practices (as the Buddhists of the Heian period had done) was seen by Nichiren as being “like mixing rice with excrement.”
This exclusive stance has been seen as intolerant and radical by some modern scholars, but it was actually a common feature of
Kamakura Buddhism, and can be seen in
Hōnen for example.
What was unique to Nichiren however was the direct confrontational stance which he took against other sects (which was the basis for the sect's ''
shakubuku''
proselytism
Proselytism () is the policy of attempting to convert people's religious or political beliefs. Carrying out attempts to instill beliefs can be called proselytization.
Proselytism is illegal in some countries. Some draw distinctions between Chris ...
).
Within the early Nichiren community, interpretations of the daimoku practice varied, with some followers viewing it as an expression of faith, while others understood it as a meditative discipline or a means of achieving worldly benefits. His doctrine integrated elements of Tendai philosophy, esoteric Buddhism, and contemporary concerns about the age of mappō, which contributed to its wide appeal.
Analysis of the phrase
Rock carved with the daimoku, in Wake, Okayama prefecture, Japan.
''Namu'' is used in Buddhism as a prefix expressing
taking refuge in a Buddha or similar object of veneration. Among varying Nichiren sects, the phonetic use of ''Nam'' versus ''Namu'' is a linguistic but not a dogmatic issue, due to common contractions and
''u'' is devoiced in many varieties of Japanese words. In this mantra, the Japanese drop the "u" sound when chanting at a fast pace, but write "Namu", seeing as it is impossible to contract the word into 'Nam' in their native script.
''Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō'' (南無妙法蓮華經, Chinese: námó miàofǎ liánhuá jīng) consists of the following words:
* ''Namu'' "devoted to", an adaptation of
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
, the form taken in this context by the word whose citation form is , meaning: 'obeisance, reverential salutation, adoration'.
* ''Myōhō'' "exquisite law", "Sublime
Dharma
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
" (Sanskrit: ''Saddharma'')
** ''Myō'' , from
Middle Chinese
Middle Chinese (formerly known as Ancient Chinese) or the Qieyun system (QYS) is the historical variety of Chinese language, Chinese recorded in the ''Qieyun'', a rime dictionary first published in 601 and followed by several revised and expande ...
''mièw'', "strange, mystery, miracle, cleverness" (cf.
Mandarin
Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to:
Language
* Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country
** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China
** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
); which translates the Sanskrit ''Sad-'' (from ''sat''-, true, real)
** ''Hō'' , from Middle Chinese ''pjap'', "Dharma, law, principle, doctrine" (cf. Mand. )
* ''Renge-kyō'' "Lotus Flower Sutra (i.e. Lotus Sutra)"
** ''Renge'' "Dharma Flower", i.e. the White Lotus, Sanskrit: ''Pundarika''
*** ''Ren'' , from Middle Chinese ''len'', "lotus" (cf. Mand. )
*** ''Ge'' , from Middle Chinese ''xwæ'', "flower" (cf. Mand. )
** ''Kyō'' , from Middle Chinese ''kjeng'' (cf. Mand. ), Sanskrit: "
sutra
''Sutra'' ()Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or, more broadly, a ...
"
Exegesis
According to Tiantai
Zhiyi and
Nichiren
was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period. His teachings form the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, a unique branch of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism based on the '' Lotus Sutra''.
Nichiren declared that the '' Lotus Sutra ...
, each of the words of the Lotus Sutra's title has a specific meaning:
[Rhodes, Robert F. (2016)]
Tiantai Hermeneutics: Zhiyi's Interpretation of the Lotus Sutra Presented in the Miaofa lianhua jing xuanyi
In ''The Buddha's Words and Their Interpretations,'' ed. Takami Inoue and Imre Hamar, 139–153. Kyoto: The Shin Buddhist Comprehensive Research Institute, Otani University.[Kantor, Hans-Rudolf (2020)]
Tiantai Buddhist Elaborations on the Hidden and Visible
''Asiatische Studien - Études Asiatiques'', 74(4):883-910. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/asia-2019-0008.
* Myōhō (Sublime Dharma): Zhiyi's ''Profound Meaning of Lotus Sutra (Fahua Xuan-yi)'' says that the term "sublime" (miao 妙) refers to
ultimate reality itself, i.e.
Suchness, which is the perfect interfusion of the
three truths. For Zhiyi, the "sublime" teaching is all-encompassing, integrating all teachings within it, and indeed, all phenomena (
dharmas). Nichiren understands Myō to mean "opening", "revealing", "to open". He quotes the ''Lotus Sutra'' which says, "This sutra opens the door of
expedient teachings and reveals the true aspect of reality." Nichiren says this means the sutra is like the key to a great treasure storehouse (
Buddhahood
In Buddhism, Buddha (, which in classic Indo-Aryan languages, Indic languages means "awakened one") is a title for those who are Enlightenment in Buddhism, spiritually awake or enlightened, and have thus attained the Buddhist paths to liberat ...
itself). He also says it means "perfection" since it is the perfect and supreme teaching of the Buddha.
* Renge (Lotus Flower): The white lotus flower (
Nelumbo nucifera
''Nelumbo nucifera'', also known as the pink lotus, sacred lotus, Indian lotus, or simply lotus, is one of two extant taxon, extant species of aquatic plant in the Family (biology), family Nelumbonaceae. It is sometimes colloquially called a ...
) symbolically represents the supreme
Dharma
Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
. Zhiyi sees the term "lotus flower" as an
allegory
As a List of narrative techniques, literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a wikt:narrative, narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a meaning with moral or political signi ...
for the relationship between the relative
three vehicles and the ultimate
One Vehicle. Just like the flower blossom exists for the sake of the fruit, the relative teachings of the three vehicles exist only because of the One Vehicle. Similarly, the sutra's trace teaching of
skillful means exists because of its origin teaching (the Buddha's infinite lifespan). Thus, the term "lotus flower" symbolizes the entire teaching of the sutra.
* Kyō (Sutra): "
Sutra
''Sutra'' ()Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or, more broadly, a ...
" literally means "thread" (cf.
suture), and refers to all the teachings of the Buddha. Nichiren writes: "Within this single character Kyō are contained all the sutras in the entire universe. It is like the wish-granting jewel that contains within it all manner of treasures, or the vastness of space that encompasses all phenomena."
Alternative forms and practices
Daimoku in script in a monastery in India.">Devanagari script in a monastery in India.
In some
Tendai
, also known as the Tendai Dharma Flower School (天台法華宗, ''Tendai hokke shū,'' sometimes just ''Hokkeshū''), is a Mahāyāna Buddhist tradition with significant esoteric elements that was officially established in Japan in 806 by t ...
liturgy, the ''Lotus Sutra'' is praised with different phrases.
In the
Tiantai ''Manual for the Dharma Flower Samadhi Repentance'' ''Rite'' (''Fahua Sanmei Chanyi'' 法華三昧懺儀, Taisho no. 1941) composed by
Zhiyi, one finds the following homage to the sutra:
[Zhiyi]
''Manual for the Dharma Flower Samadhi Repentance'' ''Rite'' (''Fahua Sanmei Chanyi'' 法華三昧懺儀, Taisho no. 1941)
CBETA. 一心奉請: 南無大乘妙法蓮華經 (心想甚深。祕密法藏。悉現在前。受我供養)。
This homage passage (found in a group of similar passages paying homage to various Buddhas and bodhisattvas) reads: "With single-minded devotion, I respectfully entreat Homage to the Great Vehicle ''Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sūtra''." The homage (Ch: 南無大乘妙法蓮華經, pinyin: Nán mó dà chéng miào fǎ lián huá jīng, Jp. romanization: Namu Daijō Myōhō Renge Kyō) is followed by the following instructions "Visualize the profound and secret Dharma treasury fully appearing before one to receive the offerings."
This classic Tiantai Buddhist ritual emphasizes reverence, repentance, and dedication to enlightenment. Practitioners begin by recognizing the nature of all phenomena as inherently empty yet manifesting through karmic conditions. They engage in reverent
worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity or God. For many, worship is not about an emotion, it is more about a recognition of a God. An act of worship may be performed individually, in an informal or formal group, ...
, bowing to
Shakyamuni Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),*
*
*
was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist lege ...
, past and future Buddhas, and prominent bodhisattvas such as
Mañjusri
Manjushri () is a ''bodhisattva'' who represents '' prajñā'' (transcendent wisdom) of the Buddhas in Mahāyāna Buddhism. The name "Mañjuśrī" is a combination of Sanskrit word " mañju" and an honorific " śrī"; it can be literally translat ...
and
Samantabhadra. The ritual incorporates a detailed repentance process for transgressions committed through the six sensory faculties (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind), acknowledging the karmic consequences of sensory attachments. Practitioners express deep remorse, resolve to abstain from harmful actions, and dedicate their practice to the welfare of all beings. The ritual concludes with invoking the Buddhas and bodhisattvas to teach the Dharma and guide sentient beings toward liberation.
Meanwhile, a Tendai 9th century ''Hokke Senbo'' (法華懺法) contains an identical ''daimoku'' homage:
南無妙法蓮華經 (pronounced: Namo Beuhō Renga Kei)
Tendai sources also contain the alternative daimoku chant:
Namu ichijō myōhō renge kyō (Homage to the One Vehicle Sutra, the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Blossom)
Another alternative homage reads:
Namu byōdō dai e ichijō myōhō renge kyō (南無平等大會一乘妙法蓮華經)
Homage to the Great Assembly of Equality, the One Vehicle, the Wondrous Dharma Lotus Sutra.
Tendai Buddhism generally does not use this phrase as a repetitive chant, as the Daimoku is used in Nichiren Buddhism. However, there is a related practice called the ''Method for Prostrating to the Dharma Flower Sūtra'' (禮法華經儀式, Taisho no. 1944) observed today by both monastics and lay practitioners. This rite was famously practiced by the Tendai master
Ennin before his trip to China. It can be performed in three forms: long, medium, and short. The long form involves
prostrating to each character of the entire sutra, while the medium form applies this to a selected chapter. The short form, which is more commonly practiced, involves prostrating to the characters of the sūtra's title, sometimes accompanied by chanting ''Namu''. During this practice, a dedication such as "With single-minded devotion, I pay homage to the ''Wonderful Dharma Lotus Sūtra'', paying homage to the Dharma Jewel of the character ''Myō'' (妙)" is recited.
The title of the Lotus Sutra in
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
is ''Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra,'' thus a
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
reconstruction of the homage would be:
namaḥ saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtrāya
Mantra
In the ''
Kaimokushō'' ''(Liberation from Blindness),''
Nichiren
was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period. His teachings form the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, a unique branch of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism based on the '' Lotus Sutra''.
Nichiren declared that the '' Lotus Sutra ...
cites a ''Lotus Sutra''
mantra
A mantra ( ; Pali: ''mantra'') or mantram (Devanagari: मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words (most often in an Indo-Iranian language like Sanskrit or Avestan) belie ...
. According to Nichiren, this is the "mantra at the core of the ''Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra"'' which was discovered by the
vajracharya
A vajrācārya (vajra + acharya, Tibetan: རྡོ་རྗེ་སློབ་དཔོན་, ''dorje lopön'', Wyl. ''rdo rje slob dpon,'' Chinese: 金剛阿闍梨, pinyin: ''jīngāng āshélì''; rōmanji: ''kongō ajari'') (alternativel ...
Śubhakarasiṃha
Śubhakarasiṃha (637–735 CE) () was an eminent Indian Buddhist monk and translator of Esoteric Buddhist texts.
He originally studied in Nalanda monastery and later arrived in the Chinese capital Chang'an (now Xi'an) in 716 CE and trans ...
"in an iron tower of South India".
The Sanskrit mantra is as follows:
namaḥ samyaksambuddhānām
oṃ a aṁ aḥ
sarvabuddhājña-cakṣurbhyām gagana saṁsvā rakṣanī
saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtram
jā hūṃ ho vajrarakṣaman hūṁ svāhā
References in visual media
* 1947 – It was used in the 1940s in
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
to commence the
Interfaith prayer meetings of
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
, followed by verses of the ''
Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita (; ), often referred to as the Gita (), is a Hindu texts, Hindu scripture, dated to the second or first century BCE, which forms part of the Hindu epic, epic poem Mahabharata. The Gita is a synthesis of various strands of Ind ...
''.
* 1958 – The mantra also appears in the 1958 American romantic film ''
The Barbarian and the Geisha'', where it was recited by a Buddhist priest during a
cholera
Cholera () is an infection of the small intestine by some Strain (biology), strains of the Bacteria, bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea last ...
outbreak.
* 1958 – Japanese film ''
Nichiren to Mōko Daishūrai
is a 1958 Japanese drama film directed by Kunio Watanabe. This and the 1979 film ''Nichiren'' were produced by Masaichi Nagata for his devotion to Nichiren and the Nichiren-shū.Yomiuri Shimbunsha ( jp), 1978, Yomiuri Weekly ( jp), Vol. Septembe ...
'' (English: ''Nichiren and the Great Mongol Invasion'') is a 1958 Japanese film directed by Kunio Watanabe.
* 1968 – The mantra was used in the final episode of ''
The Monkees
The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...
'' to break Peter out of a trance.
* 1969 – The mantra is present in the original version of the film ''
Satyricon
The ''Satyricon'', ''Satyricon'' ''liber'' (''The Book of Satyrlike Adventures''), or ''Satyrica'', is a Latin work of fiction believed to have been written by Gaius Petronius in the late 1st century AD, though the manuscript tradition identifi ...
'' by
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini (; 20 January 1920 – 31 October 1993) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He is known for his distinctive style, which blends fantasy and baroque images with earthiness. He is recognized as one of the greatest and ...
during the grand nude jumping scene of the
patricians
The patricians (from ) were originally a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome. The distinction was highly significant in the Roman Kingdom and the early Republic, but its relevance waned after the Conflict of the Orders (494 BC to 287 B ...
.
* 1970 — The film ''
Dodes'ka-den
is a 1970 Japanese drama film directed by Akira Kurosawa. The film stars Yoshitaka Zushi, Kin Sugai, Toshiyuki Tonomura, and Shinsuke Minami. It is based on Shūgorō Yamamoto's 1962 novel ''A City Without Seasons'' and is about a group of homeles ...
'', wherein the mother of Rokuchan in the opening scene chants vigorously, and he asks for the gift of higher intelligence.
* 1973 – In
Hal Ashby
William Hal Ashby (September 2, 1929 – December 27, 1988) was an Cinema of the United States, American film Film director, director and Film editing, editor. His work exemplified the countercultural attitude of the era. He directed wide-rangi ...
's film ''
The Last Detail
''The Last Detail'' is a 1973 American comedy-drama film directed by Hal Ashby, from a screenplay by Robert Towne, based on the 1970 novel by Darryl Ponicsan. The film stars Jack Nicholson, Otis Young, Randy Quaid, Clifton James, and Caro ...
'', an American Navy prisoner, Larry Meadows (played by
Randy Quaid
Randy Randall Rudy Quaid (born October 1, 1950) is an American actor and comedian known for his roles in both serious drama and light comedy.
He was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award for his role in '' The ...
), being escorted by
shore patrol
Shore patrol (SP) are service members who are provided to aid in security for the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, United States Marine Corps, and the British Royal Navy while on shore.Cutler and Cutler, p 202 They are often tem ...
attends a
Nichiren Shoshu of America meeting where he is introduced to the mantra; the Meadows character continues to chant during the latter part of the film.
* 1979 – ''
Nichiren
was a Japanese Buddhist priest and philosopher of the Kamakura period. His teachings form the basis of Nichiren Buddhism, a unique branch of Japanese Mahayana Buddhism based on the '' Lotus Sutra''.
Nichiren declared that the '' Lotus Sutra ...
'' is a 1979 Japanese film directed by Noboru Nakamura. Produced by Masaichi Nagata and based on Matsutarō Kawaguchi's novel. The film is known for mentioning Jinshiro Kunishige as one of the martyrs persecuted, claimed to whom the
Dai Gohonzon was inscribed by Nichiren in honor of his memory.
* 1980 – In
Louis Malle
Louis Marie Malle (; 30 October 1932 – 23 November 1995) was a French film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in both French cinema and Hollywood. Described as "eclectic" and "a filmmaker difficult to pin down", Malle made document ...
's acclaimed film
''Atlantic City'',
Hollis McLaren's Chrissie, the pregnant, naive hippie sister of main character Sally (
Susan Sarandon
Susan Abigail Sarandon (; née Tomalin; born October 4, 1946) is an American actor. With a career spanning over five decades, she is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award and a British Academy Film Award, in addition to ...
) is discovered hiding, fearful and chanting the mantra after witnessing violent events.
* 1987 – The mantra is used by the underdog fraternity in the film ''
Revenge of the Nerds II'' in the fake
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people who developed in Florida in the 18th century. Today, they live in Oklahoma and Florida, and comprise three federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, ...
temple against the Alpha Betas.
* 1987 – In the film ''
Innerspace
''Innerspace'' is a 1987 American science fiction comedy film directed by Joe Dante and produced by Michael Finnell, inspired by the 1966 film ''Fantastic Voyage''. The film stars Dennis Quaid, Martin Short, Meg Ryan, Robert Picardo, and Kevin ...
'', Tuck Pendleton (played by
Dennis Quaid
Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor. He is known for his starring roles in '' Breaking Away'' (1979), '' The Right Stuff'' (1983), '' The Big Easy'' (1986), '' Innerspace'' (1987), '' Great Balls of Fire!'' (1989), ' ...
) chants this mantra repeatedly as he encourages Jack Putter to break free from his captors and charge the door of the van he is being held in.
* 1993 – American-born artist
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...
through her autobiographical film ''
What's Love Got To Do With It'' details her conversion to
Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism in 1973. In a scene, after an attempted suicide, Turner begins to chant this mantra and turns her life around.
* 1993 – In the December 9, 1993 episode of ''
The Simpsons
''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...
'' entitled "
The Last Temptation of Homer",
Homer Simpson
Homer Jay Simpson is the main protagonist of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons'' who is part of the titular family. Homer made his television debut in the short " Good Night" on '' The Tracey Ullman Show'' on April 19, ...
attempts to read notes he had written on his hand to guide him during an awkward conversation with a colleague, but the notes have become smeared because of sweat. In his attempt to recite his notes, Homer unknowingly babbles the chant.
*2019 – The documentary film, ''
Buster Williams, From Bass to Infinity'', directed by Adam Kahan. Jazz bassist
Buster Williams
Charles Anthony "Buster" Williams (born April 17, 1942) is an American jazz bassist. Williams is known for his membership in pianist Herbie Hancock's early 1970s group, as well as working with guitarist Larry Coryell, the Thelonious Monk reperto ...
is a Buddhist practitioner and chants with his wife during the film.
*2021 – The documentary film, ''
Baggio: The Divine Ponytail'', shows the football player
Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio (; born 18 February 1967) is an Italian former professional footballer who mainly played as a second striker, or as an attacking midfielder, although he was capable of playing in several offensive positions. He is the former pr ...
meditating for recovery. He chants the mantra while meditating.
Associations in music
The words appear in songs including:
* "Welcome Back Home" –
The Byrds
The Byrds () were an American Rock music, rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1964. The band underwent multiple lineup changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn (known as Jim McGuinn until mid-1967) being the so ...
* "Nam Myo Renge Kyo" –
Music Emporium
* "Let Go and Let God" –
Olivia Newton-John
Dame Olivia Newton-John (26 September 1948 – 8 August 2022) was a British and Australian singer and actress. With over 100 million records sold, Newton-John was one of the List of best-selling music artists#100 million to 119 million record ...
* "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" –
Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono (, usually spelled in katakana as ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking.
Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York ...
* "
Boots of Chinese Plastic" –
The Pretenders
The Pretenders are a British rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (ba ...
* "
Concentrate
A concentrate is a form of Chemical substance, substance that has had the majority of its diluting agent or diluent (in the case of a liquid: the solvent) removed, such that the substance becomes the majority of the composition. Typically, this w ...
" –
Xzibit
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), better known by his stage name Xzibit (pronounced "''exhibit''), is an American rapper, actor, television presenter, radio personality, and record executive. He began his musical career in 1992, ...
* "
B R Right
"B R Right" is a song by American rapper Trina, released to rhythmic and urban contemporary radio on December 8, 2002 as the second and final single from her second studio album, '' Diamond Princess'' (2002). It features guest vocals from America ...
" –
Trina
Katrina Laverne Kearse (née Taylor; born December 3, 1974), is an American rapper. She rose to prominence in the late 1990s for her collaborations with Trick Daddy on the singles " Nann Nigga", " Shut Up", and " Take It to da House". In 2000, ...
(2002)
* "Beyond" –
Tina Turner
Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; November 26, 1939 – May 24, 2023) was a singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Rock 'n' Roll", her vocal prowess, raspy voice, and electrifyin ...
(2015)
* "
Cleopatra
Cleopatra VII Thea Philopator (; The name Cleopatra is pronounced , or sometimes in both British and American English, see and respectively. Her name was pronounced in the Greek dialect of Egypt (see Koine Greek phonology). She was ...
" –
Samira Efendi
Samira Azer gizi Efendiyeva (; born 17 April 1991), known as Samira Efendi or Efendi, is an Azerbaijani singer. She Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, represented Azerbaijan in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Mata Ha ...
(2020)
* "They Say" –
Conner Reeves (1997)
* "Creole Lady" –
Jon Lucien
Lucien Leopold Harrigan (January 8, 1942 – August 18, 2007), known professionally as Jon Lucien, was a singer from Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
Life and career
Born in Tortola in 1942, Lucien was raised in St. Thomas. His parents we ...
(1975)
* "Nam Myo Ho" –
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or approximately 20% of the water area of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia (continent), ...
(2003)
* "
No More Parties in L.A.
"No More Parties in LA" (often stylized as "No More Parties in L.A.") is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his seventh studio album, ''The Life of Pablo'' (2016), featuring vocals from fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was produced by Wes ...
" –
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer and record producer. One of the most prominent figures in hip-hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After ...
(2016)
* "The Chant" – Lighthouse (1970)
* "Spend a Little Doe" –
Lil Kim (1996)
* "Sha" –
Ugly (UK) (2022)
* "Hey Free Thinker" –
Voice Farm (1991)
* "Do Things My Way" -
Styx
In Greek mythology, Styx (; ; lit. "Shuddering"), also called the River Styx, is a goddess and one of the rivers of the Greek Underworld. Her parents were the Titans Oceanus and Tethys, and she was the wife of the Titan Pallas and the moth ...
(2003)
See also
*
Nembutsu
file:玉里華山寺 (21)南無阿彌陀佛古碑.jpg, 250px, Chinese Nianfo carving
The Nianfo ( zh, t=wikt:念佛, 念佛, p=niànfó, alternatively in Japanese language, Japanese ; ; or ) is a Buddhist practice central to East Asian Buddhism. ...
*
Mantra of Light
file:World's Largest Gold & Jade Buddha, Nanshan Guanyin Park (10098528223).jpg, A statue of Avalokiteśvara, Amoghapāśa Lokeśvara at Nanshan Island, Nanshan, China.
The Mantra of Light, alternatively (光明真言, pinyin: ''guāngmíng zhēny ...
*
Om mani padme hum
' (, ) is the six-syllabled Sanskrit mantra particularly associated with the four-armed Shadakshari form of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. It first appeared in the Mahayana ''Kāraṇḍavyūha sūtra'', where it is also referr ...
* ''
Kotodama''
Notes
References
Sources
*
*
*
*
*
Further reading
* Causton, Richard: ''The Buddha in Daily Life, An Introduction of Nichiren Buddhism'', Rider London 1995; .
* Hochswender, Woody: ''The Buddha in Your Mirror: Practical Buddhism and the Search for Self'', Middleway Press 2001; .
* Montgomery, Daniel B.: ''Fire in the Lotus, The Dynamic Buddhism of Nichiren, Mandala'' 1991; .
* Payne, Richard, K. (ed.): ''Re-Visioning Kamakura Buddhism'', University of Hawaii Press Honolulu 1998; .
* Stone, Jacqueline, I.
"Chanting the August Title of the Lotus Sutra: Daimoku Practices in Classical and Medieval Japan" In: Payne, Richard, K. (ed.); ''Re-Visioning Kamakura Buddhism'', University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu 1998, pp. 116–166. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō
Buddhist devotion
Buddhist mantras
Nichiren Buddhism