Kempon Hokke
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
No issues specified. Please specify issues, or remove this template. |
Kempon Hokke-shū (顕本法華宗) is a branch of Nichiren Buddhism based on the teachings of 13th Century Japanese monk, Nichiren. Kempon Hokke was founded by Nichijū in 1384. In Japan it has a membership of about 100,000 households[citation needed].
Overview
Kempon Hokke is a school of Mahayana Buddhism with its head temple, Myomanji, located in Kyoto.[1] Kempon Hokke has several lay members overseas. The international branch of Kempon Hokke Shu is headed by Rev. Sinyou Tsuchiya.
Beliefs and Practice
Much of Kempon Hokke's underlying teachings are extensions of Tendai (天台, Cn: Tiantai) thought. They include much of its worldview and its rationale for criticism of Buddhist schools that do not acknowledge the Lotus Sutra to be Buddhism's highest teaching, as stated by Buddha Shakyamuni. For example, Kempon Hokke doctrine extends Tendai's classification of the Buddhist sutras into five time periods and eight categories (五時八教, goji-hakkyō), its theory of 3,000 interpenetrating realms within a single life-moment (一念三千, Ichinen Sanzen), and its view of the Three Truths (三諦, Santai).
Kempon Hokke teach that to be a disciple of Nichiren, one must:
- Chant Namu Myoho Renge Kyo to the Object of Devotion of the Three Great Secret Laws (Gohonzon)
- Believe exclusively in The Lotus Sutra
- Believe exclusively in Shakyamuni Buddha of the 16th Chapter of the Lotus Sutra
- Tell others to do the same
- Base one's conversion practices on Nichiren's writing, the 'Rissho Ankoku Ron' (On Establishing The Correct Teaching for the Peace of The Land)
Kempon Hokke members chant parts of the Lotus Sutra, as well as the Daimoku, Namu-myoho-renge-kyo, which is their primary practice. Kempon Hokke claim to practice Shakubuku towards non-believers, and Shoju towards believers.
History
The Kempon Hokke School [literally, The Lotus Sutra Revealing The Original Buddha School] was founded in 1384 by Nichijū. Nichiren had died one hundred years earlier, but Nichiren’s religious writings inspired Nichijū to leave the Tendai sect to learn more about Nichiren by visiting the various Nichiren temples. Nichijū believed that these temples had already drifted away from Nichiren's spirit and teachings and founded his own temple, Myoman-ji. In 1898, Myomanji-ha became Kempon Hokke Shu and Honda Nissho (1867–1931) was appointed head administrator.
