RELIGIOUS FIGURE

Nichiren

1222 - 1282

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Nichiren (日蓮; Japanese pronunciation: [ɲi.tɕiꜜ.ɾeɴ, ɲiꜜ.tɕi.ɾeɴ], 6 April 1222 – 13 October 1282) was a Japanese Buddhist monk 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: 77 : 1  declared that the Lotus Sutra alone contains the highest truth of Buddhism and that it is the only sutra suited for the Age of Dharma Decline. He insisted that the sovereign of Japan and its people should support only this form of Buddhism and eradicate all others, or they would face social collapse and environmental disasters. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Nichiren is the 608th most popular religious figure (down from 596th in 2019), the 74th most popular biography from Japan (up from 79th in 2019) and the 4th most popular Japanese Religious Figure.

Nichiren is most famous for his belief that only chanting the daimoku, or "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" can lead to enlightenment. He also believed that the Lotus Sutra was the only scripture that could lead to enlightenment.

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Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES

Among religious figures, Nichiren ranks 608 out of 3,187. Before him are Beatrice Portinari, Kevin Farrell, Camillus de Lellis, Rashi, Sister Lúcia, and Bruno of Cologne. After him are Pancras of Rome, Mus‘ab ibn 'Umair, Saint Giles, Eli, Saint Casimir, and Tamar.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1222, Nichiren ranks 1. After him are Qalawun, Andrey II of Vladimir, and Henry III the White. Among people deceased in 1282, Nichiren ranks 4. Before him are Michael VIII Palaiologos, Abaqa Khan, and Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. After him are Agnes of Bohemia, Mengu-Timur, Ibn Khallikan, Traidenis, George Akropolites, Margaret Sambiria, and Mechthild of Magdeburg.

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In Japan

Among people born in Japan, Nichiren ranks 74 out of 6,245. Before him are Isamu Akasaki (1929), Shin'ichirō Tomonaga (1906), Tadao Ando (1941), Soichiro Honda (1906), Chūichi Nagumo (1887), and Kenzō Tange (1913). After him are Tomoe Gozen (1157), Emperor Annei (-577), Kazuo Ishiguro (1954), Shirō Ishii (1892), Sei Shōnagon (966), and Emperor Momozono (1741).

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Among RELIGIOUS FIGURES In Japan

Among religious figures born in Japan, Nichiren ranks 4. Before him are Kane Tanaka (1903), Paulo Miki (1564), and Dōgen (1200). After him are Empress Meishō (1624), Benkei (1155), Abe no Seimei (921), Sen no Rikyū (1522), Mikao Usui (1865), Yamamoto Tsunetomo (1659), Ikkyū (1394), and Eisai (1141).

Japanese born Religious Figures

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