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Sōka Gakkai 創価学会
Periodization (according to Takagi
Hirō)
1. 19th/early 20th century: „Meiji-revolution“
2. Taishō (1912-1926) and early Shōwa-era
3. After 1945: Postwar period
4. from the 70ties onwards: shin-shinshūkyō
新新宗教
5. After 1995
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2nd period
Taishō (1912-1926) and early Shōwa (1926-
1989)-era:
• Nationalism and Militarism
• Urbanization and beginning of
industrialization
• Origin in towns
• More Buddhist-based groups
• Persecutions
History of Sōka Gakkai
• Origins in 13th century:
• Based on the teachings of Nichiren and
his stress on the importance of the Lotussutra
(= Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra =
Miao falian huajing 妙法蓮華經 = jap.
Myōhō renge kyō)
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Importance of Lotus-sutra
• Compiled in India 1st/2nd century
• Presenting supreme Truth, revealed by the
Buddha himself
• „Easy way“ of deliverance and
emancipation
• Important since beginning of Buddhism in
Japan: Shōtoku Taishi (6th century),
Saichō (9th century)
Nichiren (1222-1282)
• Daimoku 題目:
recitation of namu
myōhō renge-kyō 南
無妙法蓮華經
• Millenial teachings:
„End of Dharma“
(mappō 末法)
• Nationalistic aspect
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go-honzon 御本尊
Myohon-ji in Kamakura
Lotus-sutra based New religions
• Honmon Butsuryūshū 本門佛立宗, founded 1857
by Nagamatsu Nissen
• Reiyūkai 霊友会, founded 1925 by Kubo
Kakuarō and Kotani Kimi, with important offshots
(like Risshōkōseikai 立正佼成会)
• Nichiren Shōshū 日蓮正宗, said to be in the
tradition of Nikkō (1246-1333), since 1912
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Taiseki-ji 大石寺 at Mt. Fuji
Makiguchi Tsunesaburō 牧口 常
三郎 (1871-1944)
• Sōka Kyōiku Gakkai
[Value Creation
Education Society]
• Sōka Kyōikugaku
Taikei as the basis of
the teachings (first
volume: 1930 =
“foundation” of Sōka
Gakkai)
• Inaugural meeting in
1937
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• Initial aims:
reform of the educational system based on the
values of bi (beauty), ri (gain), and zen
(goodness)
• “Religious turn”:
by the late 1930s Sōka Kyōiku Gakkai a Nichiren
religious ko [lay study organization].
Toda Jōsei 戸田城聖 (1900-1958)
• Friend and student of
Makiguchi
• „daimoku-experience“
in prison 1943
• Closer relationship
with Nichiren Shōshū
• shakubuku 折伏
(„break and subdue“)
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Ikeda Daisaku 池田 大作 (1928-)
• Leader after Toda‘s
death 1958
• moderated radicalism
(esp. Shakubuku-
techniques)
• Emphasis on Peace
work, education, art,
culture
• Break with Nichiren
Shōshū 日蓮正宗 1991
Political involvement
• 1955: Tokyo prefectural
assembly
• 1964 Kōmeitō 公明党
• 1970 formal separation from
Sōka Gakkai
• 1993 in ruling coalition
• 1998 New Kōmeitō
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Main beliefs
Main Beliefs:
• The Lotussutra embodies a human’s only
escape from the sufferings of this world
• the daimoku: the chanting of namu Myōhō
renge kyō
• the importance of the (dai)gohonzon