The Curriculum of Nichiren Seminaries in the Early Modern Period

Abstract

This paper considers the curriculum to be studied concerning Nichiren’s 日蓮 teachings in the seminaries (danrin 檀林) of the Nichiren sect. Each sect of Japanese Buddhism made a curriculum to be studied in its seminaries. The curriculum of the Nichiren religious community focused on mastering Tendai doctrine. Nichiren’s teachings were left for last and for self-study. The reason that study of Nichiren doctrine was put off is that first that in order to understand Nichiren one must study Tendai doctrine, but also that Nichiren’s teachings and community were under official pressure at that time. Therefore, Tendai teachings were emphasized in the curriculum.