Tanaka Chigaku

Tanaka Chigaku (1861–1939)

Tanaka Chigaku was a significant figure in modern Japanese Buddhism, renowned as a scholar, orator, and writer. He is primarily recognized as the father of Nichirenism, a potent ideology that fused Nichiren Buddhism with fervent Japanese nationalism. Tanaka's teachings emphasized a vision of global unification centered around the Japanese emperor and the principles of Nichiren Buddhism, a perspective that profoundly influenced ultranationalist movements and figures in Japan.

Early Life and Religious Development

Born Tada Tomonosuke in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) on December 14, 1861, Tanaka was the son of a physician. Following the death of his parents in 1870, he was placed under the care of Rev. Kawase Nichiren and later became a novice. He pursued his studies at the Daikyo-in, the precursor to Rissho University, where he adopted the scholarly sobriquet "Chigaku," meaning "Wisdom and Learning." However, he grew disillusioned with the perceived passivity of the established Nichiren sect, leading him to abandon the priesthood in 1879 to become a lay preacher.

Forging Nichirenism

Tanaka honed his public speaking and doctrinal development within the lay organization Nichirenkai. He formulated his distinct, uncompromising interpretation of Nichiren Buddhism, which he termed "Nichirenism." By the 1890s, his philosophy increasingly embraced nationalistic sentiments. He began concluding his works with salutations to both the Lotus Sutra and the eternal Japanese Empire. During this period, he conducted extensive lecture tours across Japan and established the Rissho Ankokukai study group from his base in Kamakura. He was a vocal opponent of Christianity and celebrated Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War, viewing it as a divine mandate for the Japanese people.

Ideology and Influence

In 1908, Tanaka relocated to Miho, Shizuoka Prefecture, where he penned "The Doctrine of Saint Nichiren" in 1911. This seminal work cast Nichiren as a champion of the Japanese nation and articulated a vision of world unification under Nichirenism, with the emperor as its central figure. He consolidated his followers into the Kokuchūkai (National Pillar Society) in 1914. Tanaka continued his lecturing until illness limited his activities in the late 1930s, traveling extensively throughout Japan and its occupied territories, including Manchukuo, where he met with Puyi. His nationalist convictions deepened with age, viewing Japan's actions in Manchuria as divinely ordained. He also held anti-Semitic views, believing Jews were orchestrating global unrest. Beyond his political and religious teachings, Tanaka was a poet and dramatist with a keen interest in Japanese theatrical arts.

Legacy

Tanaka Chigaku died on November 17, 1939, and is buried in the Myoshu Mausoleum in Tokyo. His son, Dr. Satomi Kishio, succeeded him in leading the organization. In the postwar era, Tanaka faced denunciation from academics who labeled him a fascist due to his ideology's connections with prominent ultranationalists, although his son remained a staunch defender of his father's legacy.