Railway
The Buddhist teachings of Nichiren Daishonin, based on the Lotus Sutra, began in:
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ā¾Hide ā“
Answer: Option B ā Japan
Detailed Solution
Nichiren Buddhism was founded by the Japanese monk Nichiren Daishonin in the 13th century in Japan.
About Nichiren:
- He was born in 1222 and died in 1282.
- He was a Buddhist monk who studied various schools of Buddhism in Japan.
- He came to believe that the "Lotus Sutra" (Saddharma Pundarika Sutra), an important Mahayana text, contained the highest and complete teaching of the Buddha.
- In 1253, he began to teach that chanting the phrase "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo" (devotion to the Lotus Sutra) was the way to enlightenment for all people in their present lives.
- He criticised other Buddhist schools and the government of his time, and was exiled twice.
- He believed that the spread of the Lotus Sutra would bring peace to the nation.
Nichiren Buddhism today:
- It has many branches, such as Nichiren Shu and Nichiren Shoshu.
- "Soka Gakkai International" (SGI), a lay Buddhist movement based on Nichiren's teachings, has millions of members in many countries, including India.
The Lotus Sutra:
- It is one of the most influential Mahayana texts, originally composed in India (probably in Sanskrit, around the 1st century CE).
- It teaches that all beings can attain Buddhahood, and that the Buddha uses "skilful means" to teach people according to their capacity.
- It was translated into Chinese by Kumarajiva in the 5th century.
Buddhism in Japan:
- Buddhism reached Japan from Korea in the 6th century CE.
- Major schools include Tendai, Shingon, Pure Land (Jodo), Zen and Nichiren.
- Zen Buddhism stresses meditation (zazen).
Why not the other options?
- āChina developed Chan (Zen) and Pure Land Buddhism.
- āTibet developed Vajrayana Buddhism.
- āSri Lanka follows Theravada Buddhism.
Quick tip
Remember: Nichiren Buddhism = Japan (13th century; Lotus Sutra; chant "Nam-myoho-renge-kyo"; Soka Gakkai); Lotus Sutra translated into Chinese by Kumarajiva.
š¬ Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt āŗStill stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students ā answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Buddhism & Jainism Questions
View all āŗMore General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
Buddhism & Jainism ā Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Buddhism & Jainism, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Buddhism and Jainism arose in the 6th century BCE as reform movements. This topic covers the lives and teachings of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, the Jain tirthankaras, the Buddhist councils, the sects of both religions, their sacred texts and the places linked to them. Common questions cover the four great events of the Buddha's life and their places (birth at Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, death at Kushinagar), the four Buddhist councils with their kings and venues, and the Jain sects Digambara and Shvetambara. Learning the councils as a table of place, king and president is the fastest way to revise. Practise the Buddhism and Jainism questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.