Editing Nichiren Buddhism (section)

==== As a form of nationalism ====
{{See also|Nichirenism}}
Both Nichiren and his followers have been associated with fervent [[Japanese nationalism]] specifically identified as [[Nichirenism]] between the [[Meiji period]] and the conclusion of [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/2682|title=Revisiting Nichiren; Ruben L. F. Habito and Jacqueline I. Stone|access-date=28 January 2014|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202120830/http://nirc.nanzan-u.ac.jp/nfile/2682|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=kodera>{{cite journal|last=Kodera|first=Takashi James|title=Nichiren and His Nationalistic Eschatology|journal=Religious Studies|date=March 1979|volume=15|issue=1|pages=41–53|doi=10.1017/s0034412500011057|jstor=20005538|s2cid=170854567 }}</ref> The nationalistic interpretation of Nichiren's teachings were inspired by lay Buddhist movements like [[Kokuchūkai]] and resulted in violent historical events such as the [[May 15 Incident]] and the [[League of Blood Incident]].<ref>Tanaka Chigaku: What is Nippon Kokutai? Introduction to Nipponese National Principles. Shishio Bunka, Tokyo 1935–36</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalbuddhism.org/2/victoria011.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531021739/http://www.globalbuddhism.org/2/victoria011.html|url-status=dead|title=Brian Daizen Victoria, Senior Lecturer Centre for Asian Studies, University of Adelaide, ''Engaged Buddhism: A Skeleton in the Closet?''|archive-date=31 May 2013}}</ref><ref>Pokorny, Lukas (2011).[https://web.archive.org/web/20131214064924/https://www.abdn.ac.uk/staffpages/uploads/dhp028/Neue_religiose_Bewegungen_in_Japan_heute_-_Ein_Uberblick_Lukas_Pokorny.pdf Neue religiöse Bewegungen in Japan heute: ein Überblick] [New Religious Movements in Japan Today: a Survey]. In: Hödl, Hans Gerald and Veronika Futterknecht, ed. Religionen nach der Säkularisierung. Festschrift für Johann Figl zum 65. Geburtstag, Wien: LIT, p. 187</ref> Among the key proponents of this interpretation are [[Tanaka Chigaku|Chigaku Tanaka]] who founded the [[Kokuchūkai]] (English: Nation's Pillar Society). Tanaka was charismatic and through his writings and lecturers attracted many followers such as [[Kanji Ishiwara]].<ref name=Habito1999/>{{rp|427–428}} Nisshō Honda advocated the unification of Japanese Buddhists to support the imperial state.<ref name=Habito1999/>{{rp|428}}<ref name=Covell2006>{{Cite book|title=Buddhism in world cultures : comparative perspectives|date=2006|publisher=ABC-CLIO|first=Stephen G |last=Covell |chapter=8: Buddhism in Japan, The creation of traditions |others=Berkwitz, Stephen C., 1969– |isbn=9781851097821|location=Santa Barbara|oclc=70136919}}</ref>{{rp|230}} Other ultra-nationalist activists who based their ideas on Nichiren were [[Ikki Kita]] and [[Nisshō Inoue]].<ref name=Habito1999/>{{rp|429}}