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Information to Users INFORMATION TO USERS This muscript has been repcoduœd 1i#n the miciolilrn mater. UMI films the text dire* fmm the origil or copy suknittdd. Thur, wme thesis and disseits(ion copies am in typmwiter bat, whik dfmm may b6 from any type of cornputer printer. th. quallty of thir reproduction k depenâont upon th. quility of the copy submitted. Bmkm or indistinct print, cdored or poor quality ilIusttatio(~s and photograplis, print bkied(hmgh, substandaid margins, and impv alignment can adwmly Mec! reprodudion. In the unlikely event lhat the author did not send UMI a complete manusaipt and lhere are missino pages. thece will be noteû. Also, if unauthoioed copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicab the deleüon. Ovenize materials (e.~., maps, drawings, cham) are reproduced by sectiming the original, begiming at the upper M-hand corner and tontinuing from kft to right in equal with small overlaps. 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Bell & HOWdl Information and Lemming DOMINATING TRADITION: SOKA GAKKAI AND THE CREATION OF HISTORY Levi McLaughlin A thesis subrnitted in codormity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Graduate Department of East Man Studies University of Toronto @ Copyright by Levi McLaughün 1998 National Library Bibliothèque nationale I*R .canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington OItawaûN K1AON4 OitawaON KtAW canada canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sel1 reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in rnicrofom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/filrn, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or othenivise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. DOMINATING TRADITION: KA GAKKAI AND THE CREATION OF HISTORY Master of Arts, 1998 Graduate Department of East Asian Studies University of Toronto Abstract of Thesis Since the foundation of the Sôka Gakkai, its history and tradition have been rewritten by its second and third presidents, Toda Josei and Ikeda Daisaku. This historical revision has aiso included the rewriting of the history of Nichiren Shoshii, the Buddhist group fiom which the Saka Gakkai originated. In doing so, they have defined a world-view for millions of S6ka Gakkai adherents. This study addresses the reesons why these leaders defined and redefined their tradition, and the effect constant redefinition of key concepts and beliefs within the S6ka Gakkai has had on the organization and its membership. This will iliustrate the Soka Oakkai tradition as one of justification of new reiigious activity as sanctioned by tradition, and rationalization of the personal power of the postwar presidents in relation to the ümage fiom which it claims to be derived. ACKNOWLEDCEMENTS My deepest appreciation goes to the faculty of the Department of East Asian Studies at the University of Toronto, for teaching me the skills of language and scholarship needed for this endeavour. I would like to especially thank Professor Neil McMullin for sending me in directions that I would have never drearned of, and convincing me through word and example ofthe value of academia. This is aiso dedicated ta Lauren Markley, and to my farnily, who suffered through endless hwrs of revisions, and my ftequent bouts of hstration and deranged behaviour. TABLE OF CONTENTS Bibliography aeaeaaamaaeoomaaaeaooeommoo~omo~oeommmaaoooaaoooaaoaoaamoeaeaeaeoae 50 DOMINATING TRADITION: SOKA GAKKAl AND THE CREATION OF HISTORY PRECIS AND TEXT OF THESIS Since the foundation of the Soka Gakkai & .fiii 92, its history and tradition have ken rewritten and refomatted to fit with the perceived reality of those writing it. That rewriting and rationalizing has generally been undertaken by the presidents of S5ka Gakkai who succeeded the founder Makiguchi TsunesaburÔ@ Pfi Ba6 ,namely Toda Josei P E3 kéi 92 ,and Ikeda Daisaku j'& H Jr . Both of these leaders have rewritten history, not ody that of the Sbka Gakkai, but of Nichken ShdshB E3 SiEs ,the Buddhist group âom which Sbka Gakkai originates, as well as the entirety of Buddhism. In doing so, they have succeeded in defining a world-view for millions of SÔka Gakkai adherents. This study addresses several issues in relation to this point. First, the reasons why the S5ka Gakkai leaders found it necessary to define and redefine their tradition, vis-&vis their predecesson within the movement itself, as well as in reiation to the older Buddhist tradition. Second, the matter of the motivations for rewriting history to fit with their perceived reality. Third, the role of the S6ka Gakkai in that exercise, and fourth, the effect this had on membm, as well as the perception of the movement by non-members. This study examines prirnary texhial evidence fiom S5ka Gakkai sources, as well as secondary scholarly sources, that show how the S5ka ûakkai tradition and history has been transformed and manipulated under the presidencies of Toda and Ikeda. The inquiry will begin with an examination of a major aspect of the SÔka Galdrni tradition; that of shaikubuku )fi# , (hg., ''forced conversion"). An examination of the di&nnt ways in which this activity has been defined by SÔka Gakkai authorities will provide insights into the history of the tradition. This has bmi a tradition of justification and rationalkation; justification of new teligious activity as sanctioned by tradition, and rationalization of the personal power of the postwar presidents in relation to the Eneage fiom which it claims to be derivecl. Once again. the prisor? cell was no more. Tarlafmirrd hirnserfprt of a multitude gatkred to panicijmte in the Ceremony in the Air. in which the Buddha inpared to the world the teachirigs of the Lotcrs Suira. The ceremony tmk place in the reaim of the etedBuabBa, he heiIingpkace of of/-peryqsjveuniversa/ lif . ïhe number of the mdtitude taiting pan egualed the dof coarntless thous411dsof Ganges rivers. In the midd of the throng stooda reqdernient gohlen Lb-Goho~~n.And Tarb was thure. Ikeda Daisalni, w~uman- Vol. II, p. 138. This is a passage from the biography of Toda JoseiP Ha!& ( 1900-1958), the second president of SoX Gakkai fliJ@qs,and the leader responsible for transforming the organization fiom a srnail collective concemed with educational refonn into lapan's largest and fastest growing post-war religious movement. wevCiluti90,written by the current president of Sbka Galdrai, ilceda Daisaku H Afi(1928 - ), is a multi-volume historical novel that describes the growth of the movement fiom the immediate pst-war period up to the death of Toda in 1958. ev-, as well as other works written by Sbka Gakkai presidents, is not simply a work of historical fiction. It serves a speafic function, one that wiiî be the central conceni of this paper. Through writing this book, Ikeda Daisaku has created history. The book estabüshes his immediate predecessors as holders of sacred wisdom, and thediore effectively justifies himself as leader of a spirituai community. Through the course of the book, Ikeda desit clear that he is the exclusive chosen successot to the mlightcncd nile of bis teacher and mentor, Toda Josei. Simply put, Ikeda created a history that serveci bis ndsas suprane authority in the Soka M. This is not a surprising phenornenon. Indeed, mitm versions of the past that substantiate claims ofauthority is a phenomenon that can no doubt be identifid in ail religious traditions. Within the context of this study, howevcr, it is a pattern that is easity identifiecl in the writings of the S5ka Gakicai leadership, and before thin the tradition of Nichiren ShÔshÜ, fiom which Sbka Gakkai is derived. This analysis of the creation of Soka Gakkai history will involve examination of textual evidence that illustrates the manner in which the difFerent leaders of Saka Gakkai have defined the movement, and will be focused around several central questions: First, there is the question of the manner in which the three Sbka Gakkai president s create their own tradition. Focusing specifically on the second and third presidents, Toda and Ikeda, this will entail an analysis of how each has written a dEerent version of religious history. This was accomplished through the creation of new texts, the rewriting and editing of previously written work, and the quieting of past works that do not conform to new versions of the tradition. This Mvednot only constant revision of traditions and practices that define S6ka Gakkai, but also rewriting the lineage and history ofNichken ShWÜ B SES,and with it the entirety of Buddhism. Another question with regard to the way in which history was rewritten is the rnanner in which S6ka Ga& has been presented differently during the presidencies of Makiguchi Tsunesaburo lS[ Li %3d[( ( 1871- WM, the revered founder), Toda and Ikeda. SGka Gakkai has been a very different organization under each of these figures. There will be a detailed examination of the ways in which Slka Gakkai was uniquely altered by each leader. This inquiry will begin with an examination of a single word, shhbuikrc KfR(Eng. "forced conversion"), which has been of great concem to SGka Gakkai shce its reformation after the second World War.
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