The Daimoku Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo Back to Home

Kyo is Ching (pronounced "ying" in Chinese). It means "teaching." It is composed of I (Jp. ichi), ch'uan, t'ing, and mi. 

Starting on the right going down:  
 

Ichi	Ichi is a single horizontal line, the first character in Chinese. It is unity, the source of all things, the number one. It shows relationships within characters.
Ch'uan	Ch'uan is three waves — a river formed by smaller streams.
Ichi and   Ch'uan	Ichi and Ch'uan combine to make the sound/image Ching2. The river (Ch'uan) flows underground (ichi). It means underground waterways, veins, and blood vessels.
T'ing	The t'ing in ching is contracted and looks like the character kung. Kung is a sideways "H". It is the square. In Chinese thinking the square gives shape to all things.  T'ing is three horizontal lines connected by a central vertical line. T'ing is a person standing on the ground.
Ching3	Ching2 combines with t'ing who stands on the ground, observing water flowing underground (ching3).
Mi	On the left is mi. Mi is a strong thread spun from thinner threads. By extension it means volumes of teachings.

T'ing (a person standing on the ground) observes the source of things (ichi) and where they flow (ch'uan). The deeper the source (ichi) the longer the river (ch'uan). The source (ichi) of Myoho-renge-kyo is infinite and always present. 

T'ing observes the surface (ichi) and the movement (ch'uan) under the surface.  Flowing water (ch'uan) changes but is singular (ichi).  It is the lifeblood (ching2) of all Buddhas. 

Ching (fifth Buddha of the Lotus Sutra) is the Buddha of everpresent eternity. All phenomena are teachings (Ching). 
 

Once in a lifetime Water flowing underground As stars go by Water flowing underground Same as it everwas Same as it everwas —The Talking Heads

"Once you realize that your own life is the Mystic Law, you will realize that so are the lives of all others.  That realization is the mystic kyo..."