Chapter 4 : The Founding and Development of the Soka Gakkai

The Series of the Seven Bells

The concept of ‘The Seven Bells’ was proposed by Daisaku Ikeda during the eighteenth General Headquarter Leaders meeting on 3 May 3 1958 as goals to achieve during successive seven-year periods, starting from the establishment of the Soka Gakkai in 1930.

These seven bells represent, at one and the same time, the advancement and the projection in the future of the development of kosen-rufu. From its founding, during each of The Seven Bells, the Soka Gakkai had always achieved a major advance.  In short, the ‘Seven Bells’ are:

‘First bell’ (1930-1937): from a reformation of education to a religious revolution

‘Second bell’ (1938-1944): fight against the Japanese militarist government

‘Third bell’ (1945-1951): reconstruction of the Soka Gakkai

‘Fourth bell’ (1952-1958): conversion of 750,000 membership households

‘Fifth bell’ (1959-1965): conversion of 3 million membership households

‘Sixth bell’ (1966-1972): construction and inauguration of the Sho-Hondo

‘Seventh bell’ (1973-1979): strengthening of the foundations for kosen-rufu

At the fifty-second Headquarter Leader meeting in Japan, held on 14 December 2001, President Ikeda shared his vision of kosen-rufu up until the 23rd century, describing it in terms of six series of Seven Bells:

As you know, the Soka Gakkai has progressed according to a program of seven periods of seven years. Seven corresponds with the seven syllables of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. The first series of Seven Bells covered the period from 1930 till 1979.

Now, on the occasion of the commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of the creation of the Soka Gakkai, begins the second series of Seven Bells that will carry on from 2001 till 2050.

On 17 May 1997, on the occasion of a meeting with Kansai leaders, I developed with them a long term vision including the 21st and 22nd centuries, and even the 23rd century. I mentioned that I wished the establishment of the foundations of a world peace, especially in Asia, during the first fifty years of the 21st century, that correspond to the second series of Seven Bells. Faithful to my words, I prayed and began to work. My recent visit in Asian countries marks the first step related to this project in the 21st century. In the second half of the 21st century, that is relative to the third series of Seven Bells, I wish to establish the philosophy of human dignity, as the spirit for this period in the entire world.

Then, in the first half of the 22nd century, that is to say is the fourth period of Seven Bells, I wish that the construction of an indestructible basis for a lasting peace takes place. From that point onwards, in the second half of the 22nd century (fifth period of Seven Bells), I feel that a humanistic culture will blossom.

Then, we will move forward towards the sixth and seven series of Seven Bells. If the evolution that I have described above is respected, we may think that in the 23rd century - when will be celebrated the thousandth birth anniversary of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism (in 2253) - will begin a new phase of development.