The Kalpa of Decrease is a period of cosmic change in which the individual life span decreases from 80,000 years to ten and human beings degenerate. The cause of this decrease in life span and degeneration of human life lies in the mind of human beings. Namely, as the three evil passions of human beings — greed, anger, and ignorance — grow rampant, the life span of human beings gradually decreases, and their height is diminished.
Before the transmission of Buddhism to China and Japan, non-Buddhist teachings of the Three Emperors, Five Rulers, and Three Sages were used to educate the people and govern the country. As a result, human hearts hardened and virtue declined while evil flourished.
Chie Bōkoku Gosho, Evil Wisdom Destroying the Country, Volume 7, Followers II, Pages 84