The Lotus Sūtra (Tno. 262) in its translation by Kumārajīva done in 406 was the most popular single sūtra during the Nara period. It was required that all yearly ordinands be able to read it. It is the most commonly mentioned sūtra in documents recommending laymen for ordination as monks. … The Lotus Sūtra was also frequently recited at the request of the court in order to protect the state. It does not have any specific passage which guarantees protection of the state, as did most of the other sūtras used for this purpose. Rather, this use of the sūtra stems from its claim that it is the most authoritative of all sūtras and from stories that those with faith in the sūtra were protected from harm. In addition, it was a very popular sūtra among the common people, being the sūtra most often mentioned in the Nihon ryōiki.