NICHE, a recess formed in a wall to contain a statue or some ornamental figure. In classical architecture, the niches are generally square recesses with canopies formed by small pediments. Iu Gothic architecture, the niche is one of the most frequent and characteristic features; the door-ways, buttresses, and every part of the buildings being in many instances ornamented with niches and statues in endless variety.
NICHfREN, b. at Kominato, province of Awa, Japan, 1222; the founder of one of the largest, wealthiest, and most influential sects of Japanese Buddhists, and the great revi valist of Buddhism in the 13th century. He became a profound student of those Chinese and Sanserit texts containing the writings of Buddha's first apostles, whose richness and genuineness prof. Max Muller has recently acknowledged. After many years spent in preaching, founding temples, and making missionary tours, he died at Ikegami, near Tokio. He was several times exiled, wrote several works, still extant, and probably did more than any other man to bring all Japantiffder the tenets.ofAiddhism, His piece of decease is visited 'annually by thousands of 'pilgims, who come on foot- or by railway. The Nichirenites are the "ranters" of Buddhism; and probably the grossest form of the modern degenerate religion of Buddha, finds its expression, among an outward show of great intellectual ability, among the disciples of Nichiren.
NICHOL„Torix, LL.D., b. Scotland, 1833; only son of prof. John P. Nichol, late professor of astronomy; received an education at the university of Glasgow, 1848-53. In the latter year he went to Balliol college, Oxford, where he pursued his studies until 1859; and in 1861 he was appointed professor of English literature in the university of Glasgow. In 1873 the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him by the ministry of St. Andrews. He has been a successful tutor, having directed the studies of 150 candidates for Oxford; and is popular as a lecturer, having given more than 200 addresses on mis cellaneous subjects, and to classes of ladies in special branches of study, in various parts of Great Britain. During the war of the rebellion he espoused the union cause, and, as well by its advocacy as by his Broad church doctrines, made himself a mark for hostile comment in Scotland, and thereby gained much honorable notoriety. He has to the Westminster, North British, and other reviews, a number of valuable essays. lie is one of the writers on the Encyclopedia Brittanica; in 1880 he published Fragments of Criticism, a volume of essays; and in 1872, Hannibal, a classical drama.