南無妙法蓮華經 ... or is the last kanji 経？ This is one example. In general, how do
you select from kanji with the same reading and meaning when you write? Like
these two kanji, I think both mean sutra and are read kyo. Of course, this is
a set classic phrase, but there are many other examples. For example, my
dictionary gives three kanji for “butsu” (meaning to hit, not 仏...)
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word-choice kyūjitai-and-shinjitai
南無妙法蓮華經 ... or is the last kanji 経
There was a writing reform of Japanese kanji after WW2 which led to these
differences. In a 経本【きょうほん】 (sutra book) you will find the kanji 經, but this
is the 旧字体【きゅうじたい】 or 正字【せいじ】 of 経. In modern Japanese it's usually written
with the 経.

> This is one example. In general, how do you select from kanji with the same
> reading and meaning when you write?

Well, generally you would use the modern one.

> For example, my dictionary gives three kanji for “butsu”

Usually if different kanji are used for the same word, the different kanji
carry different meanings, so native speakers have to learn which one to use.
In the case of [butsu](https://www.edrdg.org/cgi-
bin/wwwjdic/wwwjdic?1MDJ%A4%D6%A4%C4), looking at those kanji versions, I'm
not sure what the difference between 打つ and 撃つ and 撲つ is, but generally
reference books or even the henkan function on your computer will contain
details. Incidentally I don't think I've seen any of them used, probably
because 打つ and 撃つ are usually read うつ. ぶっ飛ばす or something is almost always
with the ぶっ in kana I think.

> (meaning to hit, not 仏...)

As it happens 仏 also has an old form 佛, and that will also be the one in the
kyouhon (sutra book).
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