Extracted from Nichiren Shoshu Official Website
Nichiren Shoshu was founded on April 28, 1253, when Nichiren Daishonin declared the establishment of the teaching of “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo”, the essence of the Lotus Sutra. In 1282, he selected Nikko Shonin as the Second High Priest and transmitted the entirety of the Law to him. In October of 1290, Nikko Shonin established Taisekiji Temple at Fuji Ueno. Since then, for more than 700 years, Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism has been correctly transmitted at the Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple Taisekiji.
The Teachings of Nichiren Daishonin
Approximately 3,000 years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha preached the Buddhist teachings, in order to relieve the people of their sufferings. He taught for 50 years. During the last eight years of his preaching, he revealed the Lotus Sutra as the true purpose of his advent.
Just as the Lotus Sutra predicted, 2,000 years after Shakyamuni Buddha’s passing, Nichiren Daishonin made his advent as the True Buddha, in order to save all living beings in the Latter Day of Law when the power and benefit of Shakyamuni’s teachings were lost.
Nichiren Daishonin manifested the essence of the Lotus Sutra as the Gohonzon (mandala) and expounded that chanting “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo” enables any person to reach and attain Buddhahood based on the teaching of cause and effect.
True happiness is the achievement of tranquility in our life that is unshakable.
The Pure Stream of the Law for more than 700 years
Nichiren Shoshu was founded on April 28, 1253, when Nichiren Daishonin declared the establishment of the teaching of “Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.” Following his declaration, despite encountering and enduring countless persecutions, he propagated Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo, the essence of the Lotus Sutra. On October 12, 1279, he inscribed the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching, the fundamental object of worship for faith and practice. After that, in 1282, he selected Nikko Shonin as the Second High Priest and transmitted the entirety of the Law to him. On October 13 of the same year, he passed away at the age of 61.
After his demise, Hakiri Sanenaga, the feudal lord of Minobu, continuously performed slanderous acts against true Buddhism. In the spring of 1289, Nikko Shonin, accompanied by his disciples, left Mt. Minobu with all the sacred treasures, including the Dai-Gohonzon of the High Sanctuary of the Essential Teaching. In October of 1290, Nikko Shonin established Taisekiji Temple at Fuji Ueno with the aid and contributions of Lord Nanjō Tokimitsu.
Since then, for more than 700 years, Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism has been correctly transmitted at Nichiren Shoshu Head Temple Taisekiji.
Abridged Chronology of Nichiren Shoshu
Since that time onward, the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin has been transmitted down through the ages in the form of the Heritage of the Entity of the Law, entrusted to one and only one legitimate successor, from one High Priest to the next.
In turn, each of the successive High Priests has carried out the transmission of the Law in the exact same manner as one drop of water in a vessel transferred to another vessel, and has continued to burn brightly the "torch of the Law," unbroken and uninterrupted to this day, which has been inherited by the 68th High Priest Nichinyo Shonin.
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