Founder or eminent monk
Nichiren Shōnin
日蓮聖人
Nichiren studied a variety of Buddhist teachings and taught a path that places the Lotus Sutra at the center. The Nichiren school regards his setting forth of the teaching in 1253 as the founding of the school, and reveres him as its founder.
This page is based on the official explanations of the Nichiren school. It does not represent, in one explanation, the doctrines or views of the object of worship of all the groups that revere Nichiren.
English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む
Studying many schools, and turning to the Lotus Sutra
The Nichiren school's biography describes how Nichiren sought learning at Mount Hiei, Yakushi-ji, Kōyasan, Ninna-ji, and elsewhere. It explains that in the course of this he deepened his conviction that the Lotus Sutra stands at the center of the Buddha's teachings.
Source: 日蓮宗
The daimoku, expressing devotion to the Lotus Sutra
In the Nichiren school, importance is placed on chanting the daimoku with the Lotus Sutra as one's support, and on bringing its teaching into daily life. The daimoku is a phrase connected with devotion to the Lotus Sutra, and it is distinguished from a mantra chanting Nichiren's own name.
Source: 日蓮宗
Holding a sutra scroll and a shaku
The seated statue of Nichiren Shōnin introduced by the temple 要伝寺 holds a sutra scroll in its left hand and a shaku (ritual baton) in its right, and wears a kesa over vestments with a sōgō collar. The illustration on this site is based on those features.
Source: 日蓮宗 要伝寺
Related shrines and temples
- Minobusan Kuon-jiMinobu, Yamanashi Prefecture
- Renge-ji (Takatō)Ina, Nagano Prefecture
- Keiō-jiToyohira Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- Myōken-jiKamigyō Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture
- Myōren-jiKōhoku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture
- Myōsen-jiEdogawa, Tokyo
- Myōshō-jiSuginami, Tokyo
- Keikoku-jiMatsudo, Chiba Prefecture
- Tamon-jiKamogawa, Chiba Prefecture
Related kami and buddhas
Sources (in Japanese)
- 日蓮宗「日蓮聖人の生涯：徹底的な勉学の末、法華経にたどり着く」（2026-10-15 確認）
- 日蓮宗 要伝寺「木造日蓮上人坐像」（2026-10-15 確認）