Nichiren Shōnin was born on February 16, 1222, in Katami Kominato, Tojo-go, Nagasa no gōri, Awa Province (present-day Chiba Prefecture). His childhood name was Zennichimaro. Born to the parents, Nukina Jiro Shigetada and Umegiku, his family was reputedly prominent local fishermen.
Displaying intelligence from a young age, Nichiren entered Seichō-ji Temple in his hometown of Kominato at the age of 12, dedicating himself to rigorous studies. Four years later, he was ordained under the guidance of the head priest Dōzenbō, receiving the Buddhist name Renchō. He prayed to Kokūzō Bosatsu, the principal image of Seichō-ji Temple, with the wish to become the wisest man in Japan. Feeling the blessings of this prayer, he ventured to Mount Hiei in Shiga and major Buddhist temples in Nara and Osaka to study various Buddhist scriptures and teachings of different sects. Ultimately, he concluded that the teaching most appropriate for the sentient beings of the Mappō period (Latter Days of the Law) was the Odaimoku revealed in the Eight Chapters (Chapters 15 to 22) of the Honmon part of the Lotus Sutra.
On April 28, 1253 (the 5th year of Kenchō), at the age of 32, he chanted Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō for the first time as he faced the rising sun over the Asahi Forest of Mount Seichō. This event marked the founding of his sect and the propagation of the Odaimoku. Adopting the name Nichiren, he then moved to Kamakura, where he fervently engaged in shakubuku (persuasion) to convert various sects to his views. Despite facing severe persecution, described as “four major difficulties and countless minor ones,” he remained steadfast in his mission, leading his disciples and tirelessly spreading his teachings.
In his treatises, such as “Risshō Ankoku Ron (Treatise on Spreading Peace Throughout the Country by Establishing the True Dharma),” Nichiren admonished the shogunate, leading to increased persecution. In 1271 (the 8th year of Bun’ei), he was sentenced to exile on the distant island of Sado. En route to Sado on September 12th (before dawn on the 13th), at the Tatsunokuchi Execution Ground, officials attempted to secretly behead him. However, a mysterious natural disaster occurred, startling the officials and sparing Nichiren’s life. He was then exiled to Sado as initially sentenced.
Despite the harsh conditions on Sado, Nichiren composed some of his most important writings, such as “Kaimoku-shō (Open Your Eyes to the Lotus Teaching),” “Kanjin-honzon-shō (A Treatise Revealing the Spiritual Contemplation and the Most Venerable One),” and “Nyosetsu-shugyō-shō (True Way of Practicing the Teaching of Buddha),” continuing to guide his disciples and followers on the mainland. During his exile, the looming threat of a Mongol invasion, as predicted in “Risshō Ankoku-ron,” began to validate his prophecies, leading to opinions within the shogunate that he should be released. On April 8, 1274 (the 11th year of Bun’ei), Nichiren was pardoned and returned to Kamakura, where he once again urged the shogunate to govern based on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra. However, his exhortations were not heeded. Following this, Nichiren left Kamakura and retired to Mount Minobu. There, he continued to instruct his distant disciples and followers through letters and mentored those close to him, preparing them for future generations.
On October 13, 1282 (the 5th year of Kōan), while traveling from Minobu to Hitachi, Nichiren passed away at the residence of his follower, Ikegami Munenaka, in Senzoku-go, Musashi Province (present-day Tokyo), at the age of 61.
