Fourth High Priest
Nichido Shonin

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Nichido Shonin was born in the Hatake area of Izu Province in 1283 (the sixth year of the Koan Period). Hatake is in present-day Kannami-cho, in Shizuoka Prefecture. When he reached the age of sixteen in 1299 (the first year of the Shoan Period), he took the tonsure under Nichimoku Shonin and served Nikko Shonin at Omosu Seminary. He was given the name Byakuren-bo as a young priest, but was often called Hoki-bo, and later attained the title Ben Ajari.

Like his master Nichimoku Shonin, Nichido Shonin was a member of the Nanjo clan, and close ties in Tome, in the Rikuzen region of Oshu Province (Miyagi Prefecture), brought him to Oshu on many occasions to propagate the Daishonin’s teachings. In 1327 (the second year of the Karyaku Period), Nichimoku Shonin gave Nichido Shonin charge of a lodging temple in Upper Niida that was later to become Honganji Temple. In 1332 (the second year of the Genko Period/first year of the Shokyo Period), Nichido Shonin built Myoenji Temple in Miyano. On New Year’s Day in 1333 (the third year of the Genko Period), while visiting Kusu-bo Temple in the Kusu district of Musashi Province (the Kawazato area of Saitama Prefecture), he made a copy of Nikko Shonin’s transcription of the Daishonin’s “The Essentials of the Lotus Sutra” (“Hokke shuyo-sho”).

In the tenth month of the same year, Nichido Shonin received the transmission of the Lifeblood Heritage of the Law from Nichimoku Shonin and was installed as the Fourth High Priest of the Head Temple. Nichido Shonin also made a draft that year of the combined biographies of Nichiren Daishonin, Nikko Shonin and Nichimoku Shonin, which he entitled Biographies of the Founders (Goden dodai).

Early in 1334 (the first year of the Kemmu Period), a dispute arose between two priests named Nissen and Nichidai, over whether or not it was appropriate to recite the Expedient Means (Hoben; second) chapter of the Lotus Sutra. As legitimate heir to the Heritage of the Law, Nichido Shonin determined that the arguments of both priests were flawed and clarified why recitation of the Hoben chapter is necessary. Further, in 1336 (the third year of the Kemmu Period/first year of the Engen Period), he submitted a formal letter of remonstration to government authorities.

Nichido Shonin entrusted the Lifeblood Heritage of the Law to Nichigyo Shonin in the sixth month of 1339 (the fourth year of the Engen Period/second year of the Ryakuo Period). He peacefully passed away at Taisekiji’s Daibo on the twenty-sixth day of the second month, 1341 (the fourth year of the Ryakuo Period/second year of the Kokoku Period).

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