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 Second
High Priest Nikko Shonin was born on March 8th, 1246 in Yamanashi
Prefecture. His
birth name is unknown, but his father was called Oi Kitsuroku and his
mother, Myofuku.
His father died when he was a child, and his mother married into another
family, so he was raised by his maternal grandfather, Yui Nyudo.
Yui Nyudo recognized Nikko Shonin's intelligence and sent him to
Shijuku-in Temple for
his education when he was around seven years old. It is believed that he
entered the
priesthood around this time. Then he took the name Hokibo. In addition
to his basic
education, he studied calligraphy under Ryokaku Mimasaka-ajari and
writing, including
poetry, under Reizen Chusho Takashige. After completing his general
education, Nikko
Shonin studied different kinds of Buddhism, including both the Tendai
and Shingon
doctrines.
Initially, Nikko Shonin was a priest of the Tendai sect. He went to
Jissoji Temple in
Iwamoto to continue his studies at the equivalent of the university
level. The more he
studied, the more he questioned the doctrines of Buddhism because of the
disturbance,
decay and corruption he saw. In August of 1257, following a great
earthquake that nearly
leveled Kamakura, Nichiren Daishonin went to Jissoji to study the
Temple's extensive
collection of Buddhist Sutras in preparation for writing the Rissho
Ankoku Ron, His most
important work.
Hokibo met the Daishonin during His stay at Jissoji. He was so
impressed by the Daishonin
he asked to become His disciple and apprentice. The Daishonin accepted
him, recognizing
Hokibo's competence and will. The Daishonin conferred the Buddhist name
Nikko on him and
encouraged him to exert himself in his studies. The Daishonin was 37 and
Hokibo was 13
years old at the time. Nikko was also called by the names of Hokiko,
Hokibo, and Byakuren
Ajari as well.
After the Daishonin went back to Kamakura, Nikko Shonin continued
his studies at Jissoji
for a few years. The Daishonin submitted the Rissho Ankoku Ron to
Saimyoji Nyudo in July
16, of 1260. Following this was the attack at the Daishonin's home in
Matsubagayatsu by
low ranking samurai, and then His exile to Ito in May of 1261. Shortly
after Nikko Shonin
heard of the exile, he received a lecture from the Daishonin and began
to propagate the
Daishonin's teachings in his area.
Released from exile in 1263, the Daishonin returned to Kamakura
accompanied by Nikko
Shonin. Thereafter, Nikko Shonin devoted himself to the study of
doctrines, copying
important documents, propagating in Suruga and Kai provinces and general
service to the
Daishonin until the Tatsunokuchi persecution eight and a half years
later.
An official letter from the Mongol Empire to Dazaifu in Kyushu
Prefecture arrived in
January of 1268. It threatened an invasion if Japan did not agree to be
a tributary state
of the Mongol Empire. The prediction of invasion by a foreign power
which Nichiren
Daishonin made in the Rissho Ankoku Ron had come true within ten years.
In this tense
situation, Nikko Shonin was no doubt very busy helping the Daishonin.
The government did
not reply to the Mongols' letter, casting about fruitlessly in search of
some solution.
The Daishonin was summoned to appear in court on September 10th, 1271,
to be questioned
by Hei no Saemon-no-jo Yoritsuna, but Hei no Saemon was instead
questioned and advised by
the Daishonin. Two days later, on September 12th, the Daishonin was
arrested and taken to
Tatsunokuchi for execution. However, it proved impossible to execute the
Daishonin, so
instead He was exiled to Sado Island on October 10th. Meanwhile, the
Mongols' final
demand had arrived in Japan on September 23rd, 1271.
The weather in Sado was extremely cold and the climate severe;
moreover, as He was an
exile, the Daishonin was short of food and clothes. A further
complication was the many
Nembutsu believers, who hated the Daishonin and looked for any
opportunity to oppress
Him. Some did, however, become followers of the Daishonin, including
Abutsubo and
Sennichi-ama and Kou Nyudo and his wife. With their support, Nikko
Shonin accompanied,
protected and served the Daishonin throughout the more than two and a
half years of exile
on the island. After His release on March 26th, 1274, the Daishonin
returned to Kamakura
and went to see Hei no Saemon to explain again the principles He had
expounded in the
Rissho Ankoku Ron. However, the government tried to appease Him rather
than change its
ways, so the Daishonin, following His previous plan, decided to go
elsewhere.
The Daishonin left for Mount Minobu on May 17th, accompanied by Nikko
Shonin. Hakiri
Sanenaga, who had been converted to True Buddhism by Nikko Shonin, was
the lord of the
area. The Daishonin spent the last nine years of His life at Minobu. His
seclusion was
not retirement in the common sense of the word as He spent those years
ensuring the
future of Kosen-rufu by training disciples and completing His teachings.
On June 17th,
just a month after His arrival, His first small residence was completed.
Nikko Shonin
then embarked on further propagation in the Suruga, Kai, and Izu areas.
Through his
efforts, Nichimoku Shonin, the Third High Priest of Nichiren Shoshu, and
the priests of
Shijuku-in and Jissoji, where Nikko Shonin had studied in childhood,
became disciples of
the Daishonin. The priest named Gyochi, who was the deputy chief priest
of the local
temple, Ryusenji, was angered by this, especially when Nikko Shonin
converted Nisshu,
Nichiben, and Nichizen. He also resented the conversion of many peasants
in the Atsuhara
area to the Daishonin's Buddhism.
Gyochi conspired with the government to harass the followers in the
Atsuhara area.
Jinshiro, Yagaro, Yarokuro and others strengthened their bonds and
advanced with
increasing faith, but the persecution only increased. Ultimately,
Jinshiro, Yagaro and
Yarokuro were beheaded. The entire incident is called the Atsuhara
Persecution.
Witnessing the purity of their faith and their willingness to sacrifice
their lives on
its behalf, the Daishonin realized that the time had come to establish
the Dai-Gohonzon,
which He did on the twelfth day of the tenth month (October 12th) in
1279. Nikko Shonin's
propagation efforts were instrumental in creating the appropriate
circumstances.
Eventually, the Daishonin's health failed due to the long years of
persecutions and
propagating the Law. He decided to go to the hot springs at Hitachi to
recuperate. Before
leaving Mt. Minobu in the fall of 1282, the Daishonin entrusted the
protection of the
Dai-Gohonzon of the True Sanctuary and all of His teachings to Nikko
Shonin with the
transmission document, "The Law that Nichiren Propagated throughout His
Life" (Nichiren
ichigo guho fuzoku sho). It is also known as the "Minobu Transfer
Document." At that
time, Nikko Shonin was 36 years old. After arriving at the home of
Ikegami Munenaka on
September 18th, the Daishonin prepared for the future by selecting
Nissho, Nichiro,
Nikko, Niko, Nitcho and Nichiji, naming them as His main disciples, the
six senior
priests, in the presence of His chief disciples and believers. At that
time, He gave
Nikko Shonin the "Document Entrusting Minobusan" (Minobu-san fuzoku sho),
also known as
the "Ikegami Transfer Document," naming Nikko Shonin Chief Priest of
Minobu-san Kuonji
Temple and sternly declaring that any believer or priest who turned
against Nikko Shonin
would be in conflict with the Law. Then, at the hour of the dragon (8:00
a.m.) on the
thirteenth day of the tenth month (October, 13th), Nichiren Daishonin
peacefully passed
away.
Nikko Shonin, who had received the Heritage of the Law that is
entrusted to only one
person, now became the Second High Priest. He completed the funeral and
returned to Mt.
Minobu with the Daishonin's ashes. Nikko Shonin worked out a rotation
schedule for
watching over the Daishonin's tomb with the other five senior priests.
But the other five
didn't take their turns and actually stopped visiting Minobu, so Nikko
and his disciples
took the entire responsibility. In 1285 Minbu Niko returned to Minobu.
Nikko was
delighted to see him and appointed him to the important post of chief
instructor of
priests without asking the reason for his absence. But Niko
misunderstood Nikko Shonin's
compassionate deed. He grew more arrogant, conspired with Hakiri
Sanenaga and encouraged
him to act contrary to the Law. They built a statue of Shakyamuni as an
object of worship
and visited different shrines in opposition to the Daishonin's
teachings. Seeing this,
Nikko Shonin decided to leave Mt. Minobu. In so doing, he was following
the Daishonin's
will. The Daishonin had said that his spirit will not reside in the same
district if the
steward acts contrary to the Law.
Actually, it was ultimately necessary for Nikko Shonin to leave Minobu
in order to
prepare for the future erection of the High Sanctuary of Honmonji. The
Daishonin had
instructed to:
... seek out a place of the finest scenery comparable to the pure land of
Eagle Peak and
there erect the High Sanctuary.
(Gosho Zenchu, p. 1595)
The Daishonin had also stated:
When the sovereign accepts this Law, erect the High Sanctuary of
the Temple of the
Essential Teachings (Honmonji) at the foot of Mount Fuji.
(Gosho Zenchu, p. 1675)
In the spring of 1289, Nikko Shonin set out from Mount Minobu
taking the Dai-Gohonzon,
the Daishonin's ashes, many Goshos and other sacred treasures with him.
Then, he moved
into Nanjo Tokimitsu's private temple (today's Shimo-no-bo) at
Tokimitsu's invitation.
Tokimitsu also offered land in his domain to build a new temple, now
Taisekiji. It was
completed on October 13th in the following year. This prompted Nikko
Shonin to appoint
Nichimoku Shonin as his successor. He conferred upon Nichimoku Shonin
the Ozagawari
Gohonzon. This meant that Nichimoku Shonin was to be the next successor
to the Heritage
of the Law. Nikko Shonin moved to the neighboring village of Omosu at
the invitation of
the Ishikawa clan, who were the local stewards. At Omosu Nikko Shonin
established a
seminary to train young priests.
After he left Mt. Minobu Nikko Shonin worked assiduously to ensure
that Nichiren
Daishonin's Buddhism would be correctly passed down to the future
generations. As soon as
Taisekiji was built, Nikko Shonin transferred it to Nichimoku Shonin and
worked to foster
young priests at Omosu. On November 10th in 1330, Nikko Shonin
transferred the document
entitled Nikko Ato Jojo no Koto to Nichimoku Shonin, and officially
entrusted the entire
body of Nichiren Daishonin's Buddhism to Nichimoku Shonin. Then he
instructed Nichimoku
Shonin to take the lead in propagation.
The following year, Nikko Shonin set out twenty-six guidelines for
Nichiren Shoshu
priests and believers to observe forever. This is called the "Twenty-six
Articles of
Warning" (Nikko Yuikai Okimon). On February 7th, 1333, at the grand age
of 88, Nikko
Shonin died, having completed the mission entrusted to him when he
received the Heritage
of the Law from the True Buddha, Nichiren Daishonin.
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