Sammi-bō ［三位房］ (n.d.): Also known as Sammi-bō Nichigyō. One of Nichiren’s earliest disciples. A native of Shimōsa Province in Japan, he received a Buddhist education at Mount Hiei and was highly esteemed among Nichiren’s followers for his learning and debating skill. These were evident in his victory over Ryūzō-bō, a priest of the Tendai school, in the Kuwagayatsu Debate of 1277. He tended to be arrogant about his knowledge and desirous of social recognition and status, however. Nichiren found it necessary to admonish him about this on several occasions, such as when he appeared excessively proud of having preached before the court aristocracy in Kyoto. During the Atsuhara Persecution, he renounced his belief in Nichiren’s teachings and turned against Nichiren and his supporters. In several letters, Nichiren refers to Sammi-bō’s untimely and tragic death, though details of this are unknown.