Events in the Life of Nichiren Daishonin

Year

Age

Events in the Daishonin’s Life

Other Events

1222

1

2/16 Born at Kataumi in the province of Awa.

7/23 Earthquake in Kamakura

1224

3

6/28 Hōjō Yasutoki (1183–1242) becomes regent.

1233

12

Enters Seichō-ji temple to study as a disciple of Dōzen-bō.

1237

16

Enters the priesthood and takes the name Zeshō-bō.

1239

18

Leaves for Kamakura to study Buddhism.

1241

20

2/7 and 4/3 Earthquakes in Kamakura.

1242

21

Leaves for Enryaku-ji temple on Mount Hiei where he continues his studies.

Also visits temples in the area for studies.

6/15 Hōjō Tsunetoki (1224–1246) becomes regent.

1246

25

Nikkō is born in Kai Province.

3/23 Hōjō Tokiyori (1227–1263) becomes regent.

1249

28

3/23 Fires in Kyoto.

1251

30

2/10 Fires in Kamakura.

1252

31

2/8 Fires in Kamakura.

1253

32

Returns to Seichō-ji temple.

4/28 Declares the teachings of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo at Seichō-ji temple.

Begins to call himself Nichiren.

Moves to Nagoe in Kamakura.

2/  Storm and earthquake in Kamakura.

Toki Jōnin becomes a follower of the Daishonin.

1254

33

1/10 Fires in Kamakura.

1255

34

Writes On Attaining Buddhahood in This Lifetime.

1256

35

Around this time Shijō Kingo and Ikegami Munenaka become followers of the Daishonin.

8/  Gale, floods, and epidemics in Kamakura.

11/22 Hōjō Nagatoki (1229–1264) becomes regent.

1257

36

5/  , 8/  , and 11/  Earthquakes in Kamakura.

1258

37

Consults the Buddhist canon to assemble proof of the real cause of the disasters.

Nikkō becomes a disciple of the Daishonin.

8/  Storm destroys crops nationwide; in Kamakura, floods kill many people.

10/16 Heavy rains and flooding in Kamakura.

1259

38

Frequent famines and epidemics throughout Japan.

1260

39

7/16 Submits On Establishing the Correct Teaching for the Peace of the Land to Hōjō Tokiyori.

8/27 Matsubagayatsu Persecution: his dwelling in Nagoe is attacked by Nembutsu believers.

4/28 Nichimoku is born in Izu.

6/12 Government orders all temples and shrines to pray for an end to the epidemics.

Ōta Jōmyō, Soya Kyōshin, and Akimoto Tarō become the Daishonin’s followers.

Famines and epidemics throughout Japan.

1261

40

5/12 Exiled to Izu Peninsula.

Funamori no Yasaburō and his wife aid the Daishonin in Izu.

Nikkō arrives in Izu to continue to serve the Daishonin.

11/3 Hōjō Shigetoki dies.

1263

42

2/22 Pardoned from exile, he returns to Kamakura.

Writes Questions and Answers about Embracing the Lotus Sutra.

11/22 Hōjō Tokiyori dies.

1264

43

Autumn, visits Awa where he prays for the recovery of his ill mother.

11/11 Komatsubara Persecution: attacked by enemies led by the steward, Tōjō Kagenobu, he sustains injuries.

11/14 Meets Dōzen-bō, his former teacher, at Hanabusa in Saijō.

Nikō becomes the Daishonin’s disciple.

Hōjō Masamura (1205–1273) becomes regent.

1265

44

Writes Conversation between a Sage and an Unenlightened Man.

1266

45

1/6 Writes The Daimoku of the Lotus Sutra.

1267

46

Nitchō becomes the Daishonin’s disciple.

1268

47

Returns to Kamakura.

10/11 Writes eleven letters of remonstration to government officials and high-ranking priests.

1 (intercalary)/  Mongol delegation demands tribute from Japan for the Mongol empire.

3/5 Hōjō Tokimune (1251–1284) becomes regent.

1269

48

3/7 and 9/17 Mongol delegations arrive in Japan.

1270

49

Nichiji becomes the Daishonin’s disciple.

1271

50

9/10 On answering a government summons, remonstrates with Hei no Saemon-no-jō, the deputy chief of military and police affairs.

9/12 Tatsunokuchi Persecution: arrested by Hei no Saemon-no-jō.

At midnight taken to Tatsunokuchi to be beheaded; this attempt fails.

9/13 Government confines him to the residence of Homma Shigetsura at Echi in Sagami Province.

10/5 Writes Lessening One’s Karmic Retribution.

10/10 Having been exiled to Sado Island, he leaves Echi for Sado.

11/1 Arrives at Sammai-dō, a hut in Tsukahara, Sado Island.

Drought occurs.

6/18–7/4 Ryōkan, a priest of the True Word Precepts school, prays for rain but without effect.

9/  Mongol delegation conveys demands to the Japanese government.

9/  While the Daishonin is at Echi, many disciples and followers suffer severe persecution.

Nikkō accompanies the Daishonin to Sado Island.

Abutsu-bō and his wife, Sennichi, become the Daishonin’s followers.

1272

51

1/16 and 17 Engages in a religious debate in Tsukahara with priests of other schools and refutes their doctrines.

2/11 Writes The Heritage of the Ultimate Law of Life.

2/  Completes The Opening of the Eyes, declaring that he is the Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law.

3/20 Writes Letter from Sado.

4/  Moves to Ichinosawa on Sado Island.

2/  Hōjō Tokisuke, an elder half brother of the regent Hōjō Tokimune, is killed on the charge of treason.

4/  Shijō Kingo travels to Sado to see the Daishonin.

5/  Nichimyō comes from Kamakura to see the Daishonin.

5/  Mongol delegation presents demands to Japan.

1273

52

4/25 Completes The Object of Devotion for Observing the Mind, identifying the object of devotion for the people of the Latter Day of the Law.

5/17 Writes The True Aspect of All Phenomena.

5/  Writes On Practicing the Buddha’s Teachings.

5 (intercalary)/11  Writes On the Buddha’s Prophecy.

Writes The Entity of the Mystic Law.

1274

53

1/14 Writes The Votary of the Lotus Sutra Will Meet Persecution.

2/14 Pardoned by the government.

3/13 Leaves Ichinosawa for Kamakura.

3/26 Arrives in Kamakura.

4/8 Remonstrates with Hei no Saemon-no-jō.

5/12 Leaves Kamakura to live at the foot of Mount Minobu.

4/10 The Dharma Seal Kaga prays for rain.

4/12 High winds in Kamakura.

7/  Nanjō Tokimitsu visits Minobu to see the Daishonin.

10/  Mongol forces sweep across the islands of Tsushima and Iki, and attack Kyushu, the southernmost of the four main islands of Japan.

1275

54

4/16 Writes Letter to the Brothers.

Writes The Selection of the Time.

9/7 Mongol emissaries are beheaded at Tatsunokuchi.

Because of Nikkō’s propagation activities, many people, including several priests of Ryūsen-ji temple in Atsuhara, become the Daishonin’s followers.

1276

55

7/21 Completes On Repaying Debts of Gratitude.

Writes The Actions of the Votary of the Lotus Sutra.

Nichimoku becomes the Daishonin’s disciple.

Dōzen-bō dies.

11/24 Nichimoku goes to Minobu to serve the Daishonin.

1277

56

6/25 Writes The Letter of Petition from Yorimoto on behalf of Shijō Kingo.

7/  Writes A Warning against Begrudging One’s Fief.

8/23 Writes The Real Aspect of the Gohonzon.

9/11 Writes The Three Kinds of Treasure.

Writes How Those Initially Aspiration to the Way Can Attain Buddhahood through the Lotus Sutra.

1278

57

Persecution of Atsuhara believers intensifies.

Three brothers from Atsuhara—Jinshirō, Yagorō, and Yarokurō—become the Daishonin’s followers.

1279

58

4/20 Writes Persecution by Sword and Staff.

10/1 Writes On Persecutions Befalling the Sage.

7/29 Members of a Mongol delegation carrying a letter for the Japanese government are killed at Hakata.

9/21 Twenty farmers from Atsuhara, including Jinshirō and his brothers, are arrested and sent to Kamakura. Later Jinshirō, Yagorō, and Yarokurō are beheaded; the rest of those arrested are banished from Atsuhara.

1280

59

2/  Writes Letter to Niike.

7/14 Writes The Doctrine of Attaining Buddhahood in One’s Present Form.

2/21 Imperial court orders temples to pray to victory over the Mongols.

1281

60

5/  –7/  Mongol forces attack Kyushu for the second time. After most of their fleet is sunk by a typhoon, the forces withdraw.

1282

61

2/28 Writes The Proof of the Lotus Sutra.

9/  Writes a transfer document at Minobu, entrusting Nikkō with the entirety of his teachings.

9/8 Leaves Mount Minobu.

9/18 Arrives at Ikegami Munenaka’s residence in Musashi Province (present-day Tokyo).

10/8 Choose six senior priests as leaders of their respective areas.

10/13 Writes a transfer document at Ikegami, designating Nikkō as chief priest of Kuon-ji temple at Minobu, and shortly afterward passes away.