Year
|
Age
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Events in the Daishonin’s Life
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Other Events
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1222
|
1
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2/16 Born at Kataumi in the province of Awa.
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7/23 Earthquake in Kamakura
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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.
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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.
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